Last Week In Gaming (12/03/12 – 18/03/12)
Big change. Decided to change the name of this (again), to “Last Week In Gaming”. Makes more sense than This Week In Gaming when it is about news and releases from the past week.
Games Released: Blades Of Time, Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2012, Fifa Street, Journey, Twisted Metal, Yakuza: Dead Souls
Upcoming Skyrim DLC “Will Feel More Like A World Expansion”
” You have to admit that there are too many flimsy DLC releases out there. Some just feature a map. Others feature a forgettable character add-on. The hard truth is that, when it comes to betting the most content bang for your buck, many of the DLCs for much of the big game series out there just plain old miss the mark. Not on Bethesda’s watch, apparently.
According to the developer, they will be taking a more deliberate DLC approach than what they did with Fallout 3. The plan for The Elder Scrolls 5 – Skyrim is to deliver beefier DLCs. Indeed, according to Bethesda’s Todd Howard, they plan to take more of their time putting together more content-rich packages. In fact, the DLCs would feel more like expansion packs. “
Diablo 3 Release Date FINALLY Confirmed
” Diablo 3 will launch on May 15, Blizzard has confirmed in a statement.
The statement reads, “The end is nigh! Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced that Diablo III, the next chapter in its critically acclaimed action role-playing game series, will be unleashed from the Burning Hells on May 15.”
Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment added to the statement, “After many years of hard work by our development team and months of beta testing by hundreds of thousands of dedicated players around the world, we’re now in the homestretch.” “
http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1283920/diablo_3_release_date_confirmed.html
Walking Dead: The Game To Be Released
” More than a year ago, we found out that The Walking Dead: The Game was coming, but developer Telltale Games never said what systems it was coming to. Today, Telltale confirmed that the five-episode adventure game is coming to Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, PC, Mac and iOS. The first episode will arrive in April with the next four to follow regularly. “
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/122/1220823p1.html
EA To Close Down More Servers
” EA has announced the latest batch of server shut-downs, effectively calling an end to multiplayer activity on a bunch of titles. Some of these required a payed Online Pass. Across all formats, servers for a total of 11 games are being shut on April 13th, seven of which are on Xbox 360. These include Burnout Revenge, FIFA 10, The Godfather II, Need for Speed ProStreet and The Saboteur.
Rather worryingly, some of the listed games have only been available for a short time and quite a few require pre-owned purchasers to dish out extra for Online Passes. That means that despite generating revenue directly from these titles, specifically for their online components, the publisher has still chosen to halt support. “
Videos
Closure Trailer
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Trailer
This Week In Gaming (27/2/12 – 04/03/12)
Games Released: Alan Wake (PC), Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, Nexuiz, SSX
Kingdom Hearts 3D Has A Leaked Europe Release Date
It seems that Square Enix has derped a bit the past week, as their official French website briefly had a release date for Kingdom Hearts 3D (also known as Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance). The game is being released in Japan at the end of this month, but the date “July 27th 2012″ was leaked and noticed by GimmeGimmeGames. The release date was changed rather quickly back to just Summer 2012 though. Guess we will just wait for a proper confirmation from Square Enix themselves.
http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/121/1219495p1.html
GAME Not Stocking EA’s Mass Effect 3
It’s times like this that I’m happy that I place my preorders at ShopTo now (also the fact that getting games a bit early is cool). Both GAME and the sister shop Gamestation, leading UK high street game selling people, confirmed rumours that Mass Effect 3 wouldn’t be stocked due to “stock problems”, and cancelled preorders that have already been made. It is an interesting time for this to happen, with the company recently having to credit problems.
It shouldn’t be much of a problem for the people who preordered the game, all they have to do now is just preorder somewhere else.
Bioshock: Infinite To Release Middle Of October
While I’ve never played a Bioshock game myself, even with having both the Bioshock games on Steam, it is still good to hear that Bioshock: Infinite has a set release date for this fall. I haven’t seen much of the game myself, but it could probably become one of them games that I didn’t plan on getting but ended up getting and enjoying (like Saints Row: The Third last year).
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/121/1219768p1.html
Assassin’s Creed 3 Roams The Internet
While Assassin’s Creed 3 isn’t going to be set inside of the world wide web like the title could imply, we have had leaked screenshots, box art and information for Assassin’s Creed 3. The game looks like it will be set around the American Revolution, and is being built with a new engine to Assassin’s Creed 2, Brotherhood and Revelations. The question is this though, is all this information actually true?
(note: the first trailer was released by Ubisoft today (Monday), and it looks like the information is all good! The trailer can be found here)
http://gdinews.com/2012/03/assassins-creed-3-details-leaked-info-screenshots-art/
Videos
Mass Effect 3 “Fight” Live Action Trailer
Dirt Showdown
This Week In Gaming (10/10/11 – 16/10/11)
Games Released: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, Forza 4, Just Dance 3, PES 2012, Skylanders, Spiderman: Edge Of Time, WRC 2
Next Weeks Releases: Adventures of Tintin: The Game, Batman: Arkham City, Dance Central 2, Football Manager 2012, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, The Sims 3: Pets, Tropico 4
Events: MLG Orlando 2011, New York Comic Con
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Mass Effect 3 To Have Co-op Multiplayer
” BioWare has finally confirmed the inclusion of online multiplayer in Mass Effect 3, detailing the co-op modes and new ‘Galaxy at War’ mechanics headed to the game. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control.
Mass Effect 3′s ‘Galaxy at War’ system is described as a “bonus to the campaign” and a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts. “
I’m glad that they haven’t tried to go for the versus multiplayer route, as it just wouldn’t have worked, but I can’t help but think that Mass Effect should have stayed strictly multiplayer. We can’t decide whether the big addition will be a good thing until March.
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New Xbox Dashboard Update In November
” Microsoft will refresh the Xbox 360′s dashboard on November 25, according to sources close to GigaOM. If true, the update will bring a host of new features on Black Friday, including HBO and Verizon apps in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK. The report also states that the new apps will be built, for the most part, using Microsoft Silverlight, an application framework used for writing and running rich internet applications. “
Happens every year, and this year it looks like there will be a bigger change in terms of the looks. It is supposed to be more Kinect friendly. Will take some time to get used to, but so does everything.
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/119/1199225p1.html
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Gran Turismo 5 Spec 2.0 Released
” Gran Turismo 5‘s biggest update yet, Spec 2.0, is here! It weighs in at exactly 1192 MB, and is available now at no charge — just load up your game and put your Internet connection to work. “
Multiple new NASCAR cars have been added, as well as a simplified cockpit view for all the standard cars, and much much more. Definitely the biggest update that the game has had. It’s a bit of a shame that my copy of Gran Turismo 5 was traded in this summer, but I probably wouldn’t have gotten around to playing it anyway with the many other games on my plate.
http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-spec-2-0-now-available/
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Microsoft Buys Twisted Pixel
” Microsoft has announced the acquisition of Austin, Texas-based game developer Twisted Pixel, the creative minds behind Xbox LIVE Arcade titles such as “Splosion Man” and the recent Kinect for Xbox 360 title, “The Gunstringer.”
From its beginnings in 2006 as independent studio developing award-winning Xbox LIVE Arcade titles, Twisted Pixel will now bring its talented team of developers to Microsoft Studios to help incubate and develop the future of game and entertainment offerings on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 platform. “
Twisted Pixel are a great and creative studio and Microsoft has made the right decision to buy them, so that Twisted Pixel can thrive even more with the equipment Microsoft can provide.
http://majornelson.com/2011/10/12/welcome-twisted-pixel-to-microsoft-studios/
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Other News
MW3 & BF3 Developers Ignore Rivalry
Skyrim Can Be Completed In 2 Hours 16 Minutes
Slient Hill: Downpour Delayed
Daytona USA Coming To XBLA & PSN
Videos
Hitman: Absolution Teaser
Syndicate SP – “Executive Search”
Barcelona – Extras
The last part, and these are extra photos I took while on the airplane. I did take some videos of landing both times too, but I didn’t upload them.
The way there was great because there weren’t many clouds, and the country in Spain not long before we landed were brilliant. On the way back there were some pretty interesting clouds too, compared to usual.
Just click on the thumbnail to expand it. A little bit of text is with the images. The watermark is there to help if someone tries to steal the photos (I highly doubt they would though).
This Week In Gaming (27/06/11 – 03/07/11)
Game Releases: Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition, Tour de France: The Official Game, UFC Personal Trainer
DLC Releases: Black Ops Annihilation MP
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Forza 4 Limited Collectors Ed. Announced
“Forza 4 now comes in Limited Collector’s Edition flavor, or at least it will when the game launches this October. The LCE boasts a 96-page photo book, no less than 4 bonus car packs, vinyl stickers, an exclusive BMW Dashboard theme, and “special recognition in the Forza community. As far as the cars go, the “VIP Pack” grants 5 of the world’s fastest and least pronounceable cars, including the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Cars of Forza Motorsport 4 Presented by Top Gear is a 96-page gallery of auto-erotica, highlighting the game’s many vehicles via images from Top Gear’s “extensive” collection and color commentary from the publication’s editors.”
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/27/forza-4-limited-collectors-edition-packs-exclusive-cars-96-pag/
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Call Of Duty To Get Own Convention
“Activision just announced a 2-day event called Call of Duty XP 2011. Activision is hoping to attract over 6,000 Call of Duty fans to LA this September for their first Call of Duty XP convention. Activision Blizzard CEO Eric Hirshberg told us, “Everything you could possibly want from a live Call of Duty experience, we’re going to try and deliver to people.” Fans who attend this 2-day event can expect to hear more details about Modern Warfare 3, including multiplayer details, a first look at the full feature set for Call of Duty Elite, and have an opportunity to play the game for the themselves.”
http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/06/30/call-of-duty-gets-its-own-quakecon.aspx
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Trenched NOT Released In Europe
“Double Fine’s Trenched can’t be released in certain parts of Europe because nobody at Microsoft thought to look up trademarks. If somebody had, they’d know that a Portuguese board game called Trench has the rights to the name. Rui Alípio Monteiro filed the trademark in 2007, and it covers videogames as well. Monteiro refused to make a statement on the matter, as did Microsoft. This news could mean a lengthy delay for Trenched in Europe.”
http://www.destructoid.com/trenched-not-in-in-europe-due-to-portuguese-board-game-204965.phtml
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Limbo Coming To PS3 & PC This Summer
“”This might be the second time around we have been waiting for,” Patti said, referencing his quote from last May in which he said, “You won’t see a PS3 or PC version this time around.” Patti said that “Limbo is in production for Steam and PSN, and is coming very soon.” With a release date of “very soon” he predictably said more details would be coming shortly. The small Playdead team is handling both ports itself, while also working on a new IP. “To be honest, we want as many people to play our games as possible,” Patti told us last year at the Indiecade festival. “If we end up going exclusive, we may do it for various reasons, but we just want as many people to play the game as possible.”"
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/30/limbo-coming-to-steam-and-psn-playdead-handling-the-ports/
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Other Notable News
Supreme Court Decides On California Violent Video Game Case
New Bill Will Make JTV/Youtube Game Streamers Criminals
Barcelona – Day 4
Day 4 of my Barcelona holiday last summer mainly consisted of a journey from near my hotel to near the top of a quite tall hilly green area in Barcelona on something that I can only think of describing as a pod like the ones on the London Eye.
There was a lot of walking involved, a lot of photos of flowers (as I said, a green area). It was great, even with the hot weather and walking a long distance not mixing well.
Just click on the thumbnail to expand it. A little bit of text is with the images. The watermark is there to help if someone tries to steal the photos (I highly doubt they would though).
Blog Hiatus
So much work to do, and I only have 2 weeks really. While I haven’t posted anything new up for awhile (even though I said I would, like the PC, and some E3 stuff).
I feel the need to “officially” put the blog on hiatus and try to bring it up again early July, and try and make myself post a good amount of stuff like I did at Easter. I know not too many people check anyway, so it isn’t the end of the world. Just a hobby that needs to be brushed aside for more important things.
Before I go though, here are some new links to new accounts on the internet. You definitely want to check out the Youtube, started to post up some videos;
New Youtube
New DeviantART (will be just used to post up a few photos and lurk).
Final PC Components List
Sorry for not finishing off the series of blog posts about what PC parts I might be getting, but it has been busy with other stuff happening, and I haven’t gotten around to it.
It’s a bit too late now, as I made my final decision and ordered the parts last Monday, and they will be arriving at my Dads on Saturday, ready to be built next Monday afternoon. I had more in my budget than I thought I would have the last time I checked and added money up, which will have been a couple of months ago. This led me to make some final changes the weekend before to what I was going to get.
So here we go.
PC Components List
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Motherboard: Gigabyte Z68X-UD3P
Processor: Intel i5 2500k
Cooling: Corsair A50
Memory: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel
Graphics Card: MSI R5850 Twin FrozrII *got awhile ago* *not on OCUK anymore*
Boot Drive: OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5″ SATA-II SSD
Storage Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB SATA-II HDD
Case: Coolermaster HAF X
Power Supply: Corsair TX 750W
Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc 24x DVD-RW Lightscribe SATA
Keyboard: Microsoft Sidewinder X4 *got of Amazon*
Mouse: Razer Deathadder Respawn *gotten*
Capture Card: Hauppage HD PVR *gotten*
This Week In Gaming (16/05/11 – 22/05/11)
Game Releases: LA Noire, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
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PSN Welcome Back Package Announced
“Users will be able to select two free games from a list of five. Sony has posted some details of its ‘Welcome Back programme’ on its official blog. PS3 users will be able to choose two free games from a list of five, while PSP users will be able to select two from a list of four.Not only this, but Sony have announced that they intend to update the PlayStation Store “multiple times” a week to catch up on the scheduled content during the PSN outage.”
http://ps3.nowgamer.com/news/5827/psn-welcome-back-content-revealed
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Infinity Blade Arena Goes Live
“Infinity Blade, the wonderful iOS game from ChAIR, got another major update this week. Infinity Blade: Arena went live on May 19, bringing multiplayer and a new Survivor Mode. The multiplayer pits Titans and Knights against each other, allowing Game Center friends to duel with what seems to be pre-set characters. Survivor Mode is a single-player Arena mode in which players see how far they can last against a legion of Titans.”
http://www.destructoid.com/infinity-blade-arena-goes-live-may-19-201360.phtml
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Arkham City To Offer 40 Hours Of Content
“Length-obsessed gamers will be cheered by the news that Rocksteady’s next Batman game, Arkham City, will offer forty hours of content, with the main story taking twenty-five hours to beat and sidequests requiring an extra fifteen. “It takes over 25 hours to complete the main stories in Batman: Arkham City. To keep players engaged for this length of time, not only do the characters and the story need to progress, but the core mechanics of the game they are playing need to change and adapt as well”"
http://www.destructoid.com/batman-arkham-city-offers-40-hours-of-content-201416.phtml
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PSP Titles Being Remade For PS3
“Sony today announced a PSP Remaster series of titles that will ship on Blu-ray discs for PlayStation 3 starting first in Japan.
The games will be “customized and developed” specifically for PS3 and include additional features such as Sixaxis support, new add-on content, and/or stereoscopic 3D support. In Japan, the first PSP Remaster title will be Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. from Capcom. “The graphics of the PS3 version, including monsters, fields, equipment, as well as Felyne Comrades, are more gorgeous and vibrant than ever, and will deliver dynamic gameplay when played on the large TV screens.”"
http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/116/1169843p1.html
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This Week In Gaming (09/05/11 – 15/05/11)
Game Releases: Brink, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword, MX v ATV: Alive, SBK 2011
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Microsoft Buys Skype, Plans For Xbox Live Support
“Microsoft just entered into an agreement to purchase Skype for “$8.5 billion in cash.” There’s good news involved, even if you’re not a Skype investor: “Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices,” Microsoft announced, “and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities.” You won’t be stuck exclusively using Skype with Kinect, either, as the company plans to continue supporting Skype clients on platforms other than its own.”
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/10/microsoft-buys-skype-plans-to-add-support-to-kinect-and-xbox-li/
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Soul Caliber 5 Announced
“Namco announced earlier that Soul Caliber 5 was on the way for gamers. Dates, platforms, new characters and such are all still to be announced, but the game in the works. It’s set 17 years after Soul Caliber IV, and only one new character has been announced: Patroklos, son of Sophitia and main character for the game. A new battle system and other tweaks have been promised, but Namco is saving the rest of the details for this year’s E3.”
http://www.gamingexcellence.com/news/3372.shtml
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AC: Revelations Plot Detailed
“The creative director of Assassin’s Creed Revelations, Alexandre Amancio, has revealed some intriguing information about the concluding chapter of Ezio Auditore’s story. Revelations is not, as some feared, a diluted instalment to tide fans of the series over as they patiently wait for Assassin’s Creed 3. As expected, the game will be the final part of what has become effectively an embedded trilogy in itself — the rise of Ezio Auditore from apprentice to master to mentor.”
http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/116/1167791p1.html
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Modern Warfare 3 Announced, Details Also Leaked
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is coming Nov. 8, 2011, Kotaku has learned, delivering with it mammoth battles that engulf a dozen cities around the world including New York, Paris and London. Multiple sources have shared details of the game’s story, art, sounds and game modes with Kotaku, noting that the game will reshape the landscape of the Call of Duty franchise, bringing an impressive number of eclectic settings, deep multiplayer gaming and a story that ties up nearly all loose ends from previous titles, including the final moments of key figures in the series’ history.”
While some of the details might not be right, as Bowling tweeted, and things can change, there are spoilers! You can also find the teaser trailer(s) on Youtube.
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Playstation Network Starting To Live Again
“Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality. Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out”
http://blog.us.playstation.com/
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