Gaming News - Page 1773
Ubisoft's Watch Dogs said to be releasing in mid-November
According to a Joystiq report, Ubisoft's much-anticipated game Watch Dogs will be releasing in mid-November. The report says that North America will be getting the game on November 19 and the United Kingdom will be getting it on November 22.
Watch Dogs will be released on all current gaming systems, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U, as well as PC, the PlayStation 4, and next-generation consoles, such as the Xbox 720.
The UK version will reportedly be available in four different editions: Dedsec, Vigilante, Uplay, and Special Edition. Dedsec will come with a 23cm figurine, while the Vigilante will come with Aiden Pearce's cap and mask. Uplay, available through Ubisoft's digital distributioin network will reportedly come with a steelbook and the Special Edition will reportedly come with an extra single player mission. North American bundles are not currently known.
Continue reading: Ubisoft's Watch Dogs said to be releasing in mid-November (full post)
Nintendo releases Wii U update, brings with it faster load times and better performance
Nintendo has released an update for its Wii U gaming console. This update, claims Nintendo, brings with it better performance, decreased boot times, and decreased load times. The Wii U, while an innovative console, has failed to sell in quantities that Nintendo would be happy with.
Nintendo has published the following list of changes:
We encourage that Wii U user make sure to run the update process on a stable Internet connection and reduce their risk of losing power to avoid risking a bricked system.
Sony releases new video detailing new DualShock 4 controller for the PS4
This morning Sony has released a new video that shows off its DualShock 4 controller. Sony mentions that they worked tirelessly with developers to create a next-generation controller that is truly the best it can be.
While the DualShock 4 may look similar to its predecessor in form, the whole controller has been fine-tuned with improvements made to the analog sticks, the sensitivity of the triggers, as well as a new light bar on the front of the controller that tells the PS4 your position in the room and adjusts your split screen, relevant to your location.
A new touch pad has been added to the controller, as well. Sony says that this was a major request from game developers and features multi-touch sensitivity and is comfortable to use with your thumbs or fingertips. Additionally a speaker has been added to the controller that is said to bring forth a new dynamic of sound to gameplay.
PS4 lead architect says PS4 launch will have best launch games in PlayStation history
PlayStation 4's lead architect, Mark Cerny, says that the PlayStation 4 launch will feature the strongest set of launch games in PlayStation 4. In an interview with Gamasutra, Cerny talks about the PlayStation 4 and how it is so easy to code for thanks to its unified architecture.
The biggest thing is we didn't want the hardware to be a puzzle that programmers would be needing to solve in order to make quality titles. There was huge performance [in the PS3], but in order to unlock that performance, you really needed to study it and learn unique ways of using the hardware.
Most importantly, Cerny says, "The launch lineup for PlayStation 4 -- though I unfortunately can't give the title count -- is going to be stronger than any prior PlayStation hardware." Gamasutra has the full interview at source #1.
DICE: Battlefield 4 will not feature motion control, considers it a gimmick
If you were hoping for some motion control in the upcoming first-person shooter from DICE, then you're out of luck. Battlefield 4 will not be featuring any motion control gameplay. Patrick Bach, executive producer of Battlefield 4 told Edge:
We are not interested in things that don't make the game better. There are a lot of gimmicks - people throwing money at us - 'can you implement support for this quirky control thing?' No, it doesn't make the game better.
Bach also said that DICE are "extremely open to innovation", but they do not like gimmicks, adding that they do not add value to the player. Bach isn't completely against motion control, where he is open to the technology if it actually adds to the gameplay. Hopefully we see Oculus Rift support, DICE, don't disappoint me, okay?
3DMark ran on the Ouya console, bested by existing smartphones
Ouya developer James Coote ran the new 3DMark for Android benchmark on his Ouya game console, the video of which you can see embedded below. Interestingly enough, the Ouya is easily bested by current generation smartphones and even some previous generation smartphones.
In fact, the Ouya console is ranked 73 among all Android devices in Futuremark's database for the 3DMark Ice Storm benchmark. This doesn't exactly make me believe the Ouya will play host to graphically exciting games. The Samsung Galaxy S4 manages over double the score of the Ouya console.
This weak performance is likely the best the Ouya designers could manage while still staying within a $99 sticker price.
Continue reading: 3DMark ran on the Ouya console, bested by existing smartphones (full post)
Project Unity sees 15 consoles crammed into one huge box
Project Unity is an interesting beast, a single, unified gaming console made by hardware hacker (among other things) 'Bacteria'. Project Unity crams in a bunch of the best consoles from the past couple of decades into a single gaming box.
Project Unity includes Sega Master System, Neo Geo MVS, GameCube, Dreamcast, Saturn, Intellivision, Colecovision, Atari 7800, Turbografx 16, PS1/PS2, Mega Drive, NES, Super NES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64 and Amstrad GX4000 games. The console was made out of authentic hardware and doesn't use any emulators of combo units. It does all of this from a single power supply, video output and custom-built controller - no matter the system selected at the time.
Continue reading: Project Unity sees 15 consoles crammed into one huge box (full post)
Quantic Dream, the developer of Heavy Rain, looking to hire staff for future multiplayer projects
The developer behind the PlayStation 3-exclusive game Heavy Rain, is hiring staff for some upcoming multiplayer title(s). A job listing spotted by Kotaku states that the developer is looking for a "creative lead online programmer with a passion for online gaming in order to be with us for our future AAA projects."
Quantic Dream says they're looking for an experienced programmer with a "strong understanding of the multiplayer genre". Up until now, Quantic Dream's games have been single-player experiences, driven heavily by their story. Next-gen consoles might help all of this, where we might see some multiplayer elements.
The thing is, Quantic Dream are no normal developer - they don't just release a game, they invest so much time into the details within the game world, that this multiplayer news should excite all gamers. Multiplayer within a Quantic Dream game could see gamers playing characters, within the single-player world. What if it was your job to play a detective, and you could lie or tell the truth, kill the main character or not, and have multiple choices through an open-world game?
Batman: Arkham Origins announced with Rocksteady Studios not involved, are Warner Bros pulling an Activision?
Batman: Arkham Asylum and its sequel, Arkham City, have been some of the most memorable, and most successful games of this generation. These games were developed by Rocksteady Studios - but there has now been a third game in the series announced today, Batman: Arkham Origins.
Batman: Arkham Origins will be released for the PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 - with no mention of next-generation consoles. It is being put together by WB Games Montreal, and has the game world of Origins set years before the events of the previous Arkham games. Players take control of a younger Batman, who meets many of the series' iconic characters for the very first time.
From my perspective, it looks like Warner Bros. are pulling an Activision here, with their Call of Duty series. Back in its hey day (I guess it's still there, isn't it?) it was being pushed between Infinity Ward and Treyarch - the former releasing the best COD titles, the latter selling the lesser quality titles. It made lots of money for Activision, but the entire series has been run into the ground (again, in my opinion).
Before the PS4 was announced, third-party developers were told the PS4 could feature 4GB of GDDR5, were surprised to see 8GB
It was only at the unveiling of Sony's PlayStation 4 that third-party developers discovered there was 8GB of GDDR5 RAM inside of the machine, as they were told that the PS4 would only come with 4GB of GDDR5 previously.
These developers even received development kits before the PS4 was announced, and were still not aware of the bump in RAM until the PS4 reveal. Just Add Water's CEO, Stewart Gilray, spoke with VideoGamer.com, teasing that they're working on a mystery title for the PS4, said that third-party developers were told that the PS4 would feature just 4GB of RAM, but were very surprised when the PS4 system lead architect, Mark Cerny, announced the 8GB of RAM cranking along inside of the PlayStation 4.
Gilray told VideoGamer.com: