Minecraft arrives on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 this August
Look, playing Minecraft on a console is really great. It’s basically the same delightful/terrifying experience from PC, albeit in the comfort of your living room. What’s not to like? Well, on last-gen consoles, there was at least one unfortunate side effect of the platform: the procedurally generated world of Minecraft was significantly smaller than what could be done on PC. With Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions arriving this August, that changes. As development studio Mojang puts it, “It brings significantly bigger worlds and a greater draw distance than Xbox 360 Edition.” Hot dog!
Of course, should the more bite-sized world of last-gen Minecraft suffice (and believe us, it’s plenty big), the PlayStation Vita version also arrives this August. Here’s even better news: if you already bought the game on PlayStation 3, you own it on Vita. A similar deal applies to folks converting from PS3/Xbox 360 versions to PS4/XB1 versions: if you already own the prior version and you want to upgrade to current-gen, it’s just $5. The latter deal only applies for the first year of availability, so you’ll wanna upgrade soon-ish to snag it on the cheap.
To sweeten the deal even further, saved games from last-gen/Vita will scale up to current-gen consoles (though it’s not possible to go back — beware!). All the updates to last-gen versions will come packed in to this August’s version, and the whole package goes for $20. Oh, and the creepers are still super, super creepy.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Sony, Microsoft
Source: Mojang
First Unreal Engine 4 mobile game built in a week with no coding skills
Epic Games can crow all it wants about how easy its next-gen development toolset is to use, but until we actually see results, those words are pretty hollow. That changes today with the release of Tappy Chicken, the first Unreal Engine 4 game released for Android, HTML5 browsers and iOS. Yeah, it’s a far cry from the fiery demon we’ve come to associate with anything UE4-related (and it looks more than a little bit like another flying fowl), but the key here is that Epic says it’s the work of exactly one person using a sort of simplified scripting system called Blueprints. What’s more, the developer isn’t even a coder — he’s an artist by the name of Shane Caudle. Caudle designed the game-play loop for the procedurally-generated game in an evening and spent around a week on the menus and squashing bugs. Epic says that it could even be ported to consoles pretty easily. The reason for the free game? To show how easy it is to mod and add-on with UE4 even by someone who doesn’t know a lick of typical programming languages like C++. If you want to give it a go for yourself, all it takes to start is $19.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Mobile
Source: Google Play, Apple App Store
SingStar for PS4 employs your smartphone for belting off-tune renditions
When SingStar arrives on PlayStation 4 consoles later this year, it won’t require shelling out extra dough for a shiny new microphone. Instead, the title will allow you to use your smartphone or tablet as the mic thanks to a free app for iOS and Android. The newfangled software will play nice with both PS3 and PS4 versions of the game with support for custom playlists built in. There’s also improved social sharing and song downloads from the SingStore. Heck, they’ve even added Bruno Mars tunes, so get your pompadour wig ready.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Steam In-Home Streaming now beams PC games to any room of your house
It has been in beta since mid-November, but Steam’s In-Home Streaming is now available to all. Folks who have a fleet of computers at home can link ‘em up and then remotely install and play PC games just like you were sitting at your desk. As you might expect, this also enables access to titles on machines running other OSes — like OS X, Linux and SteamOS, of course. You’ll still have to wait a bit to nab up a Steam Machine, but if you’re champing at the bit to give it a go, all the info you’ll need to get start awaits via that source link.
Source: Valve
Old console, new tricks: Getting the most out of your Xbox 360
Whether you’re holding out for the Kinect-less Xbox One or you’ve already unpacked a new system, there’s still plenty of life left in the Xbox 360. Microsoft will have its new system properly on track after another half dozen or so software updates, but until then, it’s all about getting everything we can out of older hardware. Nearly nine years later, here’s how to make sure your Xbox 360 is aging gracefully.
Cancel your Xbox Live subscription
You’ve probably heard that Microsoft is switching up how Xbox Live Gold works next month, but if your 360 is more of a Netflix machine than an online gaming portal, then you can start saving money right now. If you cancel your Xbox Live subscription before August 31st, you’ll get a prorated refund for the time remaining — this FAQ has more details.
Keep your Xbox Live subscription
But wait! Before you hit that button, maybe it’s time to see if you’ve been getting your money’s worth from Xbox Live Gold. It’s about more than just multiplayer gaming or apps like Netflix and Vudu. The first way to save money is by checking for deals on the subscription itself. Regular pricing for Xbox Live Gold is $10 per month or $60 per year. Keep an eye out for deals from retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, eBay or even the Microsoft Store that cut the entry fee by $10, $20 or even $25. Next, check out this chart that lays out what’s available to everyone, and what will still require Xbox Live Gold after June.
Protip: Check out our deals updates for a heads-up, or keep an eye on websites like CheapAssGamer, FatWallet or SlickDeals to find out when sales are happening. Otherwise, double-check any new games you buy, as they frequently are either available as bundles that shave some of the cost, or include a trial card inside that’ll help you sate that weekend craving for some Halo.
Games with Gold
After Sony introduced an Instant Game Collection with PlayStation Plus that doles out free games every month, Microsoft responded by adding Games with Gold to its package. Sure, the monthly freebies are coming to Xbox One, but the Xbox 360 version has one big advantage over the XB1 and PlayStation offerings: You can keep the games. That’s right, all you need to do is check in twice a month (on the 1st and the 16th), start a download of whatever is currently being offered and it’s yours for good, even if you cancel Xbox Live Gold later. The only downside? So far, they’ve usually included older and lower-profile titles than the competition, but you can see a complete list here. This month’s games were Dust: An Elysian Tail and Saints Row: The Third, and in June, subscribers can snag Dark Souls, Charlie Murder and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition — not a bad haul for zero additional cost.
Protip: There’s an additional benefit of Deals with Gold that adds a monthly rotation of discounted games, videos and DLC — check Major Nelson’s blog to find out what’s going on sale and when.
Xbox 360 SmartGlass
In the years since the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft added a new way to interact with the system other than just gamepads and remotes: your phone or tablet. The SmartGlass app (formerly known as My Xbox Live) can control apps, games and movies on the Xbox 360, and even search content using Bing. The simplest way to use it is with Xbox Live. Sending messages to friends or checking their Xbox Live status is often quicker from the second screen, and your phone likely has a better keyboard than using an add-on for the 360′s controller. The apps are free to install and are available on Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows 8/Windows Phone.
Protip: Get a full list of SmartGlass-enabled games, apps and movies right here.
Clear your cache
Occasionally, issues with your Xbox 360 (glitches in the dashboard, sign-in errors, problems with certain games) can be solved just by clearing its cache. On the Xbox, clearing the cache just removes temporarily downloaded game updates, but it doesn’t affect system updates, game files or anything else on your hard drive. After clearing, you’ll be asked to download game updates again the next time you’re on Xbox Live. To do it, just go to the Settings page, highlight any storage device (cache will be cleared on all devices), press Y, select clear and say, “Yes.” See how easy that was? So easy.
Xbox Live Arcade
Microsoft may have thrown indie games in with the big boys on Xbox One, but on Xbox 360, there are probably still a few smaller gems you haven’t played yet. Over 600 games were pushed to XBLA since launch, including well-known hits like Braid, The Walking Dead, Castle Crashers, Limbo, ‘Splosion Man and Minecraft. Better yet, they have demos, and probably only cost a few bucks to try out. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Destination: Arcade visual browser hasn’t returned after a short beta test in 2010, but we suggest trying out The Bridge, Bastion, N+, Super Meat Boy, Ascend: Hand of Kul and keeping your eyes peeled for upcoming titles like AirMech Arena and Slender: The Arrival. Know some hidden gems we’ve missed? Leave us a note in the forums so we can try them out.
[Image credit: momo_leif / Alamy]
Xbox One’s June update adds your friends’ real names and external drive support
Here are some hard facts: regardless of how proud you are of that Xbox Live handle combining your love for Halo, the Deftones and Arrested Development without subbing in numbers for letters, it’s probably hard for online pals to tell you apart from xXC0rtanaSl4ve69Xx. With the June Xbox One update, though, you’ll have the option to add a real name to your profile, and thus, friend notifications. Not entirely cool with the rest of your Titanfall squad knowing your given name? No sweat: you can cherry pick who sees the name your parents gave you from who doesn’t. And yes, you’re right: this is something that the PlayStation 4 has offered since it launched in November. This patch finally allows using external drives for storage too, so long as they’re USB 3.0 and are at least 256GB. The update also implements an auto sign-in feature, which should especially come in handy if you pick up a Kinect-less console next month. Previously, you’d either have to manually select a profile and sign in or let Kinect scan you and activate your account.
If you didn’t use SmartGlass much before, push notifications when your friends start broadcasting via Twitch, and the ability to watch said streams on your device could change that. What’s more, the One Guide’s TV listings are coming to the companion app in addition to a universal remote. While it might seem like these updates are happening more and more often, that’s all according to plan. Back in January, Microsoft said that frequent patches would roll out to help the console become “better faster,” and well, that’s what we’re seeing.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Xbox Wire
Homebrew server keeps Nintendo DS and Wii games online
Nintendo may have pulled the plug on internet multiplayer services for the DS and Wii, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be stuck playing their games offline from here on out. Enterprising fans have launched an unofficial Wi-Fi Connection server that lets matchmaking and other core services work (almost) the way they did before the cutoff. In many cases, it’s relatively easy to set things up. The DS usually works just by changing the handheld’s connection settings; Wii owners, meanwhile, have to run some software from an SD card for the magic to happen.
Having said this, the solution is far from flawless. The developers have only tested a handful of titles so far, and a few releases (including Mario Kart DS) need some modified device firmware to fully support online play. There’s also the matter of scale: enthusiasts just aren’t going to replicate Nintendo’s capacity, so don’t be surprised if the server melts under a heavy load. If you’re absolutely determined to play Metroid Prime Hunters or Endless Ocean with your internet buddies, though, this may be your best bet.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Nintendo
Via: Tiny Cartridge
Source: GitHub (1), (2)
Oculus Rift is coming to… Chuck E. Cheese’s?
Sure, a spin in the ol’ ticket grabber machine on your birthday can be fun, but trying to capture the small pieces of paper as they whiz by your head? That’s a lot of work. Luckily, Chuck E. Cheese’s is offering a new, less physical way to reach prize station glory using Oculus Rift. The pizza party giant is offering a “Virtual Ticket Blaster Experience” at parties for the guest of honor that uses the VR headset to simulate the high-speed grabbing experience.
To play, kids will strap on Oculus Rift and collect virtual tickets by focusing a digital target on them. Oddly, the experience will still take place in the traditional chamber with paper versions blowing around – you just won’t grab them. Also worth noting, Oculus doesn’t recommend the headset being used by children under 10, and currently prohibits its use for commercial purposes. That said, a six-week test of the high-tech game is launching today in Dallas with expansions headed to Orlando and San Diego later this month. Our biggest worry about the technology? We won’t be able to grab tickets quite as fast, and will have to waste all our tokens on Skee-Ball to score that mammoth water gun.
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables
Via: Polygon
Source: PR Newswire
Virtual reality’s biggest enemy is bad virtual reality, says Oculus founder
Palmer Luckey can hardly take a step without being stopped for pictures, questions or just friendly handshakes. I’m not surprised; we’re at the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Expo, and Luckey just closed a speculative panel on the future of VR. Here, he’s a celebrity, and with good reason — the Expo floor is littered with Oculus headgear, almost without competition. As we make our way to a more quiet area, Luckey tells me that his hardware isn’t enough. “What we have that’s impressing all these hardcore gamers and technology enthusiasts isn’t good enough to be a consumer product.”
“People don’t have experience with this technology,” he explains further. “When it arrives, it has to be good.” Nothing’s a sure thing, Luckey tells us, and a poor consumer launch could spoil the milk. “I think really bad VR is the only thing that can kill off VR. That’s why we’ve been so careful to say that ‘these are devkits, do not buy, do not buy!’” Luckey quickly corrects himself, saying that he doesn’t think that the Oculus DK2 couldn’t be a consumer product; he just wants VR to hit the consumer space with its best foot forward. It’s part of the reason Oculus decided to join Facebook.
“It lets us make the first version really, really good, and use a lot of custom components that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.” Without Facebook, he continued, Oculus might have been forced to release more expensive iterative headsets to fund the envisioned consumer model. “Maybe it doesn’t sell and we actually hurt the VR market overall because it wasn’t good enough.” Luckey is relieved its a scenario he didn’t have to live. “This [Facebook] lets us have as good of a shot as we’re ever going to have at making consumers believe in virtual reality.”
Staving off the danger of “bad VR” also makes Luckey reluctant to push for virtual reality hardware standards — it might stifle innovation. “If you talk to people who are actually doing things that are very novel and different from what we’re doing, most of them are not very pro-standard,” he explains. “The standard is going to end up being defined by whoever sells the most headsets, and it would not be a good thing for them if the standard is games that don’t include motion control, or games that require a very high field of view or that absolutely require position tracking.” It wouldn’t help Oculus much either. “If we were to lock into a standard now, what happens when we want to make big changes that vastly improve the performance of our device and requires a complete retooling of the SDK?” The hardware isn’t good enough to set a standard, he says, just like it isn’t good enough for consumers yet. Still, he admits that it’s good time to start thinking about what those standards might be. Eventually, the industry is going to need them.
In the meantime, Luckey is thinking about the Rift’s retail launch — if consumers are going to believe in VR, they need to have good experiences. That means games. “The biggest public challenge is going to be software. We’ve been talking a lot about how the Facebook deal gives confidence to content makers of all kinds, but people shouldn’t take that to mean there’s going to be this slam dunk of AAA content that’s going to be available at launch. It doesn’t mean that. Content takes a long time.” While Luckey says he expects a healthy pipeline of innovative software, he admits that making good games in VR is difficult. The platform’s first big hit might not be there at launch.
Before SVVR ended, I caught up with Sony’s Richard Marks — the man behind Project Morpheus. He too had his concerns about bad software hurting VR adoption. “There’s no AAA title yet,” he said “Most of the world asks ‘when will Call of Duty be on VR,’ but that’s not the right answer.” Hopefully, the VR community will figure out what is the right answer soon.
EA Sports UFC looks to bring out the mixed martial arts fighter in you
Given the success of franchises like FIFA and Madden, it’s easy to see why EA would want to commit valuable resources to developing an MMA title, a sport that’s been getting bigger and bigger over the past few years. But the road for creating this new game, dubbed EA Sports UFC, wasn’t an easy one. The relationship between UFC President Dana White and EA had its complications a few years ago. Back then, the developer reportedly wasn’t interested in making a title for the mixed martial arts company, which is what started the kerfuffle between them. Because of this, UFC eventually hooked up with THQ to create a game, while EA Sports went on to develop its own MMA series. Still, neither of these things lasted too long. And after the unfortunate demise of THQ, EA Sports eventually reached a deal with UFC, granting it licensing rights for the popular MMA league. The by-product? EA Sports UFC.
EA Sport’s UFC, which is launching exclusively on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, offers everything you can expect from the big developer of sport titles. If you’re familiar with FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25 or, for whatever reason, NBA Live 14, then you’re going to feel right at home with the menus and game modes. The tile-based user interface is very simple to browse, and you soon learn that the modes found within the game are quite similar to those on other EA Sports franchises, like the ones mentioned above. There are things such as Fight Now, which quickly lets you jump into a match; Career Mode, wherein you can go from being a nobody to a famous ultimate fighter; and UFC Spotlight, which is a hub that gathers highlight videos from you, friends or the online community. You can also create a character (though only for personal use), challenge friends in what EA is calling Rivalries and do some training to improve your overall skills in the game.
“Our goal was to set a standard for how characters should act and look on next-generation.”
So, what about, you know, gameplay? And just how good does it look? Well, we came out pretty impressed. There’s no doubt that EA Sports UFC, powered by the Ignite engine, takes full advantage of the graphics power inside Sony’s and Microsoft’s new consoles. Simply put, it looks fantastic — for reference, it plays in 1080p at 30fps. In general, the amount of detail you can see within each MMA battle is quite remarkable. You can easily spot a lot of what’s going on with your fighter’s body and, in some cases, it may even be more than you would have liked to. Muscle flexing? Check. The smallest of chest hairs? Check. Hm, acne? Check. Yes, it’s all there for the taking, whether you want it or not. But it’s a beautiful scene, in its own magnificent way, and a huge step up from what we’ve seen in PS3 or Xbox 360 titles. “Our goal was to set a standard for how characters should act and look on next-generation,” Brian Hayes, the game’s creative director, told us.
Oh, and did we mention Bruce Lee? Yes. Bruce. Lee.
The controls, meanwhile, aren’t that complicated, which is good news for someone who just wants to play a fighting game. Much like with EA Sports’ Fight Night, it does take a little while to become decent at putting solid combos together. Once you get the hang of it, though, it turns into quite a fun experience — matches in the octagon are played at a nice pace, but they can end relatively quickly if you’re not blocking shots properly. Naturally, part of the experience has to do with the professionals you can use in the game; the rosters include most current UFC fighters plus others like Chuck Liddell. Oh, and did we mention Bruce Lee? Yes. Bruce. Lee.
EA Sports says it’ll be working constantly to improve UFC after its release, with expanded rosters and other features like that. The game will be available in the US on June 17th and elsewhere on June 20th.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: EA Sports
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