New Kinect for Windows drops the Xbox One logo, adds a power cable
Last year, Microsoft said that the next-gen version of Kinect was coming to Windows, but has been relatively quiet since. That changes now, as Redmond has lifted the curtain on the new sensor and it looks… a lot like the Xbox One version. The unit is missing the Xbox logo power-indicator of its console-tethered counterpart, but as the Kinect for Windows Blog points out, that’s about all that’s different between the two. The software giant also says this reveal is a sign that we’re getting “closer and closer” to launch, but didn’t give any other release details. For the nitty gritty specs about power supplies and voltage ratings, check the source.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Kinect for Windows Blog
Fuse lets you put your own 3D characters into Steam games
If, like us, you believe that true individuality can never be expressed through four different choices of goatee, then listen up: Fuse, the character creation tool on Steam, now supports fully user-generated imports for the first time, making it possible for artistic souls to create clothing, body parts and “texturing substances” for more memorable designs. The $100 utility then lets you transplant your animated models into compatible Steam titles based on the Source Engine, including Garry’s Mod and Source Filmmaker. Now, if we could just couple this with Project Spark‘s customized movements and mannerisms, we’d have everything we need to prep our personal avatars for the impending Age of VR.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: Steam
The Last of Us coming to PS4 this summer with improved graphics
A PlayStation 4 port of highly acclaimed title The Last of Us will launch sometime this summer, a Sony spokesperson has let slip. Talking on CNN Turk’s Multiplayer gaming show, a PlayStation exec claimed the port will have better graphics than the PS3 version, and will be available both digitally and physically. PS4 copies will apparently include the Left Behind single-player DLC, so newcomers get the whole story upfront, and diehards get to replay a prettier rendition. Additional single and multiplayer content is in the works, too, but even a straight port should keep most superfans happy while they wait for the movie.
Source: CNN Turk (Multiplayer)
Anti-violent game politician Leland Yee arrested in connection to gun trafficking
In a turn of events that sound an awful lot like something out of Grand Theft Auto, a prominent politician has been arrested on corruption, gun-running and money laundering charges. The irony here is that it’s California Democratic Senator Leland Yee, who was a vocal supporter of gun regulation and also authored AB-1179, the (defeated) bill that would outlaw the sale of violent video games to the Golden State’s minors. As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the arrest was part of a lengthy sting that brought in some 26 other perps and even involved Yee taking campaign donations from an FBI agent posing as a mafioso. Yee’s out on a $500,000 bond according to SF Weekly, but he’s due back in court next week and is facing 16 years in prison.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Joystiq
Source: SF Chronicle, SF Weekly
Watch Sony explain Project Morpheus and its VR plans for PlayStation
Virtual reality is (quite suddenly) a big deal. Sony introduced its Project Morpheus prototype headset for the PS4 at GDC, just days ago, and now the company has uploaded the hour-long presentation, including its development, awkward prototypes, the criteria it’s eventually aiming for and some early demos. It’s almost like you were there — which is entirely the point of VR.
Update: As a bonus, there’s even a special PlayStation-sanctioned hands-on.
This PowerGlove stays in the kitchen, not with your NES (video)
We’ve seen the PowerGlove pop up in a few different places before, but until now the focus hasn’t strayed far from gaming. To wit, the Power Mitt wants to make your trips to the kitchen awesome in the way that only a heat-resistant-rubber oven mitt shaped like Mattel’s wearable peripheral ever could. Unless the one-size-fits-most baking accessory hits its Indiegogo campaign’s 450-backer target, however, that won’t happen. One right-handed glove will set you back $39 (larger and leftie flavors are stretch goals), and there’s a $20 discount if you order two. Let’s say you want to get crazy, though: cough up a whopping $10,000 and you’ll get a one-of-a-kind gold-plated version of the Power Mitt. Sure, you’ll lose heat resistance, but the flip-side is gaining a boatload of geek cred — isn’t that what matters most?
Filed under: Gaming, Household
Via: Laughing Squid
Source: Indiegogo
MLB.tv and Epix streaming apps are coming to Xbox One
Xbox One owners already have their fair share of video services to choose from in the US, but they’re about to get a pair of welcome additions. Major League Baseball now says that MLB.tv Premium should be available to stream live games on the console in time for opening day. Meanwhile, Epix has revealed plans to bring its primarily movie-focused service to the Xbox One in the near future. And don’t worry about being left out if you’re still hanging on to your Xbox 360 — Starz has just launched Encore Play and Movieplex Play apps for the earlier system, while Major League Gaming released its e-sports app yesterday. All told, it looks like you’ll have plenty of viewing options this spring.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Candy Crush maker’s IPO values company at more than $7 billion
King, the company behind the Candy Crush saga filed its IPO today, but is the maker another Zynga (Farmville), another Rovio (Angry Birds) or something else again? Nearly 100 million users play Candy Crush every day, and while the company’s titles remain free to play, it depends on virtual goods, additional levels and content purchases to bring in the cash. Selling shares at $22.50, it’s raised around $500 million for the company and its early investors, valuing King at around $7 billion.
The company apparently isn’t going public because it needed the money, however, but because it will give the company stock it can use to make acquisitions… and let investors cash out if they want to. Shareholders will be pushing the gamesmaker to repeat the success of Candy Crush, something that more recent titles, like Farm Heroes saga, haven’t (so far, at least) been able to accomplish.
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Tablets
Notch cancels Minecraft for Oculus Rift, but other developers still have interest
It looks as if the Facebook and Oculus deal already has its first casualty. Minecraft mastermind Markus “Notch” Persson has said that he’ll no longer be developing his game for the VR headset following Zuckerberg’s latest purchase. “We were in talks about maybe bringing a version of Minecraft to Oculus,” he tweeted. “I just cancelled that deal. Facebook creeps me out.” Persson continues on his blog that, while social aspects could be one of VR’s biggest applications, he doesn’t want to work with social experiences — he wants to work with games. Beyond that, he doesn’t see the social network as a stable platform, and won’t work with it in any form as such.
If you were dead-set on traversing a pixelated Great Britain in VR, it’s looking like you might have to settle for the hacked PC version for now. All isn’t lost, though. Minecraft‘s already been announced as a PlayStation 4 title and the wraps recently came off Sony’s Project Morpheus headset — it could possibly show up there.
That arguably one of the biggest indie developers (and one of Oculus’ earliest supporters), however, has cancelled a project the scale of Minecraft is pretty major. What do others in the indie scene make of the news, though? Those we spoke to actually seemed pretty happy about it.
The developer behind the Rift’s highest profile game, and the one that Oculus trots out time and again when there’s new hardware to show off (EVE: Valkyrie), has nothing but praise.
“We’re very excited for our friends and colleagues at Oculus,” David Reid, CCP Games’ CMO told us. “We share their vision about the future of VR and gaming and are looking forward to participating in the consumer launch of the Oculus Rift with EVE: Valkyrie.”
“I think this is a smart move for Oculus,” Rami Ismail of Vlambeer told us. The developer behind Ridiculous Fishing, and, most recently, Luftrausers, said that while Oculus is well known on the tech scene, it needs a backer with huge public mind-share now that Sony has entered the VR space. “Facebook is a huge established tech presence, has amazing engineers, hardware, software, public mind-share and lots of money,” he said. “I mean, I am not a big fan of exits as a business model at all, but in light of not really having a profitable business model, it makes total sense for them to exit,” he said.
Indie publishers are bullish, too. “Ultimately if Facebook allows the Oculus platform to get into the hands of more people, gamers or otherwise, then this acquisition will prove to be a good thing,” Devolver Digital (of Hotline Miami fame) partner Nigel Lowrie told us. “We’ve seen what this next generation of VR technology from Oculus, Valve and Sony can do and how it can change the game. Anything that achieves a greater awareness and broader reach for video games as mainstream entertainment, and pushes new technology forward in new ways is ace.”
Filed under: Gaming, Wearables, HD, Facebook
Source: Markus “Notch” Persson (Twitter), Notch
Palmer Luckey says Oculus’ future ‘just became crystal clear,’ but Facebook’s impact is still murky
If you’re reading this, you’re likely already aware that social networking juggernaut Facebook has just announced plans for yet another multi-billion dollar acquisition. This time it’s spending $2 billion dollars (that’s $17 billion less than WhatsApp for those keeping track) to buy virtual reality headset maker Oculus. Just minutes after the announcement, the startup’s founder, Palmer Luckey took to Reddit to provide some perspective about the deal:
“When Facebook first approached us about partnering, I was skeptical. As I learned more about the company and its vision and spoke with Mark, the partnership not only made sense, but became the clear and obvious path to delivering virtual reality to everyone. Facebook was founded with the vision of making the world a more connected place. Virtual reality is a medium that allows us to share experiences with others in ways that were never before possible.”
Luckey praised Facebook’s dedication to open hardware and software initiatives, with its investment in the Open Compute Project and said the partnership “allows us to execute on some of our most creative ideas and take risks that were otherwise impossible.” He said very little would change at Oculus day to day, a familiar sentiment for those familiar with the WhatsApp acquisition. And while he claimed that the move means “a better Oculus Rift with fewer compromises even faster than we anticipated,” one can’t help but wonder what this means for the future of the scrappy Kickstarter success story. Luckey said, “This is a special moment for the gaming industry – Oculus’ somewhat unpredictable future just became crystal clear: virtual reality is coming, and it’s going to change the way we play games forever.”
So operations likely won’t change drastically at Oculus, and we could even see a consumer-ready Rift sooner than expected. But in an investors call this afternoon Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg unsurprisingly suggested that possible revenue opportunities from the deal could include advertising in whatever form that might take. Bottom line: if you thought your virtual escape would be a commercial-free zone, think again.
Photo by Sam Comen for Engadget Distro
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Facebook
Source: Reddit
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