‘Final Fantasy XV’ tricked me into buying Cup Noodles

I should have been turned off by the commercial advertising casually strewn throughout Final Fantasy XV. Coleman logos are plainly visible when the game’s heroes set up camp for the night. Billboards for Nissin Cup Noodles line the highways of Eos. It’s product placement so obvious it’s almost laughable — and yet, I now have an eight-pack of instant ramen on my kitchen counter. What happened? A beautiful, devious combination of empathy and nostalgia.

My shame in falling for a game’s product tie-ins is dulled somewhat by the knowledge that I saw it coming. Final Fantasy XV planted the seeds of manipulation early, offering me a grain of nostalgia in the game’s first moments. The story opened with four friends pushing a broken-down convertible to a nearby service station — a pit stop that sold a copy of the Final Fantasy IV soundtrack that could be listened to when the hero’s car was up and running again. Suddenly, the game’s road trip was scored with the music from my favorite Final Fantasy. The game had anchored me to its world by draping it with my love of its predecessors. At first blush, this seems like a simple Easter egg, but it’s more insidious than that. Square Enix was using the power of association to endear me to its brand, a suggestion it would cash in on later.

As the game’s nostalgic hook kept me invested in its bare-bones plot, its four heroes livened up the adventure with charming repartee, breaking into conversation while driving, fighting in battle or shopping at an in-game gas station. I grew to care for Noctis, Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis as they revealed their personalities. This planted Square Enix’s second seed of manipulation: empathy. After a dozen hours of play, the game had sold me on its tagline: A Final Fantasy for Fans and First-Timers. I was nostalgically hooked, and I cared about the characters. Then, the advertisements came.

It was subtle at first. I’d stop to camp, and Noct’s friends would playfully challenge him to a game called King’s Knight, passing through the camping cut scene by poking at their smartphones. I thought nothing of it, but over time the characters started talking about the fictional video game in idle conversation. My curiosity got the better of me, and a quick Google search revealed that King’s Knight: Wrath of the Dark Dragon was a real smartphone game advertised as “a smash hit in the world of Final Fantasy XV.” I groaned at the obvious cross-branding, but not hard enough to stop me from downloading the game. Despite seeing through Square Enix’s ploy, I had to know what had the cast of my game so engaged.

Soon, the product placement grew even bolder. And weirder. Every time I drove through the town of Lestallum, Gladiolus would yammer on about how badly he wanted Cup Noodles — leading me to a Cup Noodles vendor in the town square. Approaching the in-game store tailored to a specific real-life product kicks off a quest that’s little more than a playable commercial.

Gladiolus wants the “perfect cup” of instant ramen and waxes poetic about all the possible ingredients. The mission sets you out on a hunt to find fresh toppings to the “already delicious” Cup Noodles to make them even better while simultaneously doubting the product can even be improved upon. “After all,” Gladiolus shills in an actual line of spoken dialogue from the game, “the shrimp they use in Cup Noodles was selected from over 60 varieties for their flavor and their shape.”

It’s a kind of direct marketing that I’ve never seen in a game before — yet it’s so knowingly absurd that it’s actually kind of enjoyable. Each character’s voice actor delivers his lines with a hefty helping of camp, delighting in how awful and silly the entire cross-promotion is. It plays like a parody of itself, and it’s hard to imagine the gimmick selling even a single cup of instant ramen. And yet, one week later I found myself staring down a pack of Cup Noodles at my local grocery store. I felt like an idiot, but what the hell: It was a guilty pleasure that reminded me of college and was only $0.35 a cup. Besides, Gladiolus made it sound really good.

Square Enix exploited my memory of the Final Fantasy franchise and my fondness for its characters again and again. I was eventually coaxed into downloading the mobile version of Justice Monsters Five, one of Final Fantasy XV’s minigames, and found myself browsing Steam and Google Play for the classics whose music I’d been listening to in driving sequences.

As I considered giving Final Fantasy XIII a second chance, I knew my roused interest was nothing more than the fruits of a carefully planned cross-promotion campaign. I’m surprisingly OK with that. After two MMOs that didn’t resonate with me, a series of clunky spin-offs and a numbered entry to the franchise that fell flat, I was positive Square Enix had lost its touch. Final Fantasy XV not only proved me wrong but also tricked me into remembering how much I loved the franchise in the first place. If the price for that renewed fandom is a couple of servings of Cup Noodles, so be it. I can take the sodium.

Hulu will let you download shows ‘in a few months’

Hulu isn’t going to let Netflix have show downloads all to itself. Company chief Mike Hopkins tells AdWeek that you’ll have the option of downloading shows “in a few months.” The online video service isn’t talking details at this point, to no one’s surprise, but that’s largely because things are still in flux. It’s still hashing out the technology, Hopkins says, and it needs to get licensing rights “squared away.”

Downloads will be good news for both frequent travelers and anyone with a low mobile data cap. Whether or not it’s truly compelling will depend on content providers, however. Remember how Netflix couldn’t offer downloads for Disney-owned shows? Hulu is likely to offer downloads for its originals, but it may be a challenge to persuade conventional TV networks that it’s worth having offline playback. Don’t count on having a download button next to your favorite series.

If nothing else, you’ll have something to try today. Hulu just expanded its support for user profiles to mobile users — at least if you grab the iOS app (Android will likely have it soon, if not already), you won’t have to share recommendations or content settings with others. As you might guess, this is a big deal for families — you won’t have to worry about your kids skewing your video history.

Via: Polygon, TechCrunch

Source: AdWeek, App Store

Vizio devices now take voice commands from Google Home

Vizio’s living room devices already play nicely with Google services, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could use Google voice control as well? You can now. All of Vizio’s SmartCast-equipped devices, including recent TVs, soundbars and speakers, just got support for Google Home. If you want to watch a movie on Netflix, you don’t even have to wake your TV — say the right words to Google’s smart speaker and it’ll start playing on your set. You can also pause, skip songs and tweak the volume without touching a button.

It’s a relatively simple addition, but in some ways it’s a big feature upgrade. If you’re willing to buy Google Home, you’re not dependent on busting out a phone or tablet to get the most out of Vizio’s ecosystem. And while other TVs certainly have voice commands, Vizio’s approach doesn’t require that you grab a remote to start talking.

Via: The Verge

Source: PR Newswire

PSVR mech battler ‘Rigs’ won’t get any new content

Sony today confirmed that there will be no more DLC coming to multiplayer PSVR launch title Rigs. Following the recent closure of developer Guerilla Cambridge, it seems Sony has opted to cut short its initial plan for additional Rigs content.

While the ambitious mech-based multiplayer shooter won itself a loyal fan base amongst early PSVR adopters, Sony’s decision to close Guerilla Cambridge suggests that the game’s sales weren’t quite up to expectations. Despite the closure, Sony told Eurogamer that Rigs’ online servers will be unaffected, with the game still scheduled to receive patches and other “community support”.

Formerly known as SCEE Cambridge, Guerilla Cambridge developed games for Sony for almost twenty years, making its name with the release of seminal PlayStation classic – MediEvil. While Rigs was the developer’s first and last PSVR release, the studio spent most of its time making games for PlayStation’s handhelds. The developer’s lengthy career saw it not only bring MediEvil to the PlayStation Portable, but also big Sony franchises to handhelds, creating games like Little Big Planet PSP and Killzone: Mercenary for Vita.

In the run up to launch, Rigs’ unique brand of fast-paced mech mayhem meant that it was hotly tipped as one of the jewels in PSVR’s crown. With the studio managing to weather the storm of both the PSP and Vita’s middling sales, however, Guerilla Cambridge’s recent closure doesn’t exactly bode well for PSVR’s future.

Despite happily sharing PS4 sales figures, Sony has also remained ominously quiet about how its virtual reality platform has actually performed. This reluctance to disclose sales coupled with a lack of PSVR announcements at last month’s PlayStation Experience means that Sony’s silence on PSVR feels deafening.

With this month’s Resident Evil 7 and March’s Star Trek Bridge Crew serving as the platform’s only major 2017 releases so far, Sony will need to work quickly to reassure early PSVR adopters that it was worth investing in the expensive new tech.

Source: Eurogamer

Microsoft’s Twitch competitor, Beam, gets a major update

Microsoft said it was about to supercharge Beam, and it’s quickly following through on that promise. After a few weeks of beta testing, the livestreaming service’s big 2.0 overhaul is now available to everyone. The most conspicuous change is what you’ll see the moment you hop in. There’s a revamped home page that can feature multiple streams and show more info about a broadcaster’s communities. Also, you’ll notice a revamped, HTML5-only player that touts better video-on-demand controls, playback at higher bitrates (up to 10Mbps) and higher resolutions (1440p at 60 frames per second, anyone?). However, some of the biggest improvements are under the hood.

To begin with, you now have the choice of signing in with your Xbox Live (really, Microsoft) account — and it’ll eventually be mandatory. This could create hassles for streamers who’d prefer to keep their Beam and Microsoft accounts separate, but the team is counting on Xbox Live’s features winning you over in the long run. It’ll help out with built-in Beam streaming on Windows 10 and the Xbox One down the road, of course, but it’ll reportedly help out with two-factor authentication, moderation and other aspects of the service.

On top of that, you should also see much faster site loading (up to 5 times faster, Beam claims) and visuals, a better viewing experience on the mobile web, and a slicker chat experience that includes emote auto-completion. You’ll have to wait until later in the year for Xbox One support and new mobile apps, but pro streamers who use XSplit overlays will be glad to hear that a beta release now plays nicely with Beam’s low-delay streaming (FTL) as well.

We’d note that things appear a bit rough at the outset. Don’t be surprised if you run into a broken feature or two. However, you do have the option of rolling back to the previous interface if you dive into your account settings.

Will the overhaul convince Twitch die-hards to switch over by itself? Probably not — the temptation to stick with the community you know can be quite strong. It shows that Beam and Microsoft are committed to making their service a force to be reckoned with, however, and it’s laying some important groundwork for Microsoft’s big gaming initiatives this year.

[Thanks, Kristy]

Source: Matt Salsamendi (Twitter)

Teenage Engineering’s new pocket synth is its most versatile yet

Teenage Engineering debuted its first trio of pocket-sized $59 synthesizers almost exactly two years ago. In 2016, the company followed those with a second set of three Pocket Operators featuring the sounds of the ’80s. Now the company is back with a third installment: the PO-32. Like the half-dozen different options that are already available, the PO-32 remains a compact drum and percussion synth that runs on a pair of AAA batteries. However, there are two new key features that set this new model apart from the rest.

First, the PO-32 features a built-in microphone that handles the direct transfer of sounds and pattern data between multiple units. The other key addition is the ability to import/export patches and patterns to and from the compact instrument. Using Microtronic, a desktop machine and percussion synth, you can make tweaks and send them wirelessly back to the PO-32. In fact, this new Pocket Operator is a collaboration between Teenage Engineering and Sonic Charge, the company behind Microtronic.

There are also 16 sounds and 16 punch-in effects along with a sequencer and pattern locks. A built-in speaker handles playback of all the patterns and sounds you create. Speaking of patterns, you can chain up to 64 of them together and the LCD display from the first few models is back again. Despite the fact that the PO-32 runs on AAA batteries, Teenage Engineering says you can expect to use it for a full month before you will need to swap out the power source.

As you might expect, the added functionality means a slight price increase from the first two series. The PO-32 is available now in limited quantities as a bundle with the Microtronic audio software for $139. If you just want the pocket synth itself, you will have to wait until early April. When the time comes, expect to pay $89 to nab one.

Netflix expects HBO to go binge-first in an ‘internet TV world’

Netflix just announced its final earnings report for 2016 (PDF), revealing that it grew by seven million customers to 93.8 million. That’s two million more than it had projected, up more than 25 percent for the year and puts the 100 million benchmark squarely in its sights for 2017. Beyond revealing that House of Cards will launch in Q2 instead of Q1 this year, Netflix mentioned the strong performance of original series like The OA and 3%. Regarding the latter, Netflix says it was watched by “millions” of US viewers and is the first Portuguese-language show to travel that way.

Ten years after launching Watch Instantly streaming and one year after making it available nearly worldwide, Netflix is now an internet-first video company and according to its letter, expects others to follow. Noting the BBC’s new BritBox plans for online video, the company says it presumes HBO won’t be far behind when it comes to favoring internet viewers over linear ones, by launching series all at once instead of week-by-week.

Also garnering a mention is the incoming administration and its potential effect on net neutrality, which Netflix now says isn’t that big of a deal for its business. That’s because “we are now popular enough with consumers to keep our relationships with ISPs stable.” Despite that, it continued to push for strong net neutrality, saying ” We hope the new US administration and Congress will recognize that keeping the network neutral drives job growth and innovation.”

Developing….

Source: Netflix Q4 2016 Investor Letter (PDF)

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ faces an indefinite delay

If you were banking on watching Star Trek: Discovery in May… well, we hope you have some contingency plans. CBS has confirmed to Hollywood Reporter that it’s once again delaying the streaming-focused show, this time for an indefinite stretch. Production on the series is all set to start in late January, but the team says it wants to be “flexible” on timing to ensure the production is a success. “It’s more important to do this right than to do it fast,” the company says, adding that the internet saves it from having to meet a fixed TV season deadline.

Almost as a form of consolation, CBS has revealed that James Frain (best known for his role in The Tudors) will play Sarek, Spock’s father.

This additional setback isn’t going to make fans happy, especially since Discovery was originally poised to arrive in January. However, it wasn’t hard to see another delay coming. Aside from the crunch that would have been needed to finish the show for May, there’s a lot riding on its success. This is supposed to be the flagship show that proves All Access is about more than just bringing existing TV programming online, and a rushed production could hurt its chances of competing against the likes of Hulu and Netflix.

Via: The Verge

Source: Hollywood Reporter, CBS

iPhone 8 May Include Facial and Gesture Recognition

The next-generation iPhone 8, set to debut this September, could include facial or gesture recognition technology, according to Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri (via AppleInsider). The facial recognition capabilities could be powered by a laser sensor and an infrared sensor located near the front-facing camera.

We’ve previously heard rumors suggesting the iPhone 8 could include advanced biometric features like facial recognition or iris scanning, both from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chu Kuo and from details sourced from the Asian supply chain.

With facial recognition, Apple could replace the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone or augment its functionality with a two-factor verification system for sensitive information. In this scenario, unlocking the iPhone would require users to scan their faces, something that would increase security on iOS devices.

Facial recognition could also power other features on the phone, like augmented reality camera functions, and while gesture recognition is a new rumor, it could allow users to control their devices with simple gestures for doing things like turning volume up or down.

Capabilities like gesture control and facial recognition are also some of the first steps towards a rich augmented reality experience, something Apple is rumored to be working on.

Arcuri also reiterates several rumors we’ve previously heard. He believes Apple will launch a total of three iPhones, the standard 4.7 and 5.5-inch models and a new higher-end 5.8-inch iPhone with an OLED display.

The 5.8-inch iPhone, he says, will feature a wraparound display and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor that is located under the glass, a technology Apple has been pursuing for some time. Wireless charging, a much-rumored and highly desired feature, is also expected.

Today’s report from Timothy Arcuri covers many rumors that have been circulating for a few months, which is similar to much of the information that comes from the analyst. Cowen and Company has something of a mixed track record, but accurately predicted some iPhone 7 features.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tags: Timothy Arcuri, Cowen and Company
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Second-Generation Apple Pencil Rumored for March of 2017

Apple may be planning to introduce a second-generation Apple Pencil this year, according to rumors out of the Asian supply chain. The new Apple Pencil could be unveiled at an event rumored to take place in March, where it would be shown off along with the next-generation iPad Pro.

Prospective features for a second-generation Apple Pencil aren’t known, but a previous report from Bloomberg has suggested Apple is considering new iPad capabilities that would let the Apple Pencil to work in a larger range of apps, which could be introduced alongside the new accessory.

There’s also been some speculation that Apple could build in functionality outlined in several patents, including new antenna technology and a magnet that would allow the Apple Pencil to attach to an iPad’s body when not in use.

While we don’t yet have any concrete detail on what could potentially be included in a second-generation Apple Pencil, given the major changes expected to be introduced to the iPad Pro lineup, it makes some sense for Apple to unveil an updated pencil accessory.

Rumors suggest Apple will introduce a new iPad Pro model somewhere around 10 inches with an almost bezel-free design. Though the rumored iPad will use a larger 10-inch+ display, it’s said to be the same size as the existing 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Features like Touch ID would reportedly be built into the display, much like the rumored iPhone 8, and it is expected to include improved display technology and an upgraded A10X processor.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Tags: feng.com, Apple Pencil
Buyer’s Guide: 12.9″ iPad Pro (Caution)
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