‘Doom’ designer John Romero tells you about the game while playing it
Most Blu-rays and DVDs these days come with filmmaker commentary tracks, but it isn’t too often you get to hear a game developer give play-by-play while running through something they created. That’s the thrust behind the latest episodes of Double Fine Productions‘ “Devs Play” YouTube series, spotted by Polygon. Here we have one of Doom‘s co-creators John Romero playing a handful of maps from the legendary first-person shooter that runs on basically any platform. He breaks down everything from the work that went into differentiating it from id’s other FPS Wolfenstein 3D, how the team used texture irregularities to denote secret rooms and even how he’s watched speed runs that not even he can replicate. Oh, and he designed the first level last, incorporating everything he’d learned throughout the other missions to make the initial one the most interesting.
Perhaps best of all? Seeing just how enthusiastic Romero remains about the game some 22 years later. Well, that and his luxurious mane of course. There are 10 episodes total running between 10 and 20 minutes each, and we’ve embedded the first clip below. Each is presented in 1080p60 and makes for excellent Chromecast material, if you ask us.
Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Polygon
HoloLens is and isn’t Xbox One’s answer to PlayStation 4’s virtual reality headset
Finally, we can stop asking Microsoft’s Xbox lead Phil Spencer about virtual reality headsets. “For us I think this is the area,” Spencer told a group of interviewers at yesterday’s Windows 10 event. He was responding to whether or not there’s also a virtual reality headset in the works at Microsoft, just an hour after the company unveiled HoloLens: a “mixed reality” headset that enables the wearer to see holograms in real life.
For Spencer, HoloLens is both Microsoft’s alternate answer to the recent virtual reality explosion and a potential answer to Sony’s Project Morpheus headset — a VR peripheral that works with the PlayStation 4, where HoloLens could work with the Xbox One. “It’s very cool. To me there’s not a successful consumer electronics device on the planet where gaming is not a primary form of app category on the thing,” Spencer said. There’s even a “Minecraft-inspired” demo — which answers that question — for HoloLens that shows the implications of gaming with holograms. But no demo showed the headset working with the Xbox One in any capacity. Spencer instead talked around that possibility:
“I think gaming will be important. Specific scenarios with the Xbox, we’re thinking hard about. People could ask about streaming solutions. Could I use it as a display for my Xbox? We don’t have answers to any of those things, but know it’s all part of the same organization.”
And that’s why I say HoloLens both is and isn’t an answer to Sony’s Project Morpheus, or the Oculus Rift, or even Samsung’s Gear VR. It’s similarly impressive, and head-mounted, and even delivers some similar experiences, but it’s not virtual reality and it’s not a head-mounted display. It’s…something else.
The fact that HoloLens runs as a standalone device, untethered, is the first major differentiator.
Gaming with HoloLens and Xbox One wouldn’t involve a wire the same way the PlayStation 4 does with Morpheus. Regardless of the fact that it runs standalone, HoloLens could aim to offer a companion experience — a living “second-screen experience,” if you will. Sounds a lot better than connecting our tablets and smartphones!
Or imagine a horror game where HoloLens introduced more and more visual chaos into your life as you lost your mind in-game? That sounds goddamn terrifying!
The other major differentiator right now is that HoloLens has its own processing power on board, capable of running Windows 10. Well, since it runs Windows 10, then you can stream your Xbox One games to it, right? Maybe instead of playing Xbox One games on my TV, I play them on my ceiling while lying on my back, with the game projected directly into my vision so only I can see it. Sounds like a pretty solid solution for playing violent (“adult”) games with kids in the house.
As for whether HoloLens will take advantage of the Xbox One’s horsepower through tethering, that’s “clearly on the roadmap” according to Spencer. But I don’t know, the possible use cases without even heading into tethering are incredibly broad and, bizarrely, maybe even more fascinating.
It’s very early days for HoloLens — so much so that its potential far outclasses its delivery at the moment. What is there is full of promise, and it’s exciting to see a juggernaut like Microsoft pushing innovation in a completely different direction from the competition. What it will become is another question, but so far Microsoft’s made a truly original push into an arena crowded by folks all trying to deliver the same device.
As Spencer put it: “I’ve always applauded Oculus for what they’ve created. I think this is something different.” That, Mr. Spencer, it is.
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables, Science, Software, HD, Microsoft
[New Google Cardboard Game] Attack of the Teapotcopters VR is a 3D base-defense game
If you have Google Cardboard, you might want to check out a new game called Attack of the Teapotcopters VR. Hell, even if you don’t have cardboard, it might be worth a shot since it will still be playable.
Teapotcopters features stunning 3D graphics and is a helicopter flight simulator that was developed by XDA member agnu17. In fact, it’s his first game ever. The goal is to defend the base from enemy teapotcopters. There are 4 levels of play: Earth, Moon, Mars, and Ocean, and 3 helicopters to choose from. You can also collect CopterCoins for upgrades.
The game not only supports Google Cardboard, but also other VR headsets including Durovis Dive, Refugio3D, VReye GO, and Fov2Go.
Attack of the Teapotcopters VR is Free in the Play Store now so give it a shot and let us know what you think about it.
Come comment on this article: [New Google Cardboard Game] Attack of the Teapotcopters VR is a 3D base-defense game
Microsoft will beta test a patch for the still-busted ‘Halo’ collection
343 Industries is beta testing its latest patch for the horribly crippled Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Yes, you read that right: Redmond’s internal Halo studio is asking a portion of MCC‘s players to be canaries in the Covenant coal-mine ahead of the latest (hopefully last?) update that’ll address the myriad issues still surrounding the game’s multiplayer. The test is available to North Americans in the Xbox One Preview Program, and furthermore, if you opt in it’ll limit who you’re playing with to those also in the beta. The test surrounds changes to the game’s matchmaking and party systems according to 343i, with further details coming once the update gets closer to a final release. Sign-ups start this Friday, and only those with the “highest levels of engagement” with the game are going to be selected. Everyone else? You’re just going to have to dream of what a revamped “Relic” will look like.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Halo Waypoint
GamerGate target starts online harassment prevention program
Despite Twitter making it easier to report cyber harassment, its measures still fall woefully short. To wit, game developers Zoe Quinn, one of GamerGate’s biggest targets, and Alex Lifschitz have teamed up to form an online abuse help network. Crash Override says its goal is to provide a support network for victims of SWATting, doxxing and other maliciousness both preventatively and reactively. It accomplishes this by using “well-established, humane and transparent channels to disempower abuse and reduce the ability abusers have to perpetuate it.” The outfit notes that in its trial runs it’s effectively helped abuse targets head off SWATting attempts and lock down their personal information, too, all without resorting to more harassment. What’s more, Crash Override counts whitehat hackers, infosec professionals and lawyers among its agents.
As The Mary Sue reports, the services offered are free of charge with Lifschitz and Quinn running everything with out-of-pocket funds. If you need their help or would like to lend a hand (Crash Override is a by victims, for victims organization), feel free to drop ‘em a line.
[Base image credit: cafuego/Flickr]
In the past month we have prevented several potentially deadly SWATings and secured more people against hacking and doxxing attempts.
– Crash Override (@CrashOverrideNW) January 17, 2015
We hope to continue to help those who unfortunately find themselves targeted and unsure of where to find help.
– Crash Override (@CrashOverrideNW) January 17, 2015
8chan doxed me this week, and @CrashOverrideNW gave me advice and support through that. They’re good people who know their shit.
– Andrew Todd (@mistertodd) January 17, 2015
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
Via: The Mary Sue
Source: Crash Override
Hackers wreck a game making fun of North Korea’s leader
Clearly, hackers who sympathize with North Korea don’t have a great sense of humor. Weeks after Sony briefly cancelled The Interview, Moneyhorse Games has frozen work on its Kim Jong-un parody shooter Glorious Leader. The studio says that hackers destroyed game data and locked the company out of its computers, making it tough to both continue work on the dictator-inspired side-scroller and maintain a crowdfunding drive for the title. The funding goals weren’t likely to be met as-is, for that matter. This isn’t the first time Moneyhorse has faced an attack, but it’s serious enough that the company is “reevaluating” its willingness to go forward with a game that has dealt with multiple threats.
Don’t be too quick to blame the Guardians of Peace or North Korea’s cyberwarfare team. While it’s not clear who’s responsible, Moneyhorse believes that an “opportunistic copycat” was more likely behind the campaign. No matter who’s to blame, it’s not exactly heartening when even unreleased indie games aren’t safe from hacks. And how else are we going to see Kim riding a pegasus?
Via: USA Today
Source: Kickstarter (1), (2)
Super Mario World AI learns how to play by listening to your advice
As fun as Super Mario World is to play, wouldn’t be nice if you could coach from the sidelines every now and then? The University of Tubingen has developed an artificial intelligence that lets you do just that. Its Mario AI project makes Nintendo’s plumber both aware of his environment and responsive to your advice on how he should behave. You can teach him that stomping on Goombas will definitely take them down, for instance. Mario even has his own systems of feelings and needs. He’ll explore the world if he’s sufficiently curious, and he’ll chase after coins if he’s “hungry.”
The concept of a computer-driven Mario isn’t completely new, and it’s doubtful that this AI will get so smart that it’s performing speed runs. However, the research shows how cognitive computing can help in games and other situations where you’d want software to adapt to unexpected conditions. If techniques like this catch on, you could see in-game enemies that learn to counter your moves, or autonomous cars and robots that can adapt to new hazards based on your suggestions.
Via: Hacker News, VentureBeat, SlashGear
Source: University of Tubingen
Console sales up dramatically in 2014 as Xbox One finishes strongly
Console fanboys, get ready to gloat — or mope. Actually, (nearly) everybody can be cheered by the latest data from NPD, which showed console sales up a cool 20 percent from last year to to over $5 billion. Leading the final charge was MIcrosoft’s Xbox One, which topped the charts in December for the second straight month. Its recent success can likely be chalked up to attractive holiday pricing, since Sony’s PS4 was consistently eating its lunch prior to that. Either way, it came at a good time for Microsoft, since the last two months of the year are far and away the strongest for consoles.
The news was more grim on the software side, however, as software sales were down 13 percent from last year to $5.3 billion. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was the top selling game of the year, with Madden NFL 15, Destiny, Grand Theft Auto V and Minecraft rounding out the top 5. Super Smash Bros was Nintendo’s bestseller of 2015 in sixth place overall. Finally, Microsoft had a piece of good news in its latest Xbox Wire report: thanks to a new promotion, the Xbox One will again be on sale for $349 (sans Kinect) starting January 16th. Oh, and screenshots are finally coming “early this year.”
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Gaming, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo
Via: Joystiq
Source: Xbox Wire
Best of CES 2015 Awards, Gaming: Razer Forge TV
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While last year’s CES bubbled over with gaming hardware and services to excite, this year… well, it was more of a simmer. However, it didn’t stop Razer, which (like previous years) had all sorts of hardware to show off. Here at Engadget, we deemed the company’s Forge TV as the best gaming product at CES: a cheap, solid micro-console that’ll stream your PC games, whatever the hardware.
Filed under: Gaming
The aluminum Nintendo Entertainment System is custom built inside and out
The folks at Analogue Interactive know that making a good looking game console only goes so far, and that it’s what’s on the inside that truly counts. It’s with that in mind that the solid aluminum Analogue Nt — the outfit’s take on the original Nintendo Entertainment System — sports fancy innards in addition to its machined casing. As Polygon writes, the system’s motherboard is custom as well, sporting a fancy black printed circuit board, transparent solder mask and raised copper traces. We’ve embedded a picture after the break. Sounds pretty snazzy, right? Well, the outfit’s still promising audiophile and videophile quality out of their little aluminum box that could, and units still command a $500 starting price for pre-order. You might balk, but remember, this is the same company that charged $1,300 (minimum) for a wood-encased Neo Geo. Comparatively, this is a steal.
A photo posted by Analogue (@analogueinteractive) on Jan 13, 2015 at 9:36am PST
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Nintendo
Via: Polygon
Source: Analogue Interactive (Instagram)
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