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“Microsoft did not target the highest-end graphics” – Xbox One engineer

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:02:00 +1200

A Microsoft engineer says the company purposefully didn’t aim for the highest possible specs on the Xbox One.

Speaking in a video touting the power of the Xbox One, Microsoft’s silicon development general manager Greg Williams told Engadget that Microsoft's engineers “purposefully did not target the highest-end graphics”.

"We targeted more as a broad entertainment play and did it in an intelligent way," he said.

Xbox One down-under: we speak with Microsoft's Phil Harrison

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:47:00 +1200

What do you want your home console to do – to be – in five years’ time?

It’s a question that appears to drive the design imperative behind the Xbox One. Its predecessor, the Xbox 360, has endured some eight years as a game console despite its origins in the context of a 2004 world. And if there’s something that Microsoft can take away from this experience, it’s that modern hardware now – more than ever – needs to evolve with rapidly changing times. Simply put, it must not only fulfil the needs of today, but it must be flexible enough to accommodate whatever might lie ahead.

Batman: Arkham Origins official trailer

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:53:00 +1200

Taking place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous villains and assassins, Arkham Origins showcases a young, raw, unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger launch trailer

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:13:00 +1200

Choose the specific gun fighting skills you want to develop and acquire new abilities to become the West's finest gunslinger.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist co-op trailer

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:55:00 +1200

Splinter Cell Blacklist offers two player co-op mode with 4 mission types, 14 maps with 2 player split-screen.

Battlefield 4 release date announced

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:20:00 +1200

Battlefield 4 will be available from October 31, DICE has announced.

The game is confirmed for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.

“Powered by the advanced Frostbite 3 engine, Battlefield 4 delivers a genre-defining all-out war experience brought to life with unmatched visual and audio fidelity, superior character animations, and dynamic destruction that ensures no two matches are alike,” said DICE.

Resident Evil: Revelations launch trailer

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:18:00 +1200

The fear that was originally brought to players in Resident Evil Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS system returns redefined for home consoles, says Capcom.

The indies react: No self-publishing on Xbox Live hands money to competitors

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:14:00 +1200

Destructoid has gathered a number of developer reactions to the news that Microsoft won’t allow self-publishing on the new Xbox Live.

It's worth noting that Sony, Nintendo, and Valve all allow self-publishing on their respective game distribution platforms.

Brian Provinciano, creator of Retro City Rampage:

Hardware: Shipbreakers "Baserunner" trailer

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:57:00 +1200

Blackbird Interactive, the development team made up of the original creators of space combat RTS Homeworld and Homeworld 2, introduces the Baserunner in Hardware: Shipbreakers in this new trailer. "The history of these iconic, massive armored titans will mark just the beginning of information to come as we unfurl the deep lore of this online sci-fi RTS."

Triple-A development "fundamentally broken" – former Trion Worlds GM

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:00 +1200

The current model of triple-A game development is fundamentally broken, according to former Trion Worlds general manager and CCO Scott Hartsman.

Speaking with Massively, Hartsman made it clear that he was talking about the system rather than companies or individuals.

“I don't know of anyone who's hired with the intent of treating people disposably. No one ever wants that, even the companies frequently perceived as ‘evil’,” he said.

Remedy explains absence of Alan Wake sequel

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:30:00 +1200

Remedy creative director Sam Lake has taken to YouTube to explain why his studio is developing a new IP rather than an Alan Wake sequel.

Yesterday at Microsoft’s Xbox One reveal, Remedy announced a new IP by the name of Quantum Break, but many were hoping for Alan Wake 2.

“After the first game, we worked hard to make the sequel happen,” said Lake.

Overhauled Xbox Live still won't allow indies to self publish

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:58:00 +1200

Although Xbox Live is getting an overhaul, indie developers won’t be able to self-publish on the platform, Microsoft has confirmed.

With the launch of the Xbox One, the company is merging its Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Indie Game, and Xbox Games on Demand channels into one consolidated marketplace.

However, unlike PlayStation and Nintendo – both of which allow self-publishing in their respective eShops – Microsoft is insisting that indie developers be represented by third-party publishers or Microsoft itself.

Ryse an Xbox One exclusive, launch title

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:11:00 +1200

Ancient Rome first-person hack ‘n’ slash Ryse is an Xbox One exclusive, Crytek has announced.

It will also be a launch title for Microsoft’s new system.

Announced during E3 2010, Ryse was described as "Microsoft's new Gears of War/Halo mega launch title".

Microsoft backpedals on Xbox One used game, always online statements

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:17:00 +1200

Microsoft has stated that comments made today by its own employees about the Xbox One's always-online and used games functions were just “potential scenarios” rather than facts.

Regarding used games, Microsoft had told Wired earlier today that if an Xbox One game disc was used with an Xbox Live account it wasn’t registered to, the player would be given the option to pay a fee and install the game from the disc.

Microsoft vice president Phil Harrison then told Eurogamer that a second hand market would exist.

Call of Duty: Ghosts preview

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:46:00 +1200

No other franchise creates a rift in the gaming community the way Call of Duty does. For some gamers, Call of Duty represents the very epitome of disposable entertainment, war porn shipped annually in bulk to fraternity houses the world over; a game whose success is testament to the inevitable triumph of marketing over substance. There goes the neighbourhood.

But outside of those circles, there’s another, more enduring and more popular narrative: Call of Duty – a videogame, no less – is the world’s most popular entertainment product, one impatiently anticipated and rabidly received by many millions of fans each November, and one whose success legitimises an entire industry in the eyes of its peers in the wider field of entertainment. No Roger, games are big business now, just look at that Call a’ Doody.

From a stage in a converted warehouse in Santa Monica, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg points out to assembled press that you could count on one hand the intellectual properties that have the staying power of Call of Duty. Star Wars, maybe a few more. That’s true, and for that reason alone, asserts Hirshberg correctly, Call of Duty deserves admiration.

Forza Motorsport 5 announcement trailer

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:04:00 +1200

Forza Motorsport 5, from Turn 10 Studios, is "the latest edition of the highest-rated racing franchise of the past 10 years. Forza Motorsport 5 sets a new bar for racing games. With the power of Xbox and the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel. Available exclusively for launch."

Forza Motorsport 5 screenshots

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:57:00 +1200

At today's Xbox One reveal, Microsoft Game Studios announced Forza Motorsport 5 for that console.

The game will be available for the console from its launch day on.

MGS also promised it was working on 14 other games for the Xbox One that would all come in the 12 months following the console's launch.

Call of Duty: Ghosts screenshots

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:41:00 +1200

Activision has released half a dozen screens of COD: Ghosts running on an Xbox One.

The big announcement today was that the game featured dogs as members of the player's squad.

The game – the tenth in the Call of Duty franchise – is in development at Infinity Ward, whose last COD title was 2011's Modern Warfare 3.

Xbox One interface screens

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:59:00 +1200

Screens of Xbox One's interface - the dashboard, as well as DVR and TV menus.

Microsoft has extended the Kinect's voice recognition capabilities, so all menus may be navigated using that peripheral.

The company also touted the Xbox One's ability to run several applications at once, so expect dashboard access in-game.

Xbox One hardware photos

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:47:00 +1200

A mix of official photos from Microsoft and snaps from Chris Leggett, who is reporting from the Xbox One reveal event.

Microsoft made a point of revealing its hardware at the very beginning of this morning's event.

The Xbox One's controller looks similar to the Xbox 360 controller, but Microsoft says more than 40 changes were made.

Here are all the games confirmed for the Xbox One so far

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:07:00 +1200

A number of developers have confirmed games they have in development for the Xbox One.

Microsoft Game Studios has plans for more than 15 exclusive games in the console's first year, eight of which are brand new franchises.

One of these games is Forza Motorsport 5, which will be a launch title.

The new Kinect is always listening, can detect heartbeats

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:43:00 +1200

The new Xbox will always be listening to you, even when it's switched off.

Xbox One comes bundled with a new version of Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, and this must be connected to the console for the console to function.

Moreover, the console is able to be powered on with a voice command – that is, it’s always listening.

Xbox One: not always online, plays used games, not backwards compatible

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:19:00 +1200

The Xbox One will not have to be connected to the Internet all the time, Microsoft has confirmed.

In a Q&A on its official site, the company wrote: “No, it does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet.”

“We’re designing Xbox One to be your all-in-one entertainment system that is connected to the cloud and always ready. We are also designing it so you can play games and watch Blu-ray movies and live TV if you lose your connection.”

Microsoft unveils the Xbox One

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:24:00 +1200

Live Blog

Don Mattrick is on stage.
The new Xbox is called Xbox One.

The Last of Us hands-on

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:55:00 +1200

Call it Gaia’s revenge.

The Last of Us could be an environmentalism parable: sick of our polluting ways, mother nature goes on the offensive, deploying a fungus that kills most of humankind and turns the survivors against one another. Curiously, the result is equal parts terrifying and tranquil, with our extinction coming at the pace of starvation rather than decapitation.

The bulk of this demo is from the game’s “Lincoln” stage, with Joel and Ellie seeking Bill, an acquaintance of the former who might have access to a functioning car. Bill owes Joel a big favour for reasons that remain a mystery, but since the two last met Bill has become paranoid, isolating himself behind a series of traps.

The Last of Us hands-on screenshots

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:52:00 +1200

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First contact: a debriefing on XCOM shooter The Bureau

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:21:00 +1200

Q: We haven't seen or heard from "the shooter formerly known as XCOM" for some time. Now it has been renamed The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and its clear much has changed. Where to begin?

Bihary: There are some pillars we’d like to talk about today. One is the tone and the setting, then we’re going to talk about your agents and the Battle Focus, then combat and consequences.

But let me give you a little backstory briefly about what The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is bringing to the table. The premise is that it’s 1962, the United States – North America – during the height of the Cold War. There’s a lot of tension, there are a lot of unknowns in terms of foreign powers, and at the time, it was a very peaceful domestic environment, tapering off at the end of the ‘50s, and sort of a golden age.

Resident Evil: Revelations review

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:12:00 +1200

Revelations is a lesser experience on console simply because more is expected. Upsized for TVs, several flaws become apparent. A great game on handheld, here it’s merely acceptable.

For the Resident Evil series, 2012 was a year of quantity, if not quality. Resident Evil 6 was mediocre at best, and Operation Raccoon City was widely panned. An action game at heart, the former distorted the gameplay tropes of the series as much as any T-Virus variant distorts human biology.

The 3DS-exclusive Resident Evil: Revelations represented the exact opposite – it played it safe, embracing everything that had come to define the series. Although it did nothing revolutionary, Revelations was heralded as positive iteration. Its console port doesn’t deserve such lofty praise, but it’s still a solid title in its own right.

In archetypical Resident Evil fashion, the foes here are bioterrorists. A city called Terragrigia – a sort of hippy Atlantis that runs on solar power – is assaulted by a shadowy organisation called Il Veltro using lizard men of all things. The player character is Jill “Master of Unlocking” Valentine, who along with series newcomer and fellow Federal BioTerrorism Commission employee Parker Luciani, is investigating the SS Queen Zenobia in search of series regular Chris Redfield and his partner Jessica.

Arkham Origins has its Batman and Joker

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:00 +1200

Warner Bros. has revealed which actors lend their voices to the leads in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins.

Roger Craig Smith is Batman, while Troy Baker will tackle the Joker.

Smith has previously voiced Assassin's Creed’s Ezio Auditore and Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield.

Dyack responds to mismanagement allegations in bid to save Eternals Kickstarter

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:38:00 +1200

Precursor Games chief creative officer Denis Dyack has taken to YouTube to defend his past actions in a bid to save Precursor’s Shadow of the Eternals Kickstarter campaign.

A week in, the game’s Kickstarter has raised just 16 per cent of its US$1,350,000 goal, with Dyack’s involvement commonly cited as the factor that is keeping pledges away.

Dyack was the target of a number of scathing allegations last year in a Kotaku piece that sought to document the troubled development of the critically panned X-Men: Destiny at Silicon Knights.

Next-gen console sales will be the highest yet - Microsoft

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:26:00 +1200

One day ahead of its next Xbox reveal, Microsoft has shared some statistics that it says show console gaming has not yet peaked.

According to data from various research firms that has been aggregated by Microsoft, the number of next generation consoles sold (an estimated 385 million) will be 28 per cent higher than current gen figures.

Further, console gaming is the leading source of revenue in gaming, scooping up US$27 billion (NZ$33 billion) of the US$65 billion (NZ$80 billion) that is apparently spent on gaming worldwide (42 per cent).

A Syndicate Wars reboot could be coming to Kickstarter

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:05:00 +1200

A YouTube video from a developer called 5Lives Studio appears to be teasing a Kickstarter campaign for a Syndicate Wars reboot.

Syndicate Wars is the acclaimed third game in the much-loved Syndicate series. It was released on PC in 1996, and on PlayStation the following year.

Text from the video reads: “In 1996 this man [face obscured] created a Bullfrog masterpiece. In 2013, with your help, we will redefine the genre.”

Kickstarter roundup – week beginning May 20

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:32:00 +1200

Below are a handful of games that in the past week have been added to Kickstarter, hit their funding goal, or failed miserably on the popular crowdfunding site.

As a rule, we generally don't report on games that seek or attract less than US$50,000, and a game's appearance here should not be taken as a recommendation. Remember to back projects wisely – you know, just like everyone did with the Ouya.

Recently Funded

Kingdoms of Amalur, Demon's Souls, Rayman Legends headline June PlayStation Plus

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:34:00 +1200

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Demon’s Souls, and Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD are all coming to PlayStation Plus, Sony has announced.

Reckoning is a quality RPG that developer 38 Studios attempted to make into an MMO before it rather conspicuously ran out of money.

Demon’s Souls is an excellent and tough action-RPG that serves as a spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls.

Ouya will be available to demo in a carpark during E3

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:22:00 +1200

Ouya has announced it will be demoing its upcoming console in a parking lot directly across from E3 for the duration of that conference.

According to a press release sent out to developers by Ouya head of developer relations Kellee Santiago, the company’s setup will include everything required for game makers to “put on a killer game demo" during the E3 conference, which runs from June 12-14.

“Ouya’s E3 location will be 100 per cent open to the public – no credentials required!” said Santiago.

Wii U "crap", Nintendo "Walking Dead" – EA engineer

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:02:00 +1200

An EA employee has tweeted some fairly pointed comments about the Wii U, only days after his company confirmed that it had no games planned for Nintendo's console.

In a series of since-deleted tweets, EA senior software engineer Bob Summerwill was fairly undiplomatic towards the young device.

"The Wii U is crap,” Summerwill began.

Ubisoft had a great financial year thanks to Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:28:00 +1200

Sales of Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III sent Ubisoft profits soaring in the last financial year, the company has revealed.

Last week the French publisher and developer announced that it shipped 12 million copies of Assassin’s Creed III and six million of Far Cry 3 on its way to sales of €1.256 billion (AU$1.65 billion) and an operating income of €100.3 million (AU$131.73 million).

That meant overall revenue was up 18.3% from the 2012 financial year, and Ubisoft stock rose about 10 per cent as a result.

Win a gaming PC rig with Metro: Last Light

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:00 +1200

IT IS THE YEAR 2034. Beneath the ruins of post-apocalyptic Moscow, in the tunnels of the Metro, the remnants of mankind are besieged by deadly threats from outside – and within. Mutants stalk the catacombs beneath the desolate surface, and hunt amidst the poisoned skies above.

But rather than stand united, the station-cities of the Metro are locked in a struggle for the ultimate power, a doomsday device from the military vaults of D6. A civil war is stirring that could wipe humanity from the face of the earth forever. As Artyom, burdened by guilt but driven by hope, you hold the key to our survival – the last light in our darkest hour…

Three Sonic titles coming to Wii U

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:00 +1200

Nintendo announced two new games at last week’s Nintendo Direct broadcast: Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Sonic: Lost World.

The games are part of a three game partnership between Nintendo and Sega, said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

Mario & Sonic is a Wii U exclusive, and will allow players to participate in events such as bobsledding, snowboarding, skiing, skating, and the biathlon, using both Wiimotes and the GamePad.

Nintendo takes revenue from YouTube uploaders

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:58:00 +1200

Nintendo is claiming ownership over some YouTube videos that feature its games, gathering any revenue from the videos in the process.

The company appears to be targeting “Let’s Play” videos – playthroughs of games that can be quite lucrative for the uploader thanks to revenue from ads.

According to popular YouTube personality Zack Scott, Nintendo is issuing “content ID match” claims, preventing video creators from monetising the content.

New Guilty Gear game announced

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:48:00 +1200

A new Guilty Gear title is on the way, Arc System Works has announced.

Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- will be directed by series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari.

The first Guilty Gear title was released in 1998, with Ishiwatari providing game’s now-signature hard rock soundtrack.

EA not developing any more games for Wii U

Sat, 18 May 2013 10:58:00 +1200

EA has confirmed what was already apparent from its release schedule: the publishing giant is no longer making games for Nintendo's Wii U console.

"We have no games in development for the Wii U currently," EA spokesperson Jeff Brown told Kotaku.

The platform was conspicuously absent from the announcements of upcoming EA games including Battlefield 4, Madden NFL 25 and FIFA 14.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Under the Black Flag trailer

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:19:00 +1200

Experience the brash and brutal world of Assassin's Creed 4 through the eyes of Edward Kenway. Learn the rules he and his crew live by, and how they defy and unleash hell on the unjust and powerful empires of the early 18th century.

GRID 2 Uncovered: Okutama Drift trailer

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:32:00 +1200

In this GRID 2 gameplay video, developers head to Okutama and take part in a drift event.

Scribblenauts Unmasked announcement trailer

Fri, 17 May 2013 07:30:00 +1200

Maxwell unites with Batman, Superman and the rest of The Justice League to restore order to the DC Comics universe in Scribblenauts Unmasked, coming this spring.

The Gameplanet Show – 17/05/2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:10:00 +1200

This week James and Chris are joined by special guest Dan Rutledge of TV3 fame, and those three ravishing men talk the Carmageddon, a depressing game by the name of "Papers, Please", Nvidia Shield, ranting StarCraft pros, Rift, The Incredible Machine, Shadow Warrior, and so much more. Do tune in, won't you?

Metro: Last Light launch trailer

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:54:00 +1200

In the year 2034, a nuclear war has turned the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In Moscow, the tunnels of the Metro have become a new home for the former inhabitants of the city. Within the catacombs, they fight for their survival, fending off hordes of hideous mutants born from the toxic atmosphere, as well as other factions desperate to take control of what little hospitable land remains.

Borderlands 2 Psycho launch trailer

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:27:00 +1200

Listen as Sir Hammerlock explains all of the mad and marvelous abilities, skills and powers of the newest playable Vault Hunter, the Psycho Bandit.

The making of a psycho: meet Krieg, Borderlands 2’s newest character

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:25:00 +1200

Q: Who is Krieg?

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified "Origin Declassified" trailer

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:18:00 +1200

At the height of the Cold War, The Bureau discovers a series of mysterious transmissions. Agent Carter and his team investigate the signal's origin and conceal it to protect citizens from the truth.