‘Roblox’ lets indie game devs publish across platforms — in a bubble
Roblox CEO David Baszucki has grand plans for his app’s launch on Xbox One. Roblox is a free game-creating program that already has 6 million monthly players across PC, iOS and Android, and Baszucki expects that number to climb when it hits Xbox One on November 12th. The app allows users to create their own games — action, simulators, shooters, capture the flag, basically anything — and then publish (and make money off of) those creations simultaneously on all Roblox platforms. “An indie game developer, really for the first time ever, is going to be able to create a game that pushes to phone, tablet, computer and console,” Baszucki says. “The exact same game.” This isn’t a simple feat.
Roblox offers a specific kind of multi-platform publishing. Games made and published within the system are hosted in the cloud and streamed to players’ mobile devices, PCs and (soon) Xbox Ones. If a game explodes in popularity and 10,000 people begin playing it concurrently, for example, Roblox automatically shards it so everyone has a smooth experience across all platforms, Baszucki says.
“We’re really trying to make it easy for first-time game developers to get their creations out there, to have a big audience — 6 million monthly people — who can consume and play their games,” Baszucki says. “And now we’re bringing that to console.”
Simultaneous development is a big issue for many developers. It takes extra time, resources and cash to create a game for more than one platform, since mechanics and user interfaces are often specialized for each system. Plus, most major companies — think Apple, Microsoft and Sony — impose unique regulations on every incoming game. It’s difficult enough for studios, especially small ones, to develop for one platform, let alone multiple at once.
Microsoft came under scrutiny for its launch-parity requirements in December 2013, at the height of next-gen mania. Alongside its announcement of the Xbox One, Microsoft had launched its independent-game outreach program, ID@Xbox, which offered developers two dev kits, a Unity license and the ability to self-publish their games on Xbox One. It also asked developers to release their games on Xbox One and other platforms at the same time, a move that drew criticism from many independent studios. Microsoft has since removed the requirement.
Games made in Roblox stay on the system and they can’t be published independently, since Roblox hosts their code. Plus, a game made for mobile devices doesn’t automatically translate to a living-room console environment, and vice versa. But that’s just fine, Baszucki says, since developers are learning valuable game-making skills and they can earn money directly through Roblox.
“They’re not just in Roblox,” he says. “They’re playing with Unity; they’re playing with Java dev stuff; they’re playing with XNA; they’re playing with other stuff. It’s not just like an isolated culture of Roblox-only people.”
Most Roblox developers are between the ages of 15 and 22, and the most successful earn six figures a year from their games, Baszucki says. Hundreds of developers bring in at least $250 a month, which is the threshold for the developer exchange system, or DevEx, that allows users to translate in-game currency to real cash.
When Roblox hits Xbox One in November, it’ll include about 25 games that have been optimized for the console. And Baszucki knows a bit about what makes Xbox One tick.
“We’ve had a relationship with Microsoft for a while,” he says. “It’s bigger than just Xbox — we use Azure for some of our cloud stuff. PC Windows is a very big platform for us as well.”
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VR experience captures the forest through the eyes of an animal
Some lucky folks got the chance to explore the woods through the eyes of a forest inhabitant, and they didn’t have to be wargs with dire wolves or, you know, tripping on certain substances. They have the virtual reality experience created by a London-based team called “Marshmallow Laser Feast” to thank for that. MLF used LIDAR scanners and aerial drones to capture the picturesque Grizedale forest as the animals living in it would see it — it’s even entitled In the Eyes of the Animal. The team then created a 360-degree, whimsical experience out of the footage, which people who attended the Abandon Normal Devices (AND) Festival in the UK got to try out.
The team used a VR helmet that enclosed people’s faces for a truly immersive experience — yes, it came with sounds — designed to look like a tree stump. According to The Creators Project, the team’s looking for partners to develop this project further. For now, though, you can watch the video below for a glimpse of a fantastical forest that looks like it came straight out of the dreamworld.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/140057053?byline=0&portrait=0
First wallpaper for BlackBerry’s Priv is available to download
Now you can get your current device to somewhat resemble BlackBerry’s upcoming Priv (which was formerly known as Venice). Evan Blass posted the wallpaper for the handset that has been spotted in hands on videos, posing for pictures, and roaming the streets of Toronto. The wallpaper actually looks like something Google would include with other stock Android wallpapers — it’s primarily blue with a hint of yellow and different layers and textures that give a Material Design vibe.
Hit the break to download it.
- Select the wallpaper below
- Open the wallpaper in a new tab
- Save to get full resolution
Source: Evan Blass (Twitter)
Come comment on this article: First wallpaper for BlackBerry’s Priv is available to download
Huawei Watch unboxing and initial impressions
Plenty of Android Wear devices come through our labs, but we have been waiting for a very specific one to reach our hands (or wrists) lately. Yes, I am talking about the Huawei Watch. It has just reached my doorstep and I am ready to give you an unboxing, as well as my very first impressions on this fancy smartwatch. Shall we dig right in?
Packaging matters
Huawei is not releasing your average watch here. This device is expected to go above the casual standards of technology and offer a high-class experience that very few competitors have accomplished. You only need to take a look at the Huawei Watch’s packaging to realize this much. Not only is the outside case very pleasing, but opening up the case is a very luxurious affair.
Opening up this box reveals the watch and its shiny sapphire crystal front right away. There’s a couple nubs on the sides, which will ease the struggles of lifting the internal leather cover, in order to get to the rest of the accessories. The fancy crystal is not the only beautiful part of the watch – this unit has a leather strap. which is also really nice, and the metal casing really makes the smart watch stand out.
What else is in the box?
Under the leather cover we can find your usual device literature, as well as the charging disc, a wall plug and a cable (which does happen to be proprietary). I have to accept this is a bit of a turn-off, as using any USB cable will not be a possibility.
This means that once this cable goes bad, or gets lost, you will have to buy a replacement from Huawei before you can get charging again. Not to mention, it’s a bit annoying to have to remember to bring a specific charger with you whenever you will be away from home for an extended period of time. Battery life is expected to average at about 1.5 days, so you will pretty much need to charge the Huawei Watch every night.
Pairing & hardware
Once you start playing around with the watch you will notice the experience goes right in line with other Android Wear products. Pairing the device to a smartphone is as simple as powering up the gadget and entering a simple code on your phone.
Now, what really caught my eye is the screen on this thing. This circular AMOLED panel has a stunning resolution of 400x400p. Underneath this display we can find a Snapdragon processor, 0.5 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage.
Comfort
Let’s jump right into the comfort factor, though. After all, you will be wearing this thing at all times, making this an important matter to consider. I will tell you the device does come with a bit of heft to it. Sure, it’s not really heavy or weigh you down in any form, but you will certainly feel it. Otherwise, the band is soft and the watch wraps well around the wrist.
Software
Once you move into the software you will notice the experience is very similar to that of other Android Wear watches. The only major change is that Huawei has included a plethora of watch faces… they are actually over 40!
Gallery
Wrapping up
Just keep in mind this happens to be one of the lower-end Huawei Watch versions. There will be a bevy of variants, made of different materials. This will include other finishes, and even precious ones like gold. Keep it tuned to Android Authority to learn more about the Huawei Watch. By the way, we just got done unboxing the Moto 360 2nd-gen, so you will definitely see a comparison between these two, as well as both reviews.
Motorola expands in India, no longer exclusive to Flipkart
Buying a Motorola smartphone in India has required buying it from e-commerce retailer Flipkart but the Lenovo-owned company has today announced that it is expanding this reach. The company’s exclusive deal with Flipkart has ended and now Motorola devices can be purchased from selected Airtel stores alongside e-commerce giants Snapdeal and Amazon.
The Moto E 4G will be the first smartphone sold via selected Airtel stores, while ecommerce giants Amazon and Snapdeal will be offering the 3G and 4G versions of the Moto E from Friday.
Amit Boni, General Manager of Motorola Mobility India, said:
“Responding to growing demand from our consumers we have made a strategic move of increasing the availability of our portfolio across offline and multiple online shopping platforms. To start off, we will be available at select stores for our consumers to experience and purchase the device. Consumers are at the heart of whatever we do and we will leave no stone unturned to enhance their buying experiences.”
Earlier this month, Motorola announced that it had sold 5.6 million Motorola smartphones through partner Flipkart since the exclusive partnership began in February 2014. It’s likely that the company is aiming to replicate this success on a larger scale by offering Motorola devices through more sales channels and with devices like the Moto X Play also available in India, the company may yet achieve this.
Apple Lists Top 25 Apps Compromised by XcodeGhost Malware
Apple has updated its XcodeGhost FAQ on its Chinese website with a list of the top 25 most popular App Store apps that were compromised by the malware. The list includes some notable apps such as WeChat, Heroes of Order & Chaos and a localized version of Angry Birds 2.
Apple advises that users should update the affected apps to fix the issue, noting that if a listed app is available on the App Store right now, it has already been updated. Apps with an asterisk are currently not available on the App Store, but Apple says they should be updated very soon.
Apple has been working to remove all apps compromised by XcodeGhost from the App Store, but some affected apps may remain available for download. Apple has also outlined steps for developers to validate Xcode and said it would alert users to let them know if they have downloaded apps that could have been compromised.
XcodeGhost is a new iOS malware that arose from malicious versions of Xcode, Apple’s official tool for developing iOS and OS X apps, downloaded by some developers in China. Chinese developers then unknowingly compiled iOS apps using the modified Xcode IDE and distributed those infected apps through the App Store.
MacRumors posted a detailed XcodeGhost FAQ over the weekend that explains more about the malware, who is affected and how to keep yourself protected, although Apple has downplayed the severity of XcodeGhost compared to what some security firms initially reported.
We have no information to suggest that the malware has been used to do anything malicious or that this exploit would have delivered any personally identifiable information had it been used.
We’re not aware of personally identifiable customer data being impacted and the code also did not have the ability to request customer credentials to gain iCloud and other service passwords.
Chinese developers initially disclosed XcodeGhost on microblogging service Sina Weibo last Wednesday.
Astronomers spot a mid-sized black hole
Black holes typically come in one of two sizes: stellar mass and supermassive. Astronomers believe that there are black holes that fit between these two extremes but finding them has proven difficult, with only a half-dozen candidates currently known. Well, as of today, the tally rises to half-dozen plus one. Scientists at the University of Maryland and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre have found another mid-sized black hole, weighing in at 5,000 times the mass of our Sun.
The good news is that this find supports the idea that black holes exist in a wide range of varying sizes. The discovery has been called “NGC1313X-1” and is classified as an ultraluminous X-ray source. Astronomers believe that these types of black holes are only in an intermediate stage of their existence which means that they’re still drawing in matter and giving off huge amounts of X-ray radiation in the process. NASA plans to launch an X-ray telescope in 2016 to further explore other potential intermediate black holes.
[Image credit: ESO]
Source: NASA
BlackBerry’s Android phone will be known as the ‘Priv’
BlackBerry’s upcoming Android phone has been called “Venice” for quite some time, but that’s apparently nothing but a moniker meant to be shed and replaced by its real model name. According to Evleaks and N4BB, it will be released as the BlackBerry Priv, presumably due to its privacy features. Evleaks also revealed a new stock photo of the phone, which you can see below the fold. Don’t expect to see anything new, though: it’s still a QWERTY slider with a curved screen and an 18-megapixel camera. Hopefully, we’ll find out more about it and its release date soon. If the device turns out to have killer features, then it doesn’t matter what it’s called: after all, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Source: Evleaks (Twitter) (1), (2), N4BB
All the colours of the HTC Aero leak out, bears striking resemblance to a certain other phone…
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We’ve been hearing quite a bit about HTC‘s upcoming mid-range device, the HTC Aero – or HTC One A9, depending on who you ask. Today, leaker @evleaks has provided us with an image that shows the colour palette the HTC Aero is going to be available with. The colours themselves seem nice enough – it’s good to see HTC move away from just fifty shades of grey – but the design of the HTC Aero looks strikingly like the iPhone 6. Maybe we’re crazy, but the bands on the back of the device, and the single speaker on the front of device don’t look very HTC to us.
HTC Aero. Also: Intro – https://t.co/tu4JtfFgQN Branding – https://t.co/7KROIOrrIp Specs – https://t.co/I3AHAKpRs1 pic.twitter.com/cFYtDgJYc8
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 23, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Now, sure: HTC probably did do metal unibodied smartphones before anyone else, but we have a feeling nobody’s going to buy that once the Aero is announced. As for what’s powering the device, the Aero is rumoured to be using a Snapdragon 617 processor and a 1080p display – the device is also rumoured to be launching with Android Marshmallow and Sense 7, and will be announced on September 29th.
What do you think of the HTC Aero? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Twitter via Droid-life
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