Game makers can now start their own Steam sales, to your wallet’s chagrin
If you’re like many of the PC gamers we know, you wait eagerly for Valve’s Steam sales; they’re chances to stock up on games that were previously unaffordable. Thanks to a new Steamworks update, you won’t necessarily have to be so patient. Game makers can now start their own Steam sales, determining both the size of the discount and its duration. If they opt into one of Valve’s week-long campaigns, they can still determine the pricing. The move doesn’t address complaints that the game industry leans too heavily on price cuts for competition. However, it should prove a big boost for indie developers and players alike. Creators will have more opportunities to stand out in a crowded field, and customers may have more chances to splurge… even if their bank accounts suggest otherwise.
Source: Reddit
Nintendo Japan: Wii and DS internet multiplayer services will shut down, Video for 3DS too
Nintendo Japan is putting internet-connected services for some of its older consoles out to pasture, although it’s not clear when or if these plans could impact the US. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection that served the original Wii and DS units is scheduled to turn off internet multiplayer gaming and many other (but not all) services May 20th (English Nintendo Australia release here), while the free Video app that launched for the 3DS in 2011 will be unplugged at the end of March. Services that will keep working on the DS after May include the DSi Shop, DS Browser, DSi Browser, while the Wii keeps Hulu, Wii Shop Channel, Internet Channel, Delivery Channel and YouTube.
A similar notice has appeared on the Nintendo Australia site as well, and we’re checking with Nintendo America to find out if the shutdown is worldwide. Newer Nintendo Network games that arrived around the 3DS and local multiplayer apparently keep on chugging, but if you have a long-distance score to settle in Mario Kart DS, we’d suggest scheduling a match now.
Source: Nintendo Japan (1), (2), Nintendo Australia
Titanfall collector’s edition is titan-sized, sadly doesn’t include jump jets (video)
For half the price of an Xbox One, you can have your very own titan mech! Well, a 18-inch “Atlas Titan statue,” care of the folks behind Titanfall. And yes, that means it doesn’t move. And no, there aren’t any jump jets in the massive “Collector’s Edition” box which holds the aforementioned statue, your copy of Titanfall, a big fancy art book and a poster. Dammit!
Again, to be clear, that’s $250. Take a look at a video from Respawn Entertainment tearing apart the “very limited” edition of Titanfall just below; it’s available on March 11th in North America, March 13th in Europe.
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
Via: VG24/7
Crackle’s free video service comes to the PlayStation Vita
PlayStation Vita owners looking for a free video fix no longer have to dig through YouTube — after a long wait, Crackle has launched its service on Sony’s handheld. Much like on other devices, Vita owners can now stream no-cost movies, TV shows and shorts, whether they come from Crackle itself or major studios. You don’t need an account unless you’re keen to sync your viewing list across multiple platforms. If you’re the sort of gamer who’d watch Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee after a round of Tearaway, you can visit the new content portal today.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Sony
The company behind Candy Crush withdraws US trademark application for ‘candy’
A few weeks ago, a group of game developers launched Candy Jam in protest of Candy Crush maker King’s attempt to trademark ‘candy.’ The result? A barrage of rage inspired confectionary-themed titles were submitted to Apple’s App Store. Well, it seems those efforts weren’t for naught as King has confirmed withdrawing its application to lock down the sugary term in the US. Citing the acquisition of the rights to the Candy Crusher title, the company believes it’s the “best option” for locking down IP stateside. However, this doesn’t impact the EU trademark that sparked the original protest from devs. Of course, there’s that IPO coming up soon, too.
We reached out for comment and a spokesperson for the outfit offered the following:
King has withdrawn its trademark application for Candy in the U.S., which we applied for in February 2013 before we acquired the early rights to Candy Crusher. Each market that King operates in is different with regard to IP. We feel that having the rights to Candy Crusher is the best option for protecting Candy Crush in the U.S. market. This does not affect our E.U. trademark for Candy and we continue to take all appropriate steps to protect our IP.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Kotaku
This is how Xbox One’s game broadcasting works
It’s true: Xbox One is getting its long overdue gameplay broadcasting functionality on March 11th, just in time for the launch of Xbox/PC-exclusive multiplayer blockbuster Titanfall. Some folks will get a chance to try out that functionality early through the beta program, but no one outside of Microsoft and Twitch have ready access to the service just yet. That’s not stopping Microsoft from touting the service as, “the first truly next-gen Twitch experience, one that can’t be matched by any other console.” So, uh, what does that mean?
It boils down to two main aspects of Twitch on Xbox One that aren’t available on PlayStation 4: archiving live feeds and the ability to view all of Twitch (read: any game on any game console). The latter ability already exists on your Xbox One; load up the Twitch app and watch any broadcast you want. When the app gets updated on March 11th (yes, there will be one application — Twitch — that handles broadcasting), it gets the ability to broadcast games out as well. Initial setup requires two basic audio/visual choices: if you’re using video, where do you want the picture-in-picture of your face to show up in the feed? if you’re using audio, there are some “basic levels” to work out. Looking to replicate the ease of use of PlayStation 4′s Share button ability? Say, “Xbox, Broadcast!” and you’re there. If you don’t have/don’t want to use a Kinect? That’s less simple.
Xbox Live program manager Chad Gibson tells Engadget it’s question of completing the following steps (from in-game): pushing the Home button, opening Snap, choosing Twitch and jumping back into the game. Not aggressively complicated, but certainly not as simple as the voice command option (or a Share button, for that matter).
Like Twitch on PS4, you can turn off video/audio capture as you wish and toggle comments. Also like the competition, streaming controls can be left or removed as “snapped” along the right rail — should you choose to unsnap it, a “bug” will let you know that recording’s on. And no, despite the HDMI-in ability (not to mention the myriad other media playing options) on Xbox One, you won’t be able to stream anything other than games to Twitch. All our dreams of a CNN-based Mystery Science Theater 3000 knockoff, dashed in one instant!
It’s not clear if Xbox One’s broadcasting has a similarly adorable standby screen to PS4 if you dump to the Dashboard during a broadcast, but it will outright cut off (read: end, non-restartable) if you attempt to load media in place of a game. The broadcast can be restarted, of course, but anyone watching must rejoin and, well, it sounds like kind of a hassle.
Twitch, like the Xbox One’s other software, will evolve as time goes on. We expect to see far more customization abilities in the future, as neither console is coming anywhere close to the level of support offer on PC. For now, though, we’re glad to see competition between Microsoft and Sony driving innovation in console-based broadcasting.
PlayStation 4 moves just shy of 350K units in first two days at Japanese retail
By Japanese game console launch standards, the PlayStation 4 is off to a great start. In the first 48 hours of availability, Japanese console buyers snapped up just under 350,000 PlayStation 4 systems (322,083 to be exact, according to Famitsu). That’s roughly four times what the PlayStation 3 moved at launch back in 2006 and about six times what Xbox 360 sold in 2005 — not too shabby!
That’s just a drop in the bucket for PS4′s worldwide sales thus far, which crested 5 million last week (well ahead of Sony’s sales estimate for its current financial quarter). It also inches the PS4 ever closer to 6 million units sold worldwide, putting it well over the competition’s (admittedly not recently updated) numbers.
You might be wondering, “Why does this matter to me?” It might not! But it certainly doesn’t hurt your chance of playing more great games if the console makers are doing well and facing stiff competition. It’s like the opposite of the slogan for Aliens vs. Predator: Whoever loses, we win!
Source: Famitsu
Xbox One gets gameplay broadcasting in March update (update)
Xbox One owners eagerly awaiting Titanfall should be glad to hear that the Xbox One’s gameplay broadcasting functionality will light up ahead of the game’s March 11th launch. Included in the second half of the first big Xbox One update is Twitch gameplay broadcasting, enabling users to share gameplay via Twitch.tv (similar functionality already exists in Sony’s PlayStation 4). That update is expected just ahead of March 11th (and Twitch functionality is listed as coming directly on March 11th itself).
Gameplay broadcasting on Xbox One was one of the tentpole features touted at the console’s unveil event last year — the service was delayed ahead of launch, with Xbox lead Marc Whitten telling us at CES to expect it before gaming’s big trade show in June. No real reason is given for the delay; Xbox marketing lead Yusuf Mehdi told the AP that Sony’s version of gameplay broadcasting is, “too limiting,” and Microsoft wanted to take its time to get it right. It’s not clear what that actually means in practice just yet, but rest assured we’re asking Microsoft for more info.
Update: Microsoft detailed the service a bit more this morning. Twitch on Xbox One has at least one feature unavailable on PlayStation 4: the ability to archive streams right from the console. There’s also a video showing the service in action (that we’ve dropped below the break).
Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, Microsoft
Source: AP
Comcast’s merger with Time Warner Cable goes in front of the Senate on March 26th
The final word on Comcast’s merger with Time Warner Cable may be in the hands of the FCC and Justice Department, but that’s not stopping other governmental bodies from weighing in. On March 26th, the Senate Judiciary Committee plans to examine the deal’s effects on the average consumer — specifically focusing on its impact on market competition and TV and internet pricing. “The merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable touches on important policy questions bout how Americans access these valuable services,” Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy wrote in a statement. “It also presents a critical moment to discuss net neutrality principals that have allowed the internet to remain an open marketplace for ideas.” Although the hearing probably won’t affect the merger directly, it’s possible the discussion could lead to legislative changes further down the road.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Microsoft’s hardware leader steps aside ahead of Stephen Elop’s arrival
Microsoft said that Stephen Elop would run its hardware division as soon as it finished acquiring Nokia’s device business, and the company has just taken a big step toward making that leadership change a reality. Current Devices & Studios lead Julie Larson-Green has told her staff that she’s leaving her position to become the Chief Experience Officer at the Applications and Services group, which oversees Bing, Office and Skype. The move sees her report to Qi Lu, the app section’s Executive VP. Larson-Green will manage devices until Elop arrives, but the announcement effectively marks the end to her brief 7-month tenure of the crucial organization. She was certainly busy during that time — she oversaw the launches of the Xbox One, new Surface tablets and Xbox Music, among other projects. However, we may not know the full extent of her legacy until sometime after she has changed roles.
Filed under: Gaming, Tablets, Software, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: GeekWire
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