Warning: The latest PS3 system update is causing problems
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It's probably worth holding off updating your PlayStation 3 firmware to version 4.45, as reports are flooding in that it is causing issues with consoles.
Many PlayStation 3 owners have taken to the official US PlayStation forums to report that the update has bricked their consoles, causing it to freeze on the ribbon screen.
It's unclear whether the update is causing the above problem on all consoles, but it's probably worth holding off until we get the all-clear from Sony.
Hotline Miami 2 is darker, more emotional, out this year
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be out later this year, says Dennaton co-founder Denis Wedin.
Speaking with Joystiq at E3, Wedlin said the “late 2013” release will be available on Windows, Mac, and Linux via Steam.
When questioned if like the original it would get a Vita release, Wedlin said, “We hope so”.
Xbox One sharing functions curbed
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As a result of Microsoft dropping the Xbox One’s online requirements, the system’s sharing functions have been altered.
Xbox Live VP Marc Whitten went over the changes with Kotaku: "There’s a few things we won’t be able to deliver as a result of this change," he said.
When the Xbox One was unveiled, Microsoft stated that up to 10 people could be added to an account as “family”, and one at a time would then be able to play that account’s games from their own console – even if they didn’t own the game and the game’s owner was also playing. This function will no longer be available – when the console launches, at least.
Game prices will not be higher for next-gen consoles
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Both Sony and Microsoft have confirmed that first-party game prices on their upcoming consoles will be the same as they are right now.
A Microsoft representative told Polygon that it would sell its first-party Xbox One games for US$59.99 – the same price as most new releases on Xbox 360.
"I can confirm that Microsoft Studios games on Xbox One will be $59.99 (MSRP)," the representative said.
A multiplayer Steel Diver will be Nintendo's first free-to-play game
Nintendo’s first free-to-play game will be a multiplayer-focussed Steel Diver title.
Speaking with IGN, Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto said that the game wouldn’t be a port of the existing Steel Diver title on 3DS, which suggests that it will be a Wii U release. Nintendo did not confirm platforms, however.
"There is something we’re doing with the Steel Diver idea that I think is going to open things up with that game... It’s going to be very fun,” said Miyamoto.
Shadowrun Returns delayed another month
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The release of Shadowrun Returns has been delayed until July 25, developer Harebrained Schemes has announced.
The game was initially expected in January but was delayed until earlier this month.
“We know we’ve been saying June for some time, but now that we’ve reached this final stage of development, and although our Kickstarter funding was spent some time ago, we've decided to invest additional time in bugfixing and polishing the game,” said Harebrained in an update on the game’s Kickstarter page.
Sony not expecting third-parties to employ DRM on PS4
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Although it’s possible for third-parties to implement DRM measures on the PlayStation 4, Sony is not expecting anything serious to surface.
Speaking with Polygon, PlayStation executive Scott Rohde said that the appearance of heavy DRM measures from outside companies would come as a shock.
"Quite frankly it would be pretty surprising to me to see a third party come up with some way to set a new set of DRM rules," he said.
Fruit Ninja and Wild Tangent devs to headline NZGDC
Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride producer Jason Harwood and and former Microsoft GM and Wild Tangent founder Alex St John will be the keynote speakers at this year’s NZ Game Developers Conference.
The conference will cover technology, art, business, and marketing topics, but also feature a number of game launch post-mortems from the likes of Grinding Gear Games’ managing director Chris Wilson (Path of Exile) and Rocket Jump Games’ Anthony Blackett (Major Mayhem).
More than 200 game developers from around New Zealand will be in attendance, and representatives from local studios PikPok, Gameloft, NinjaKiwi, Grinding Gear Games, Cerebral Fix, Majic Jungle, Minimonos, Rush Digital, Runaway Play, RocketJump Games, Flightless, and many more will speak.
We don't care what other companies are doing – Nintendo
Nintendo’s Wii U was overshadowed by its competitors at this year’s E3 and is rapidly losing third-party support, but the company doesn’t seem particularly worried.
Speaking with CNN, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that Nintendo wasn’t concerned about other next-gen consoles as the Wii U’s strategy was completely unique.
"We just don't care too much about what other companies are doing or are trying to do," said Iwata.
Used market proof games are too short, lack replay value – Just Cause dev
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The size of the second-hand games market is proof that games are too short and not replayable enough, says Avalanche Studios’ Christofer Sundberg.
The studio CCO told Edge that Just Cause 2 still attracts “hundreds of thousands” of players every day because it offered a decent amount of replayability.
“If you’re offering little variation, then there’s no motivation for the player to keep that game, unless they want to have a nice bookshelf,” said Sundberg.
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Thursday 20 June
Microsoft drops Xbox One online checks, sharing restrictions
Wednesday 19 June
A multiplayer Steel Diver will be Nintendo's first free-to-play game
We don't care what other companies are doing – Nintendo
Used market proof games are too short, lack replay value – Just Cause dev
Tuesday 18 June
Microsoft is "over-delivering value" with the Xbox One – Mattrick
State of Decay sequel likely as game crosses half million sold mark
Wicked Paradise is a virtual sex game for Oculus Rift
Monday 17 June
Civilization V: Brave New World - Featurette 4: World Congress & Diplomacy video
Shorter production cycles, Xbox Live brought Sunset Overdrive to XO
Sunday 16 June
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