Crystal Dynamics is putting the ‘tomb’ back in ‘Tomb Raider’
2013’s Tomb Raider was a reboot of a game that defined the 3rd-person adventure genre. It represented a change in direction for the series, one that took cues from successful titles like Uncharted to breathe fresh life into what had become a tired franchise. But while critics rightfully praised the game’s many strengths, the core of the original’s gameplay — tomb raiding — was pushed to one side, with most of the game consisting of stealth, combat, and survival. For the timed Xbox exclusive Rise of the Tomb Raider, developer Crystal Dynamics is bringing back tombs in a big way, and making some intelligent design decisions to update the old gameplay for the modern era.
At Gamescom this year, Microsoft offered us a brief demo that showcases what tomb raiding will feel like in Rise. Since the “Siberia” demo shown at E3, Lara has made her way over to the Syrian desert on the trail of a hidden treasure. We begin with a cut scene where, of course, things quickly go awry, and are left on a cliff face by the entrance to a mysterious cave. By a marvelous coincidence, that cave just so happens to be the entrance to the hidden tomb Lara’s been looking for. So we enter.
“We want to celebrate that nostalgic feel of a tomb raid through a modern lens,” says Crystal Dynamics’ Brand Director Rich Briggs. What does that mean? It means that old Tomb Raider tropes, like puzzles that involve pulling a lever or putting plates into walls in order to progress to new areas, won’t be present in Rise. “We’re making them environmental puzzles, physics-based puzzles, so they feel like a modern interpretation.”
The current demo showed an example of how this will work: As Lara, you’re standing at the edge of a shallow pool of water, needing to progress to a ledge too high to reach. Water is trickling through a shoddy-looking wall, so you break it with your pick axe, flooding the area further, and enabling you to reach the ledge. The puzzles will get more complex, of course, but that’s one of the ways that the developers are replacing old gameplay mechanics with a fresher take. Functionally, the action is the same as before: you walk up to a wall and press a button. It’s just transferring the old dynamics of the series into a new wrapper. But it makes a lot more sense that whoever laid out this labyrinthine tomb wouldn’t simply put a lever on the wall to allow a would-be raider progress.
“We want to celebrate that nostalgic feel of a tomb raid through a modern lens.”
— Rich Briggs, Crystal Dynamics
Traps are also making a return to the series. “Tombs are meant to feel dangerous,” Briggs explains. “We want you to feel like there’s danger around every turn.” In the brief demo, I encountered platforms collapsing, spike pits, and the good ol’ swinging-spikey-stick-from-the-ceiling trap. It adds a lot to the experience.
The third piece of the puzzle, Briggs says, is exploration and discovery. “We want you to feel like you’re the first person to be there in hundreds or thousands of years.” In the demo, that “wow” moment came as we broke through a wall into a giant open space. There are lots of artifacts and collectable items to find, and discoveries to be made. The game even has you leveling up your language skills in order to translate ancient texts that’ll lead the way to treasures.
Rise will still incorporate many of the elements that made the reboot popular, of course, but Crystal Dynamics is really aiming for a broader experience here. While 2013’s Tomb Raider had you exploring a single island, the scope of Lara’s world is clearly different in Rise. Between the E3 showing and this Gamescom demo, we’ve already seen Lara fight through icy Siberia and treasure-hunt in scorching Syria. The emphasis is shifting back towards the series’ roots, and Lara Croft is no longer just the reboot’s survivor — she’s the tomb raider.
[Image credit: La Boca / Microsoft / Crystal Dynamics]
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Filed under:
Gaming, HD, Microsoft
Tags: CrystalDynamics, gamescom-2015, hdpostcross, laracroft, microsoft, riseofthetombraider, tombraider, xbox, xboxone
Researchers can take complete control of Android phones
The wave of security issues with devices, cars and even skateboards continues as Check Point researchers presented a vulnerability at the Black Hat conference that could potentially open millions of Android up to hackers. Dubbed Certifi-gate, the researchers say that vulnerabilities in the OEM (manufacturers of Android devices like Samsung, LG and Sony) implementation of Remote Support allows a third party app’s plugins to access a device’s screens and actions using an OEMs own signed certificates.
That means a nefarious individual could see what you’re doing and control your phone or tablet. And according to the researchers, there’s no reasonable way to revoke the certificates as an end user. Check Point noted that the devices that could suffer from Certifi-gate are from LG, Samsung, HTC and ZTE and that these OEMs have released updates to mitigate the issue. Both Check Point and Google have noted that Nexus devices are not prone to the vulnerability.
Check Point’s Technology Leader of Mobile Threat Detection, Avi Bashan told Engadget that the vulnerability stems from an issue in Android’s security architecture and that OEMs created flawed implementations of the remote support tools to get round the Android issue. The companies jsut didn;t do a very good job at it. Bashan also noted that for many, the vulnerability may not go away any time soon because of the long update time associated with Android devices.
Concerning the vulnerability Samsung issued the following statement: “At Samsung, we understand that our success depends on consumers’ trust in us, and the products and services that we provide. We are aware of Check Point’s alleged claims, and Samsung has addressed this issue. Samsung encourages users not to execute unsecure apps.”
A Google spokesperson told Engadget: “We want to thank the researcher for identifying the issue and flagging it for us. The issue they’ve detailed pertains to customizations OEMs make to Android devices and they are providing updates which resolve the issue.”
Like Samsung, Google urged Android users to get their apps from the trusted sources, “in order for a user to be affected, they’d need to install a potentially harmful application which we continually monitor for with VerifyApps and SafetyNet. We strongly encourage users to install applications from a trusted source, such as Google Play.”
Bashan said that it’s possible for an app that exploits the vulnerability to get through the Google Play verification service because the app can look perfectly legit while its associated plugin could lead to the device being compromised. Either way, until your phone gets the update, it’s probably a good idea to skip side-loading apps.
Check Point has made the full report of their findings available online and has created a free app that scans for apps that use the Certifi-gate vulnerability.
Filed under:
Misc, Internet, Sony, HTC, Google, LG
Source:
Check Point
Tags: Android, BlackHat, CheckPoint, google, htc, lg, Security, sony
The top 14 portable audio gadgets you can buy right now
We love our tunes and we’re guessing that most of you do too. If you’re in the market for some portable audio gear or summer’s been so great that you’ve inflicted serious damage on your current devices, we’ve got a fresh list of some of the best items out there. Samsung’s Level On Wireless headphones are surprisingly comfy and sound great, while UE’s affordable new Roll Bluetooth speaker doesn’t disappoint. There’s plenty more, so check out the gallery below for a rundown of what’s new in portable audio or swing by our complete buyer’s guide for a full listing of gadgets in every category.Slideshow-291499
Filed under:
Samsung
Tags: bluetooth speakers, buyers guide, buyersguide, engadget buyers guide, engadgetbuyersguide, portable audio, samsung, wireless headphones
Tesla’s Model S hack still proves it’s better than other car makers
In the run up to this year’s DEF CON, major car hacks seem to be a recurring theme. A few weeks ago we saw how hackers were able to remotely take control and shut down Chrysler vehicles — now Tesla’s Model S is the latest target. Researchers have figured out a way to digitally “hot wire” a Model S, Wired reports. They can also plant a Trojan that allows them to remotely control the car, including shutting it down. It’s a sign that even the most technologically advanced car in the world will never be fully safe from security vulnerabilities. But while Chrysler had to issue a “voluntary safety recall” (in the form of a software update on a USB stick) for 1.4 million affected vehicles, Tesla has already sent out a fix to all Model S owners with an over-the-air update. Look at it this way: In one day every Model S owner is protected against these hacks, whereas it’ll take much longer for the majority of Chrysler owners to get their patch (and there’s a good chance it’ll never reach them all).
It’s also not as if these hacks were easy to pull off. They require getting physical access to a Model S, which means potential attackers would have to deal with the car’s security system first. The researchers, Lookout Security CTO Kevin Mahaffey and Cloudflare head security researcher Marc Rogers, used a network cable behind the Model S’ dashboard to plug in a laptop and get access to the car’s infotainment system. They then spent two years digging into the car’s architecture, ultimately digging up six vulnerabilities that they helped Tesla resolve. They’ll be discussing their findings at DEF CON this week.
The researchers also point to a few other elements of Tesla’s architecture that makes it more secure than other car firms: It keeps the infotainment and drive systems completely separate (which wasn’t the case for Chrysler’s vehicles), and it also developed a graceful way for its cars to stop when they lose power. While there are still potential issues with Tesla’s technology — the researchers aren’t clear how safe the car’s drive system is from remote hacks — this hack shows it’s still got a leg up on the competition when it comes to security.
Filed under:
Misc
Source:
Wired
Tags: hacks, ModelS, Tesla
24 hours with the Sony RX10 II, a 4K-ready superzoom camera
The market for superzoom cameras is a niche one. But manufacturers continue to churn them out for people who want them, as small a group as this may be. And while Canon is designing models that can fit in your pocket, Sony’s latest high-end superzoom is a very different kind of device. The RX10 II has a big, DSLR-like body (similar to its predecessor), which it needs to accommodate that Zeiss 24-200mm (35mm equivalent, constant f/2.8) zoom lens. Coupled with this fixed glass is a 1-inch, 20.2-megapixel Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and a BIONZ X image processor for fast and sharp shooting. Aside from being just a superzoom, though, the RX10 II is also being marketed as a premium video camera: It records 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at up to 30 fps and offers an insane slow-motion setting at 960 fps. After shooting with it for a day, I can say that everything comes together nicely — and you’d hope as much considering its $1,300 asking price.Slideshow-309970
The RX10 II has performed well so far, producing great photos and videos all around, although they’re not as impressive as those from the A7R II — which isn’t surprising given the different types of sensors used. Obviously, where this camera shines is when you’re trying to capture things from afar, and the built-in Zeiss 24-200mm lens doesn’t disappoint. A lot of that is thanks to the constant f/2.8, of course, giving you one less thing to worry about when zooming in and out of distant subjects. There’s also a manual aperture ring that gives the camera a more “pro” feel, if you’re into that sort of thing. Since I’ve only had the RX10 II for about 24 hours, I’m going to hold back on a final verdict until later. For now, check out this album of sample images taken with Sony’s new superzoom shooter.
To view full-resolution sample images shot with the Sony RX10 II, click here.
Filed under:
Cameras, Misc, Sony
Tags: 4K, hands-on, RX10 II, RX10II, Sony, Sony RX10 II, SonyRX10II, superzoom
HBO NOW, Food Network, Pokemon TV and more gain Chromecast support
On Thursday, a bunch of apps and games were updated to gain Chromecast support. HBO NOW, Watch Food Network, and Pokemon TV are all among those now offering the Cast button within their respective apps. This pushes content from your phone or tablet directly to a television.
- HBO NOW
- Watch Food Network
- Watch Travel Channel
- Pokemon TV
- Pixlr
- FitFlap
- Catch Phrase Blitz
- Tricky Titans
An episode of True Detective followed by a game of Catch Phrase doesn’t sound too bad.
Source: Google
Come comment on this article: HBO NOW, Food Network, Pokemon TV and more gain Chromecast support
HBO NOW makes good on its promise, updates app with Chromecast support
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Android owning cord cutters around the US rejoiced when HBO NOW made its way to the Google Play Store. The apps gives HBO loving users the ability to finally watch all the HBO content they love without having the need for a cable or satellite subscription to enjoy it. At launch the stand alone streaming service gave would be users access to all the content free for 30 days with a monthly follow-up price tag of $14.99. Not a horrible deal when you poke around the app and see how much content you get access too. Until today, it was missing a fairly critical component. One that would force me to cancel by my 8/15 renewal deadline if it didn’t make its way in by then. I am happy to announce that HBO NOW has an app update out that bring Chromecast support for all.
I immediately gave it a go to make sure it worked, and it does. However, it doesn’t bring us a function that us spoiled ass Chromecast users have come to love from apps like Netflix. The HBO NOW app won’t automatically move on to the next episode in a series. At least it didn’t do so for me. It is a minor thing, but something that seems like pretty standard operating procedures now a days. Regardless, now that Chromecast support is her for the app I am sure many more users will be giving the stand alone streaming service a run.
The update also brings along push notifications as well as some performance improvements.
Snag the app down below if you don’t already have it and give it a run.
The post HBO NOW makes good on its promise, updates app with Chromecast support appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
StackSocial Offers ‘Pay What You Want’ Bundle for 10 Popular Mac Apps
StackSocial has launched a new “Pay What You Want” Mac software bundle, offering a selection of 10 apps to users who match or exceed the average payment price. Currently, the average price is at $5.56, significantly less than the $383 retail price for the apps, but it will go up as the sale goes on.
A payment higher than the average price earns users access to all apps, while smaller donations will unlock fewer apps. 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale will go to non-profit organization Creative Commons. A full list of apps included in the bundle is below:
– CrossOver 14 Mac ($59.95) – Lets Windows apps be run on the Mac.
– RapidWeaver 6 ($89.99) – Theme-based website development software.
– BusyCal ($49.99) – Calendar app for the Mac that replaces the default app.
– WinZip 4 Mac ($29.95) – Zips and unzips files.
– WALTR ($29.95) – Transfers and converts media files in any format to a format playavle on iOS devices.
– RoboForm Everwhere: 1-Year Subscription ($19.95) – Cross-platform password management service.
– Scapple ($14.99) – Freeform mind-mapping software for jotting down ideas and finding connections.
– Stuffit Deluxe 16 for Mac ($49.99) – Compresses files to shrink size.
– Screens ($29.99) – Virtual network client (VNC) and screen sharing app that gives remote access to multiple computers.
– Find Any File ($7.99) – Spotlight alternative for searching through files.
To encourage higher purchase prices, StackSocial is giving away an iPad Air 2 in a random drawing. Entries are earned by paying a high enough price to make it onto the price leaderboard at any time during the sale. The top payment thus far is $45.
StackSocial’s “Pay What You Want” bundle will be available for purchase until September 5.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner of StackSocial.
Watch Food Network, Watch Travel Channel, Tricky Titans and more now support Chromecast
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We recently caught the update for stand alone streaming service from HBO, the HBO NOW, gaining Chromecast support today. That single app gaining support probably made a lot of cord cutting Chromecast owners pretty happy. Looks as though the new additions to the ever-growing list of apps that now support the HDMI dongle has grown even more than that. The Google Chrome Blog announced a number of new apps today, along with HBO NOW, that all now have Chromecast support. There a number of new multiplayer games, photo editing tools and content streaming services available.
On the list we find FitFlap, which I saw at Google I/O back in May. The game uses your Android devices front facing camera to track your movements while you flap your arms like a bird to control your character, which ranges from pigs, to turtles and other fun creatures, on your big screen TV.
FitFlap Out Now! from BreakFirst on Vimeo.Another new game to the world of Chromecast is Catch Phrase Blitz. It brings everything you already knew and loved about Catch Phrase and delivers it to your living room, or bedroom, TV.
Need something a bit less taxing on the brain or the body? Tricky Titans is also out now and is a multiplayer turn based strategy game. “Deceive your friends, defend your village, fling mountains at whoever you please, and smash your way to victory in this casual yet chaotic couch game.” It looks pretty cool too.
On the media front you can now cast Watch Food Network for all your cooking desires and Watch Travel Channel to scout for new vacation spots. Those will bring you a select amount of content without needing an account, but the bulk requires the old school need for a cable or satellite subscription. Boo. Pokemon TV also gets added to the mix with dozens of episodes of Ash and Pikachu doing what they do best.
Finally, Pixlr makes the leap to allow you to edit your photos wirelessly from your device through your Chromecast. I am sure this will be a great addition for avid photographers, especially those with device like the LG G4 and Galaxy S6 that sport some of the best cameras on the cellphone market to date.
Hit any of the links below to head to the Play Store and install the apps of your choice.
FitFlap
Tricky Titans
Catch Phrase Blitz
Watch Food Network
Watch Travel Channel
Pokemon TV
Source: Google Chrome Blog
The post Watch Food Network, Watch Travel Channel, Tricky Titans and more now support Chromecast appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
HBO Now, Travel Channel, Food Network and more gain Chromecast support
The new HBO Now streaming service just launched last week on Android, giving users the ability to stream Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Veep, and other great shows on the network to their mobile devices for a low monthly fee. We knew that the app would gain Chromecast support soon, and that day has finally come. The update is now rolling out in the Google Play Store, so if you’re a subscriber to the service, you’ll want to head to the Play Store to grab the latest version.
The HBO Now update also brings some performance tweaks and push notifications to the app, which will allow users to get show recommendations and reminders.
Related: Deal: Pick up a refurbished Chromecast from Groupon for only $20 ($15 off)
HBO Now isn’t the only major service to gain Chromecast support, though. Google has just announced that Watch Food Network, Watch Travel Channel and Pokémon TV are all gaining support for the streaming stick, as well as a few apps and games including Pixlr, Catch Phrase Blitz, FitFlap and Tricky Titans.
Have you signed up for HBO Now? If not, does the addition of Chromecast support change your mind? Let us know what you think!
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