Gaming - Page 1811

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.

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?

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."

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.

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.

It's a problem with all turn-based strategy games that have this much data being processed per turn. It's not related to the graphics (though we do wish they were slightly better here), but it's common and it's annoying. The delay that happens deep into a very tough and demanding mission when you relinquish your turn to the evil alien overlords. It's slow, incredibly so, but there's a way to speed things up with a new community made mod called "Stop Wasting my Time."

This mod can't quite speed up those calculations, but it can remove some unnecessary pauses that occur at some points throughout the game, which ends up shaving off a significant amount of time, time that could otherwise be spent looking at the overview with a sad look on your face as you're confronted with nearly impossible odds, a small tear escaping down your cheek.

There are some pauses that can't be removed by modding, but everything else that can be, has been. In the latest iteration even removes some voiceovers that pause the game, telling you things you likely already know anyway. They also speed up unit movement by 20%, which is enough to keep things immersive and just short of Sonic the Hedgehog speeds. The full changes and what the mod does are listed in pretty bullet form below.

Yesterday we reported that it was likely that Crash Bandicoot would finally be revived after a long hiatus from his preferred platform. He hasn't even called us to let us know he's okay. A comment was made at the New York Toy Faire by the president of NECA about making toys based on the mischievous bandicoot, but that comment was apparently not actually true, and was misunderstood.

NECA isn't making any toys on the famous character, at least they aren't anytime in the near future. A representative of the company reached out to GameSpot to tell them that otherwise. "It's not the case," the rep from NECA said. "Someone has misunderstood a comment he made. Randy saw a faked fan-made image right before he came to the show and said that if the game were coming back, we'd love to do figures."

So while the rumor isn't true, it doesn't mean it's completely out of the question. Even the PlayStation Mid East Twitter account is excited for the franchise and wants it back, and the tweet from them might be a sign that ideas are at least being thrown around at high-levels to make it a reality. It's unfortunate that a fan-made UE 4 game hasn't been released yet.

Any blossoming action RPG in development, such as Exoplanet: First Contact, is going to want to have a wide variety of different set pieces to keep you interested, and to help you suspend your believe that you're in some far off land. Wildlife, pets, livestock and creatures in general, especially in a far off star system, are just as important as the landscape to make it a unique and ultimately fun experience. Moving battle fortresses make it that much more fantastic, because who wouldn't want to train one to walk around like a sail barge in the desolate landscape.

Moving battle fortresses make it that much more fantastic, because who wouldn't want to train one to walk around like a sail barge in the desolate landscape. But the real reason why they're being added to the game is due to the desolate frontier that you'll be exploring. Fuel is an expensive commodity, one that costs far more than the grass upon which this delightful herbivore would nom upon. Meaning it's easier and cheaper, and better, to get around on the back of a massive creature than in the relative comfort of a small ship.

The idea is only in the planning stages, but the possibility of having a customization mount (akin to ARK perhaps, but better) could easily come to fruition here. Nurture your mount from a wee babe and then equip specially crafted armor, weapon mounts and even prison modules, or others, to customize it for your occupation of choice. What a way to get around, even if it's slightly slower than zipping along at high-speed in an covered, craft.

Hideo Kojima approached the Gears of War Creator, Cliff Bleszinski, regarding a partnership in a new type of Silent Hill, one that could potentially be something unique and a return to something fascinating for the series. But good ol' Cliff just didn't want to do it. But at least his reasons are sound, and surprisingly responsible.

I don't think that anyone can blame him for not enjoying LA, it's a place that you either love or harbor deep hate for. And of course he's working on his own new IP which is something that he most definitely won't want to just walk away from, or even delay. And because of the special nature of Silent Hill, he doesn't want to ruin it either.

That's a very responsible thing for anyone to say. Some directors or producers would be absolutely thrilled to be able to work on such an IP, adding their own vision to something that could harm fans perception of it and potentially desecrating a sacred franchise already marred with sub-par impressions.

I don't even... so, the last DLC for Battlefield Hardline is coming in March and it'll provide a sword. Yeah, we're not joking - a sword.

Both cops and robbers get to use the swords, with the new weapon being only one of seven new weapons being introduced with the new DLC. Battlefield Hardline: Betrayal will also include four new maps: Alcatraz, Cemetery, Chinatown and Thin Ice.

Two new vehicles and some customization options on primary weapons and uniforms will also make the cut, with Betrayal implementing an update to Hardline that adds 11 more weapons and new server presets. Betrayal concludes the DLC schedule for Battlefield Hardline, which launches in March 2015 and has been barely surviving since.