Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor’ on PS4!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
Emerging like a Nazgûl in the night this fall is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. You could easily dismiss the game as a licensed cash-in on the likes of the Assassin’s Creed or Batman: Arkham franchises, but the truth of the matter is that Shadow of Mordor is better than the most recent entries in either of those series. Sure, there’s clambering up walls in very assassin-like fashion and rhythmic combat that’d make The World’s Greatest Detective blush, but the team at Monolith (perhaps best known for the F.E.A.R. and Condemned series of first-person horror games) outclasses the competition in nearly every aspect with this incredibly violent take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic source material. Until recently, it was fairly underhyped and that seems to have been its best asset; allowing the game’s quality, not its PR machine, to do the heavy lifting. Still on the fence about picking it up today, though? Well, we’re going to be streaming it on PlayStation 4, right here starting at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific.
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Twitch
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Hackers plead guilty to stealing code for unfinished Xbox games, military software
Surprise, surprise: the government doesn’t take kindly to being hacked. The United States Department of Justice announced today that four members of an international hacking group have been indicted for stealing over $100 million of software and intellectual property, and two of the accused have already pleaded guilty. Using a mix of SQL injection and stolen passwords, the group reportedly hacked into internal networks owned by Microsoft, Epic Games, Valve, Zombie Studios and the U.S. Army. Their target? Video games and specialized pilot training software.
In addition to collecting data on company employees and internal dealings, the group is said to have stolen source code and technical specifications for the Xbox One, pre-release versions of both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Gears of War 3, as well as an Apache helicopter simulator designed for the Army by Zombie Studios. The DoJ says the group is accused of conspiring to sell the proprietary information. “The American economy is driven by innovation,” explained Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell. “But American innovation is only valuable if it can be protected.”
Hacking happens all the time, but the DoJ says this case is a little unique– marking what may be the first conviction of a foreign hacker for stealing business trade secrets. Even so, the defendant isn’t that far away: David Pokora, who is pleading guilty, hails from Mississauga, Ontario in Canada. He hasn’t specifically been convicted yet, either — but a guilty plea pretty much secures that, doesn’t it?
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Source: Department of Justice
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There will be blocks: ‘Tetris’ is coming to the big screen
If you’ve ever pined for a feature film about the beloved 80s classic Tetris, you’re in luck. The Wall Street Journal reports that an adaptation of the popular game is on its way, thanks to Threshold Entertainment. While that studio may not immediately ring a bell, it’s the force behind transforming Mortal Kombat into two full-length movies in 1995 and 1997. So, what can we expect? A “very big, epic sci-fi” effort that aims to be much more than a bunch of CGI blocks with arms and legs. “What you [will] see in ‘Tetris’ is the teeny tip of an iceberg that has intergalactic significance,” Threshold CEO Larry Kasanoff tells WSJ. What’s more, “location-based entertainment based on the epicness” in addition to the film itself could be in the plans, too. One thing’s for sure: these folks are going to be pretty excited about the news.
[Photo credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images]
Filed under: Gaming
Via: The Verge
Source: The Wall Street Journal
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Wii U now has folders to help organize your massive game collection
Having too much software isn’t a problem many Wii U owners are complaining about. Nonetheless, perhaps in anticipation of brighter days ahead, Nintendo is updating its troubled console with an improved UI for organizing games and apps. After installing the update, a long press on any of the Wii U menu’s empty squares will bring up a prompt to create and name a folder that you can fill to your heart’s content. The update additionally lets you choose which games and apps appear in the console’s new Quick Start Menu, and also comes with the usual bug fixes. Now, if only Nintendo would hurry up with Super Smash Bros, we might have a reason to take advantage of all these new features.
Source: Nintendo of America
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‘Doctor Who’ skins for ‘Minecraft’ hit Xbox 360 this Friday
Fancy yourself a master of the Sonic Screwdriver? Well, in a few days you can put those skills to the test… in Minecraft, that is. Whether you’re a timelord fanperson or a Dalek-sympathizer, you’ll be able to show it off once the Doctor Who skin pack hits the Xbox 360 version of the pixely build-your-own-adventure on Friday. As if you needed another reason to look forward to this weekend, yeah? PlayXBLA (Microsoft’s official blog for Xbox Live Arcade news) still doesn’t mention any word of an Xbox One release, but considering that the company recently paid $2.5 billion for the game’s developer, Mojang, we expect to hear it break the, ahem, silence on that soon.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: PlayXBLA
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Playdate: We’re livestreaming ‘Hyrule Warriors’ on Wii U!
Welcome, ladygeeks and gentlenerds, to the new era of gaming. The one where you get to watch, and comment, as other people livestream gameplay from next-gen consoles. Because games! They’re fun!
Nintendo fans have had it especially rough these past few years. The Wii U is getting better thanks to admissions from the company that there were some serious faults with the system, but, when it comes to software, games take a bit more time in the oven than a firmware update likely does. Today, we’re taking a look at one of the scant few exclusive titles coming to Nintendo’s latest home console for the holiday season: Hyrule Warriors. It isn’t a proper entry in the Legend of Zelda series, though — that comes next year… maybe — it’s an action game from the teams most famous for the Dynasty / Samurai Warriors franchises — don’t expect to be delving into any elemental-themed temples here. Instead, hone your hacking and slashing skills. How does it fare, though? Well, we’re glad you asked! Starting at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific we’re going to be streaming the game right on this very page. Tune in then and see what the Hero of Time is up to this fall.
Watch live video from Engadget on www.twitch.tv
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Nintendo
Source: Twitch
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Think tank hires ‘Call of Duty’ game director to predict the future of war
If you felt that Call of Duty: Black Ops II presented an eerily plausible vision of war in the years ahead, you’re not alone. The Atlantic Council, a political think tank, has asked Black Ops II director Dave Anthony to contribute to an “Art of Future Warfare” project that looks at fiction as a possible insight into next-generation conflicts. As he explains, the next big threat to the US probably doesn’t fit into conventional definitions of war — a game developer can imagine fantastic scenarios that might just come true, such as Black Ops II‘s drone assault on a G20 meeting. This isn’t the same as directly guiding US policy, so Anthony’s effect will likely be limited. However, it won’t be surprising if the country is eventually better prepared for high-tech terrorists and other dangers that it otherwise wouldn’t have anticipated.
Via: AFP (Phys.org)
Source: Atlantic Council
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Xbox One launches in China
Chinese gamers have just witnessed their first major console launch since authorities lifted their 13-year ban on most video game systems. Following a last-minute delay, Microsoft has released the Xbox One in mainland China; people in 37 cities across the country can now pick up a shiny new machine without having to resort to unofficial channels. There are only 10 government-approved games on offer from day one, including Dance Central: Spotlight and Forza Motorsport 5, but over 70 China-friendly titles are supposed to be in the works. As for Sony? It has yet to confirm just when the PlayStation 4 reaches China, but it’s doubtful that the company will be far behind — it won’t want to give Microsoft too much of a head start.
[Image credit: Microsoft]
Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Microsoft China (translated)
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Feedback Loop: Building PCs, running headphones and more!
The leaves are starting to change color and the air is getting cooler, signaling that fall has finally arrived. You know what else has arrived? Feedback Loop! This week’s edition features the Engadget community discussing the benefits of homebuilt PCs, recommending affordable running headphones, sharing fun Raspberry Pi hacks and dishing on smartwatches. Head past the break for all this and more.
Are there still any reasons to build your own gaming PC?
PC gaming is as popular as ever. But if you’re looking for a new rig, is it better to buy something prefabbed or build it yourself? Cbibbs is a big fan of building his own machines, but doesn’t think there’s a cost advantage in doing so these days. Despite this, do you still desire and enjoy building your own mean machine? Head over to the forums and share your thoughts.
Suggestions for affordable running headphones
Summer is over in the Pacific Northwest, and Philip Palermo is thinking of switching his fitness routine from tennis to running. Before he swaps his racket for some running shoes, he needs to find some good headphones to help him jog in style. Let’s give him some recommendations!
Fun hacks with the Raspberry Pi
When the Raspberry Pi launched in 2012, it provided hobbyists with a cheap, easily hackable device with which to learn programming. And enthusiasts immediately started doing some really neat things with it. Engadget reader Kodai has two of the devices at home and wants to know what sorts of things can be done with them. If you’ve done something fun with your Raspberry Pi, post it here.
What do you want in a smartwatch?
There’s no doubt that smartwatches are one of the more interesting categories of wearables. Now that Apple’s thrown its hat into the ring, what are some truly killer things that smartwatches should do? Tell the Engadget community your hopes and dreams for the perfect smartwatch. (We all want something that does more than display Facebook notifications, right?)
Other discussions you may also like:
- What are your preferred brands when building PCs?
- Ethernet, still worth it?
- iOS 8.0.2 is available to download now!
That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!
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One of the greatest pinball tables ever is going digital with your help
Ask pinball fans about classic tables and they’ll probably mention The Addams Family. It was widely available, well-designed and full of technological firsts, such as computer-controlled flippers. However, it hasn’t been recreated in software in its 22-year history — something FarSight Studios hopes to fix with a crowdfunding project to reproduce the table in Pinball Arcade. So long as the developer reaches its funding goal, you’ll get to play the Addams Family almost as if you’d stepped into an arcade circa 1992. The smart flippers, actors’ voices and Thing’s creepy animatronic hand should all remain intact.
Thankfully, it doesn’t cost much to contribute and (hopefully) keep this vintage machine alive. Pledging $7 will get you access to the table on one of the platforms Pinball Arcade supports, including most mobile devices, consoles and PCs. It only costs more if you want more platforms or special access, including the behind-the-scenes menu (if you pay $15) or the coveted Special Collectors Gold Edition ($100). The digital Addams Family won’t arrive until February if all goes according to plan, but that’s a trivial wait if you’ve spent ages yearning for a version of the table that you can afford to take home.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1067367405/pinball-arcade-the-addams-family/widget/video.html
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Kickstarter
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AIVAnet 