http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:37:27 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-helped-bring-pc-gaming-out-of-the-dark-ages-says-wasteland-2-dev/1100-6419261/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517652" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517652"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/half-life/" data-ref-id="false">Half-Life</a> and <a href="/portal/" data-ref-id="false">Portal </a>studio Valve played a major role in bringing PC gaming out of the "dark ages," according to Brian Fargo, who is known for his work on the Fallout series and is now head of <a href="/wasteland-2/" data-ref-id="false">Wasteland 2 </a>developer inXile Entertainment</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"They're the saviors of the PC as far as I'm concerned," Fargo told <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-wasteland-2s-brian-fargo-valve-the-saviour-of-the-pc" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="2014-04">Eurogamer </a>in a new interview. "They've been great. You think about where we all were, kind of in the dark ages, when there was nothing. There was just flash."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Fargo praised the Steam platform for the way in which it breaks down traditional barriers through things like digital distribution, which allows developers to sell their games directly to consumers often without a publisher intermediary.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"[Valve has] opened up a way to get directly to the audience in a way that isn't politicized, or forces us to do exclusives or all the other things the console guys do." Fargo went on to say that the console guys (he likely means Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony), "put all sorts of guns to our heads" as it relates to publishing agreements.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Of course, Valve has total control over its Steam marketplace and could implement new and potentially restrictive measures if it wanted to. But Fargo doesn't see this happening.</p><p style="">"Valve has all this power but they don't wield it. They let us all work in an open system," he said. "So for that I can't say enough good things about them."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:16:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-helped-bring-pc-gaming-out-of-the-dark-ages-says-wasteland-2-dev/1100-6419261/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517631" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517631"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">[<em>For more coverage on the MLG-ESPN partnership, <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/mlg-and-espn-team-up-for-first-ever-esports-event-at-x-games-austin/1100-1301/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1301">be sure to read GameSpot sister site onGamers</a>]</em></p><p dir="ltr" style="">As the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-competitive-gaming-a-legitimate-sport/1100-6416797/" data-ref-id="1100-6416797">debate about whether or not competitve gaming is a legitimate sport continues</a>, one of the world's biggest authorities on the subject, ESPN, has lended some fodder to the argument that eSports does indeed have a place alongside other, "legitimate" sports. ESPN and Major League Gaming announced today that for the first time in history, MLG pros will compete at ESPN's X-Games for a shot to take home a medal.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">MLG and ESPN announced a partnership today that will bring the first-ever Major League Gaming X Games Invitational to the<a href="http://xgamesaustin.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> inaugural X Games Austin</a> in June. Eight of the world's best Call of Duty teams will compete in a three-day tournament for a shot at a medal.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">MLG will have a dedicated area showcasing the event at X Games Austin. The gaming tournament will be featured next to other X Games events in fields like BMX, Moto X, and skateboarding. Famous rapper Kanye West will also perform at X Games Austin.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear how much of the ESPN/ABC X Games TV broadcasts will focus on gaming, but MLG says highlights of the tournament will air on both networks. The complete tournament will air exclusively on MLG.tv channels on the web, mobile apps, and the MLG app for Xbox 360.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The popularity of competitive gaming and the MLG Pro Circuit is at an all-time high with millions watching the best gamers compete each month on MLG.tv," MLG EVP of sales, Don Reilley, said. "This collaboration with X Games will help further bring MLG to the mainstream while we provide advertisers with quality exposure and deep engagement with our fan base on MLG.tv across all platforms."</p><p style="">If you'd like to attend X Games Austin person, you can <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/ESPN-X-Games-tickets/artist/976171?brand=xgames" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">buy a three-day pass for $89</a>, which also includes access to the MLG tent. For $189, you can get an "extremely limited" VIP upgrade, which gives you reserved seating at the MLG tent, a behind-the-scenes tour, meet and greet opportunities with top Call of Duty players, and a swag bag.</p><p style="">MLG is making numerous and significant moves of late. Earlier this year, the group <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/major-league-gaming-expanding-to-brazil/1100-6417756/" data-ref-id="1100-6417756">announced expansion plans for Brazil</a>, and just last week the firm revealed that it will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/world-s-first-video-game-stadium-gets-underway/1100-6419215/" data-ref-id="1100-6419215">build the world's first dedicated gaming arena off the coast of China</a>.</p><p style="">For more eSports/competitive gaming news and analysis, <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">be sure to read GameSpot sister site onGamers</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kirby-triple-deluxe-review/1900-6415743/ <p style="">Kirby might not carry quite the same level of prestige as Nintendo's <a href="/super-mario-3d-land/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/super-mario-3d-land/">most famous platforming mascot</a>, but you'd be hard pressed to find a reason why in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It's as inventive as platformers come, unashamedly making use of just about every piece of 3D trickery around to craft some wildly unique, colorful, and thoroughly masterful levels. More impressive is how Triple Deluxe makes such trickery seem absolutely effortless: there are some very clever moments here, but they never come at the expense of solid platforming.</p><p style="">It helps that you're introduced to Triple Deluxe's 3D charms gradually. Early levels are standard Kirby fare, where you leap around smashing star boxes and generally making life miserable for your enemies by swallowing them whole and spitting them out again at their buddies. Things happening in the background offer hints at what's to come--you see monsters taking a stroll, some star boxes to smash--but these things are kept tantalizingly out of reach for the moment.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418500" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418500/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Eventually, floating stars transport you to those background layers, letting you gobble up enemies with wild abandon before making a safe return to the familiar foreground. It's simple stuff to begin with, but everything is intelligently designed to guide you from one 3D concept to the next, and all without a help box in sight. Before you know it, there are enemies flying in from the background to the foreground, cannons that shoot you deep into the back of a level, and giant hands that squash you right up against the screen.</p><p style="">New ideas and challenges fly in thick and fast, but are so well implemented that they rarely overwhelm you. One moment you're using the 3DS's motion controls to blast a rocket at a distant set of otherwise insurmountable blocks and using a star to travel to the background and grab some goodies, and the next, you're traversing a ghost world, where the enemies and platforms only appear on a mirror image in the background. Brilliant boss battles pit you against a tree that uproots and leaps into the background, firing fruit and slapping you around with lethal tendrils, or find you taking on a mischievous paintbrush that lays thick splashes of paint across the screen to hide behind.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516387" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516387"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">This is one of the few 3DS games that really makes use of the handheld's 3D screen. You <i>can</i> play with the 3D off, with shadows and blurring helping to define what is and isn't in the foreground, but having the 3D on helps massively in navigating the intricate levels and gives an amusing squashed Kirby some visual pop. It helps with figuring out some of the puzzles too. Many of them make use of power-ups, which Kirby acquires by swallowing certain enemies. Land a fire power-up, and you can blow flames at enemies and set fuses alight. These fuses are spread out over blocks that you move by tilting the 3DS, with careful alignment required to get the flame to the end, and launch Kirby out of a cannon with a satisfying pop.</p><p style="">Even outside of puzzles, the power-ups bring much amusement thanks to the impressive level of detail that has gone into each and every one. Circus Kirby bounces across the screen with all the elegance of a clown; Beetle Kirby viciously skewers enemies on his horn; and sword-sporting Kirby takes mighty swipes at the opposition, all while dressed up as a puffy pink version of Link. Selected levels unleash a neon blast of Kirby's rainbow-colored hypernova ability, which lets him vacuum up nigh on everything that's onscreen, and shift around large objects that would otherwise be immovable. Puzzles have him bringing snowmen back to life by dragging their heads back to their torsos, or sucking up rockets from towering silos and spitting them back at their supports. None of the puzzles are especially challenging, but such are the aesthetic charms on show as you solve them that it's hard to be disappointed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516388" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516388"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Indeed, Triple Deluxe's levels feature some of the prettiest visuals on the 3DS, with a striking color palette to gawk at and the always-cute Kirby and his vast array of adorable facial expressions to fall in love with. It's a gorgeous game, but its levels are also superbly balanced and expertly crafted, while being as imaginative as anything to come from the platforming benchmark that is the Mario series. Not only that, but it feels fresh and exciting. Sure, some of its 3D ideas may have been attempted before, but they've never felt as complete as they do here.</p><p style="">The game is stuffed with content too. There are secrets to be found on every level, stars to collect, and an amusing rhythm-based minigame and multiplayer fighting game to dig into. You even have the option of going back and playing the game again as the mallet-smashing King Dedede, complete with remixed levels and bosses, and it's a tempting proposition when the platforming is this good. Triple Deluxe is an absolute diamond of a game, and cements Kirby's place as nothing less than a bone fide platforming superstar.</p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kirby-triple-deluxe-review/1900-6415743/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-not-looking-into-hearthstone-for-xbox-one-and-ps4/1100-6419259/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2503978" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2503978"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Blizzard's development team for addictive collectible card game <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</a> aren't looking into making a console version of the game right now, but continued interest from the community might change that in the future.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The idea of getting it onto console has come up from players," said production director Jason Chayes <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-blizzard-not-working-on-hearthstone-for-consoles" rel="nofollow">in an interview with Eurogamer</a>. "It's not something we're actually looking at right now. We feel like we have our hands full in the short term with getting onto Android as soon as we can, which is kind of one of the big priorities we're looking at right now."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Hearthstone has seen a new lease of life since the release of the iPad version of the game, which was recently launched worldwide. Alongside the Android version, Blizzard is also working on its first expansion pack, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-adventure-curse-of-naxxramas-announced-and-you-can-play-without-spending-a-penny/1100-6418919/" data-ref-id="1100-6418919">Curse of Naxxramas</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">But what if PS4 and Xbox One owners keep crying out for Hearthstone on their consoles? "What we've said in the past," added Chayes, "and this will continue to be the case, is that we want to be able to hear back from our community and our players what they're really interested in, what they're very passionate about."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"If getting Hearthstone onto console is something there's a huge interest in, then we'd love to hear about that so it's something we can be thinking about."</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417838" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417838/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Martin Gaston is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/squidmania" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @squidmania</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-not-looking-into-hearthstone-for-xbox-one-and-ps4/1100-6419259/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kid-friendly-lego-mmo-from-mature-themed-age-of-conan-developer-gets-an-open-beta-this-june/1100-6419257/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2052706" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2052706"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/lego-minifigures-online/" data-ref-id="false">Lego Minifigures Online</a>, the upcoming kid-friendly MMO from mature-themed <a href="/age-of-conan-hyborian-adventures/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Conan</a> developer Funcom, will enter open beta on PC this June, the company announced today. The open beta will be held in "select markets," though we're still waiting to find out what that means.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As its name suggests, Lego Minifigures Online is based on the massively popular collectible toys. These toys "come to life" as players can collect them and take them on virtual adventures though worlds themed around pirates, space, and medieval settings, among others.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lego Minifigures Online is expected to launch in full as a free-to-play title across PC, iOS, and Android this fall. It's already been in closed beta for many months now, and Funcom says the purpose of the open beta is to test the game "even more thoroughly" with a large number of players. You can register for the Lego Minifigures Online open beta <a href="http://www.playminifigures.com/en" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">at the game's website</a>.</p><p style="">Separately, Funcom <a href="http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_secures_additional_equity" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced that it has secured $1.6 million</a> in funding, which should give the company "increased financial flexibility in preparing for the launch of Lego Minifigures Online." The funds come from YA Global Master SPV Ltd, which is managed by US-based investment firm Yorkville Advisor.</p><p style="">For more on Lego Minifigures Online, check out <a href="/lego-minifigures-online/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:44:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kid-friendly-lego-mmo-from-mature-themed-age-of-conan-developer-gets-an-open-beta-this-june/1100-6419257/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-s-weird-shooter-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-hits-pc-june-24/1100-6419256/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517610" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517610"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PC version of <a href="/reviews/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-review/1900-6415676/" data-ref-id="1900-6415676">Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare</a>--PopCap Games' "weird" shooter--will launch on June 24, publisher Electronic Arts announced today. The game will be available through Origin and other retailers, the company said. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare originally launched for Xbox 360 and Xbox One in February and EA just recently announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-adds-microtransactions-to-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-next-week/1100-6419237/" data-ref-id="1100-6419237">microtransactions are coming to the game starting this week</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The standard $30 PC version of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare includes the main game and the previously released Garden Variety and Zomboss Down DLC. You can also buy a $35 digital deluxe version (exclusive to Origin) that includes 80,000 in-game coins and a custom accessories pack, as well as two preorder packs if you decide to reserve the game early.</p><p style="">EA has not yet disclosed the PC requirements for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, so you'll need to wait a little while longer to find out if your rig is beefy enough to run it. For more on Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-review/1900-6415676/" data-ref-id="1900-6415676">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:20:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-s-weird-shooter-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-hits-pc-june-24/1100-6419256/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6408665" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6408665/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Although we've gotten <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-original-xbox-shows-launching-in-2014-microsoft-hires-amc-exec/1100-6416732/">hints about what Microsoft has in store for their slate of original programming</a>, the company unveiled more complete details today on the full scope of what they have in store. Not limited to just Halo shows and this weekend's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/did-atari-bury-millions-of-e-t-copies-in-a-landfill-in-new-mexico-we-ll-soon-find-out-if-it-s-fact-or-fiction/1100-6418772/">E.T. Atari game documentary</a>, Microsoft has a full slate of interactive programs including dramas, comedies, animated series, and live events.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Nancy Tellem, president of Xbox Entertainment Studios who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-hires-former-cbs-tv-exec/1100-6396737/">joined Microsoft in 2012</a>, and Jordan Levin, the studio's executive vice president, talked about the studios plans at a recent press event. Tellem said, "We started the studio a year and half ago focused on premium television experiences. What differentiates us is not only setting the bar high as far as what we hope to accomplish with the content that we're producing, but hopefully producing content that people actually want to interact with and developing features to support that."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">But interactive elements are what can potentially set Xbox programming apart. Levin said, "This is a unique experience because the technology piece of this is not simply a back-end piece, it's not about how video gets into the home, it's not about how video gets discovered or curated, although that's a piece of it. It's really about how technology works hand-in-hand in the development process to create an experience that extends beyond just a passive, traditional one and starts to offer some great interactivity."</p><blockquote data-size="small" data-align="right"><p style="">"It's really about how technology works hand-in-hand in the development process to create an experience that extends beyond just a passive, traditional one and starts to offer some great interactivity." -- Jordan Levin</p></blockquote><p style="">Details are still in-development for how to incorporate the technology, but Tellem explained: "As we're going through the development process, we always involve our interactive team to see what we can create that's organic to the piece and that we hope will resonate. It starts with premium content and good content that's entertaining and engaging. To add interactive features such as adding that social community and being able to communicate in real-time with others who are actually watching. We're working right now on time-shifted comments. Because it's a video-on-demand platform, comments that come in about the show, when you watch it'll be as if it's happening while you watch and you can participate in them as well.</p><p style="">"We're in the early stages. This is not a situation of building tons of features and assuming that the audience will necessarily engage or know how to engage. As you'll see, the key is making sure that whatever we're developing is intuitive and creates a frictionless interactivity with what you're watching."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Here a list from Microsoft of some of the projects we'll be seeing soon:</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Halo TV Series - </b>We already knew that Micorosft was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-series-in-the-works-with-steven-spielberg/1100-6408658/">partnering with iconic director Steven Speilberg</a> <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-series-in-the-works-with-steven-spielberg/1100-6408658/">for this one</a>. Speilberg will work as executive producer, and he'll be working with develoer 343 Industries and Amblin Television. We don't know much about it, but Micorosoft's Phil Spencer has said before that<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-show-won-t-be-filler-microsoft-says/1100-6416982/"> the show won't just be "filler."</a></p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Untitled Halo digital feature - </b>Separate from the Spielberg's TV series,<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ridley-scott-and-battlestar-galactica-director-working-on-new-halo-project/1100-6418732/"> this "digital feature" from Ridley Scott and <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> director Serigo Mimica-Gezzan</a> is set to debut sometime later this year.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Every Street United - </b>A soccer reality TV series "focused on the global search for soccer's most gifted and undiscovered street stars scouted across eight countries." The show will feature soccer stars Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids, and the search will come to a head in July with a "4v4 street game finale in the shadow of the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Bonnaroo music festival -</b> You'll be able to watch the 13th annual through Xbox Live. The festival run from Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 15, and will include "interactive features" to let viewers interact with other watchers and also switch between different stages.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Signal to Noise/Atari: Game Over - </b>Signal to noise is the working title for a documentary series from Academy Award winning producer Simon Chinn (<i>Searching for Sugar Man </i>and <i>Man on Wire) </i>that will "expose little-known stories of how modern technology has radically altered the way we interact with our world." The first part deals with this weekend's desert dig for millions of buried E.T. Atari video game cartridges (spoilers: <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/buried-copies-of-failed-movie-game-e-t-have-been-found/1100-6419235/">They found some, but we're not currently sure exactly how many there are</a>).</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Humans - </b>An eight-episode drama from the UK Channel 4 about an parallel present reality where almost everyone has a human-like robotic servant in their home called a Synth. And if science fiction has taught us anything, it's that creating robots that look like humans always goes really, really well for everyone involved.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">We also learned about some in-development projects that are currently unconfirmed.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Fearless - </b>An "unscripted series" from former Australian Navy bomb clearance diver Paul de Gelder who travels around the world to seek out people who "risk their lives to make the world a better place."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Gun Machine - </b>A "hard-boild detective thriller" based on the novel buy Warren Ellis. The story will follow a "detective tracking a serial killer who is tied to a mysterious collection of guns used in infamous New York murders."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Untitled JASH comedy -</b> A half-hour variety show from the comedy collective JASH, which was founded by Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim and Eric, and Reggie Watts. It's being pitched as a show where "the biggest names in comedy" give the stage to "the people that make them laugh."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Extraordinary Believers -</b> A stop-motion show from the creators of <i>Robot Chicken. </i>Seth Green and Matt Senreich are involved as executive producers.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Winterworld - </b>A live-action series based on the graphic novel <i>Winterworld. </i>In a world after a second Ice Age that's frozen the planet completely, the last vestiges of humanity have "formed tribes that war, enslave, and trade with one another in an effort to survive the infinite winter."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">For now, programming will usually be exclusive to the Xbox Live program, though whether content will only be exclusive to Xbox Live subscribers, and how long, is still in discussion. Some projects may expand out to other platforms, and some may potentially be released as free to all Xbox owners, even without a Live subscription.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Sony announced that they're also currently working on original entertainment programming for the PlayStation, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/following-xbox-sony-announces-first-original-tv-show-for-playstation/1100-6418431/">starting with a show called <i>Powers</i></a>. But Tellem is bullish that the Microsoft platform stands above the competition. "We have over 85 million consoles sold globablly and we have 48 million subscribers. And we have all the assets from Microsoft at our disposal: MSN, Skype, and Bing. ... From my vantage point, we're bigger than Direct TV, we're bigger than a lot of cable companies and cable channels, and yet we have an amazing targeted audience of people who are really fans. The idea that we have this console in everyone's living room or bed room and it's connected is an incredible opportunity to distribute and to share our content in a really global manner."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">In the future, some of the properties that Microsoft would like to expand out with this kind of additional, original programming include Age of Empires, State of Decay, Forza, Fable, and Gears of War.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">What do you think about the recent push toward original programming on your console? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a> </strong><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-president-we-are-not-just-a-video-game-company/1100-6419254/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517598" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517598"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a new interview, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that though the company is not moving away from gaming anytime soon, the Mario and Zelda creator sees itself as an "entertainment" company--and that doesn't mean just games, Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Speaking with <a href="http://diamond.jp/articles/-/52232" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Diamond.jp </a>(translated by <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/460890/iwata-pledges-to-push-nintendo-beyond-games/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">CVG</a>), Iwata said many in the public--and even some inside Nintendo--consider Nintendo to be a company that only makes video games. But he wants to change this mindset, just as his <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-nintendo-president-hiroshi-yamauchi-dies-at-85/1100-6414673/" data-ref-id="1100-6414673">late predecessor Hiroshi Yamauchi</a> did, Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"A lot of people around the world think Nintendo is solely a company that makes video games, and I believe more and more of our own employees have started thinking in this way," Iwata said. "Some employees in charge of development find themselves in positions where all they are thinking about is how they can make the game in front of them more fun, so I don't think it can be helped if others outside of our company see us the same way.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"So even though we won't change the fact that our focus is on video games, I felt the need to take that occasion to state that Nintendo is a company that can do whatever it wants," he added.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Iwata's comments came in response to a reporter asking him to offer more information about his announcement in January that Nintendo was thinking about a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-thinking-about-new-business-structure-studying-smartphone-market/1100-6417194/" data-ref-id="1100-6417194">new business structure</a>" that would "extend the definition of entertainment" with its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/" data-ref-id="1100-6418059">upcoming quality of life platform</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Yamauchi always said 'Nintendo is an entertainment company and should never be anything else', but he didn't necessarily think 'entertainment equals video games'," Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Recently the words 'quality of life' have been coming up regularly. Entertainment is there to improve people's quality of life. After your basic needs, there's entertainment. However, when it came to improving people's quality of life, I didn't know the difference between us and household appliance makers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"At the start of this year, I finally figured that the concept of 'improving people's quality of life with fun,' with emphasis on the 'fun', would be perfect for Nintendo. And that's why I decided to focus on this during the financial results meeting in January."</p><p style="">We still don't know much about Nintendo's plans for its new quality of life initiative, though GameSpot editor Tom McShea says it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-s-plan-to-quietly-kill-the-wii-u/1100-6418177/" data-ref-id="1100-6418177">may actually be a way in which Nintendo quietly nudges out the underperforming Wii U console</a>. E3 2014 is right around the corner, so we may find out sooner rather than later. </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:51:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-president-we-are-not-just-a-video-game-company/1100-6419254/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/reddit-user-reimagines-xbox-controller-a-treasure-map/1100-6419253/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517585" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517585"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Over the weekend, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/23wh31/i_made_an_xbox_controller_map/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Reddit user iwilding</a> posted an image of an Xbox controller reimagined as a treasure map and the imaginative design has drawn the praise of an Xbox executive.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox controller treasure map includes locations like "West Trigger Isles" and "East Bumper Island," as well as "Dashboard Forest" and "Starting Woods," all of which are riffs on Xbox button naming conventions. There's even "AXBY Lakes."</p><p style="">Xbox director of product planning, Albert Penello, said on Twitter that the design is "<a href="https://twitter.com/albertpenello/status/459563861989797888" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">so cool</a>." I most definitely agree.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/reddit-user-reimagines-xbox-controller-a-treasure-map/1100-6419253/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-we-re-not-favoring-playstation-over-xbox-for-destiny/1100-6419252/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517577" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517577"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">In Bungie's <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---04252014/en/News/News?aid=11492" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">latest weekly update blog post</a>, the <a href="/destiny/" data-ref-id="false">Destiny</a> developer denied a claim that it is favoring PlayStation over Xbox. A fan asked, "Will you guys give a nod to your Xbox fan base or just keep ignoring them?"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Bungie community manager David Dague responded, "Who's ignoring you? We're right here; making a game we hope you'll love. We're listening to your questions, and answering the ones we can. If you're a gamer who wants to play a Bungie game, you're very much on our mind-- every day."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's not terribly surprising that the fan reached that conclusion. After all, Destiny was showcased at Sony's PlayStation 4 announcement event in February 2013 and then again at Sony's E3 media briefing later that year. Sony even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTXN9uCd0mw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">teamed up with Bungie for a new PS4 commercial</a>, and the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-beta-hits-ps3-ps4-first/1100-6416200/" data-ref-id="1100-6416200">beta for Destiny will begin this summer<em> first</em> on PlayStation 3 and PS4</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is a dramatic about-face for Bungie, which is perhaps best known as a longtime wholly owned Microsoft studio, made famous for its Halo games that were released exclusively on PC and Xbox consoles. The studio would later regain its independence and sign a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-activision-lock-down-10-year-exclusivity/1100-6260577/" data-ref-id="1100-6260577">10-year publishing arrangement with Call of Duty company Activision Publishing</a> for their next major franchise, Destiny. It is Bungie's first multiplatform game in a decade.</p><p style="">We recently visited Bungie's offices and will have much more on Destiny later today. Destiny launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-announces-destiny-release-date-delays-beta/1100-6416594/" data-ref-id="1100-6416594">September 9</a> for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-we-re-not-favoring-playstation-over-xbox-for-destiny/1100-6419252/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-warcraft-movie-set-image-emerges/1100-6419251/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517568" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517568"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The latest issue of Hollywood news magazine <em>Empire</em> includes the first images ever revealed from the in-production <em>Warcraft</em> film at Legendary Pictures. We see the two monitors director Duncan Jones (<em>Moon</em>, <em>Source Code</em>) is looking at, which appear to give us a first look at the Stormwind throne room.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Unfortunately, that's all we can turn out from the image, posted at <a href="http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/31821/photo-scan-first-warcraft-set-photo" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Darkhorizons</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><em>Warcraft</em> is scheduled to hit theaters in March 2016. It was originally slated to arrive on December 18, 2015, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-makes-a-smart-choice-delays-warcraft-movie-to-2016/1100-6416445/" data-ref-id="1100-6416445">Blizzard delayed the film's release</a> after Disney announced that <em>Star Wars: Episode VII</em> would also arrive on December 18.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The <em>Warcraft</em> movie features an <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-effects-studio-working-on-warcraft-film-an-orcs-vs-humans-origin-story/1100-6416089/" data-ref-id="1100-6416089">Orcs. vs. Humans plot </a>and acclaimed <em>Star Wars</em> effects studio Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-effects-studio-working-on-warcraft-film-an-orcs-vs-humans-origin-story/1100-6416089/" data-ref-id="1100-6416089">working on the film to help bring its CG scenes to life</a>. The next <a href="/world-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">World of Warcraft</a> expansion is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor/1100-6416073/" data-ref-id="1100-6416073">Warlords of Draenor</a>, which launches this year.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:39:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-warcraft-movie-set-image-emerges/1100-6419251/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/soon-you-ll-be-able-to-get-pokemon-x-and-y-toys-in-a-mcdonald-s-happy-meal/1100-6419250/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png" data-ref-id="1300-2517562" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png" data-ref-id="1300-2517562"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png"></a></figure><p style="">If you're in the US and completely gutted about the fact that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/help-nintendo-post-a-profit-by-eating-these-super-mario-happy-meals/1100-6417539/" data-ref-id="1100-6417539">you missed out the Mario McDonald's Happy Meals</a>, well, maybe this will cheer you up: American branches of the fast food giant will soon be offering up a <a href="http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/index.html#/Toys" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Pokemon Happy Meal</a>. Pokemon!</p><p dir="ltr" style="">After the current Spider-Man Happy Meal promotion comes to an end, Nintendo will usher in a selection of toys from <a href="/pokemon-x/" data-ref-id="false">Pokemon X</a> <a href="/pokemon-y/" data-ref-id="false">and Y</a>. The twelve lucky Pokemon chosen to be randomly sandwiched between a burger and fries are Pikachu, Mewtwo, Xerneas, Yvetal, Charizard, Blastoise, Ivysaur, Fennekin, Froakie, Chespin, Pancham, and Helioptile.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Customers of the kid-focused value meal will also get to snap up a trading card, and scan their toys in with McDonald's McPlay Power app.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">And, you know, you get the meal.</p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 03:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/soon-you-ll-be-able-to-get-pokemon-x-and-y-toys-in-a-mcdonald-s-happy-meal/1100-6419250/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-developer-from-software-purchased-by-lollipop-chainsaw-publisher-kadokawa/1100-6419249/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2449558" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2449558"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/dark-souls/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls</a> and <a href="/dark-souls-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls II</a> developer From Software has been bought by Japanese publisher Kadokawa.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kadokawa will acquire a majority 80 per cent share of From Software's stock, <a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/28/report-kadokawa-acquires-dark-souls-developers-software/" rel="nofollow">reported Siliconera</a>, and the deal will be finalised on May 21. The amount of money spent on the deal was not reported.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The bulk of From Software's success in the West now comes from the Dark Souls series, but the developer is also responsible for the Armoured Core and Tenchu games. From Software also developed 2004's Japan-only Xbox shooter <a href="/metal-wolf-chaos/" data-ref-id="false">Metal Wolf Chaos</a>, where you played as an ousted US president attempting to regain control of his country with an uber-powerful mecha.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kadokawa is a Japanese publishing group that deals is anime, manga, video games, and video games. It's probably most well-known over here for publishing <a href="/lollipop-chainsaw/" data-ref-id="false">Lollipop Chainsaw</a> and <a href="/killer-is-dead/" data-ref-id="false">Killer is Dead</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"With a new system, from this point on, I believe we'll be able to make newer and more in depth games," said From Software boss Naotoshi Zin.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417601" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417601/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 02:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-developer-from-software-purchased-by-lollipop-chainsaw-publisher-kadokawa/1100-6419249/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-mario-golf-world-tour/1100-6419248/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2028079" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2028079"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Hit the green this week with the Australian retail release of <a href="/mario-golf-world-tour/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Golf: World Tour</a>. The game launches ten years after 2004's<a href="/mario-golf-advance-tour/" data-ref-id="false"> Mario Golf: Advance Tour</a> and is the sixth entry into the Mario Golf series.</p><p style="">Fans can choose to play as one of several iconic characters from the Mario universe, including Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, and Bowser. The game will support online multiplayer golf tournaments, and the ability to find other online players in the community to golf with.</p><p style="">Just last week<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/3ds-game-mario-golf-world-tour-getting-108-downloadable-holes-buy-them-all-for-15/1100-6419132/" data-ref-id="1100-6419132"> Nintendo announced a total of 108 new downloadable holes</a> and additional Mushroom Kingdom golfers to be made available for the game as downloadable content. The add-ons will be released in three separate packs between now and June this year.</p><p style="">Fans can pick up a DLC pass to receive all three expansions as soon as they become available and receive a special Gold Mario character. For more on Mario Golf: World Tour, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-golf-world-tour/1900-6415740/" data-ref-id="1900-6415740">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><p style="">For those more partial to role-playing games, Ubisoft's <a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a> launches this week. The game combines 2D side-scrolling platforming with RPG elements. Players take on the role of Aurora, who is working to restore the kingdom of Lemuria by recapturing three sources of light and defeating an evil Queen. The game uses an active time battle system, and a second player can join in as Aurora's firefly ally Igniculus.</p><p style="">Child of Light will be released in stores for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC on May 1. A digital release will be making its way to Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Wii U on the same day.</p><p style="">For more details on games out this week, check out the full list below.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418033" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418033/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><b>April 29, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/gardening-mama-mama-to-mori-no-nakama-tachi/" data-ref-id="false">Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends </a>(3DS)</p><p style=""><b>May 1, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a> (Retail release - PS4, PS3, PC. Digital release - Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U)</p><p style=""><b>May 2, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/mario-golf-world-tour/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Golf: World Tour</a> (3DS)</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Zorine Te is an associate editor at GameSpot, and you can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/ztharli" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @ztharli</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-mario-golf-world-tour/1100-6419248/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-dev-explains-how-its-multiplayer-mode-is-really-a-seamless-online-experience/1100-6419247/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418467" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418467/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/watch-dogs/">Watch Dogs</a> developer Ubisoft Montreal doesn't think of the game as having traditional multiplayer, but rather a "seamless online" experience.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We don't talk about it in terms of single-player and multiplayer," Lead Gameplay Designer Danny Belanger said in a post on <a href="http://blog.ubi.com/watch-dogs-multiplayer-guide/" rel="nofollow">Ubisoft's blog</a>. "It's all online. It's seamless. You continue your game. That aspect, for me, is crucial because otherwise it's a break in the experience."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you've probably seen in the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-multiplayer-explained-in-9-minute-developer-walkthrough-video/1100-6419161/">recently released 9-minute video</a>, you can play Watch Dogs online with other players in a variety of modes, but you don't just choose these from a menu as you do in so many other games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Other players can invade your game at any time as long as you're not doing anything that could be disrupted (a story mission, for example), and Watch Dogs will also try to learn how much of an online experience you're looking for.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We have a shield," Belanger said. "So if someone comes into your game and hacks you, you're protected. It can't happen. The less you partake in the multiplayer, the longer the shield. If you're not hacking people and you're not into that gameplay, the game will recognize and acknowledge that you're not into that. That's fine." If you want, you can also toggle off the online multiplayer options completely in the game's menu.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Another cool way in which Watch Dogs keeps this online experience seamless is that you never play as anyone but the main character, Aiden Pearce. Even online, you'll always see yourself as Pearce, but to every other player you'll look like a "fixer," whose appearance is chosen from a pool of NPCs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Watch Dogs launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-release-date-announced-for-everything-except-wii-u/1100-6417977/">May 27</a> for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. The Wii U version, which is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-for-wii-u-definitely-not-canceled/1100-6418164/">definitely not canceled</a>, is coming sometime later. You can read more about Watch Dogs in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-what-can-you-do-besides-hacking/1100-6419140/">GameSpot editor Shaun McInnis' recently published preview</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 27 Apr 2014 16:07:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-dev-explains-how-its-multiplayer-mode-is-really-a-seamless-online-experience/1100-6419247/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:37:27 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-helped-bring-pc-gaming-out-of-the-dark-ages-says-wasteland-2-dev/1100-6419261/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517652" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517652"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517652-steamstore.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/half-life/" data-ref-id="false">Half-Life</a> and <a href="/portal/" data-ref-id="false">Portal </a>studio Valve played a major role in bringing PC gaming out of the "dark ages," according to Brian Fargo, who is known for his work on the Fallout series and is now head of <a href="/wasteland-2/" data-ref-id="false">Wasteland 2 </a>developer inXile Entertainment</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"They're the saviors of the PC as far as I'm concerned," Fargo told <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-wasteland-2s-brian-fargo-valve-the-saviour-of-the-pc" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="2014-04">Eurogamer </a>in a new interview. "They've been great. You think about where we all were, kind of in the dark ages, when there was nothing. There was just flash."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Fargo praised the Steam platform for the way in which it breaks down traditional barriers through things like digital distribution, which allows developers to sell their games directly to consumers often without a publisher intermediary.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"[Valve has] opened up a way to get directly to the audience in a way that isn't politicized, or forces us to do exclusives or all the other things the console guys do." Fargo went on to say that the console guys (he likely means Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony), "put all sorts of guns to our heads" as it relates to publishing agreements.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Of course, Valve has total control over its Steam marketplace and could implement new and potentially restrictive measures if it wanted to. But Fargo doesn't see this happening.</p><p style="">"Valve has all this power but they don't wield it. They let us all work in an open system," he said. "So for that I can't say enough good things about them."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:16:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-helped-bring-pc-gaming-out-of-the-dark-ages-says-wasteland-2-dev/1100-6419261/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517631" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517631"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517631-mlgcod.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">[<em>For more coverage on the MLG-ESPN partnership, <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/mlg-and-espn-team-up-for-first-ever-esports-event-at-x-games-austin/1100-1301/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1301">be sure to read GameSpot sister site onGamers</a>]</em></p><p dir="ltr" style="">As the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-competitive-gaming-a-legitimate-sport/1100-6416797/" data-ref-id="1100-6416797">debate about whether or not competitve gaming is a legitimate sport continues</a>, one of the world's biggest authorities on the subject, ESPN, has lended some fodder to the argument that eSports does indeed have a place alongside other, "legitimate" sports. ESPN and Major League Gaming announced today that for the first time in history, MLG pros will compete at ESPN's X-Games for a shot to take home a medal.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">MLG and ESPN announced a partnership today that will bring the first-ever Major League Gaming X Games Invitational to the<a href="http://xgamesaustin.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> inaugural X Games Austin</a> in June. Eight of the world's best Call of Duty teams will compete in a three-day tournament for a shot at a medal.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">MLG will have a dedicated area showcasing the event at X Games Austin. The gaming tournament will be featured next to other X Games events in fields like BMX, Moto X, and skateboarding. Famous rapper Kanye West will also perform at X Games Austin.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear how much of the ESPN/ABC X Games TV broadcasts will focus on gaming, but MLG says highlights of the tournament will air on both networks. The complete tournament will air exclusively on MLG.tv channels on the web, mobile apps, and the MLG app for Xbox 360.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The popularity of competitive gaming and the MLG Pro Circuit is at an all-time high with millions watching the best gamers compete each month on MLG.tv," MLG EVP of sales, Don Reilley, said. "This collaboration with X Games will help further bring MLG to the mainstream while we provide advertisers with quality exposure and deep engagement with our fan base on MLG.tv across all platforms."</p><p style="">If you'd like to attend X Games Austin person, you can <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/ESPN-X-Games-tickets/artist/976171?brand=xgames" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">buy a three-day pass for $89</a>, which also includes access to the MLG tent. For $189, you can get an "extremely limited" VIP upgrade, which gives you reserved seating at the MLG tent, a behind-the-scenes tour, meet and greet opportunities with top Call of Duty players, and a swag bag.</p><p style="">MLG is making numerous and significant moves of late. Earlier this year, the group <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/major-league-gaming-expanding-to-brazil/1100-6417756/" data-ref-id="1100-6417756">announced expansion plans for Brazil</a>, and just last week the firm revealed that it will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/world-s-first-video-game-stadium-gets-underway/1100-6419215/" data-ref-id="1100-6419215">build the world's first dedicated gaming arena off the coast of China</a>.</p><p style="">For more eSports/competitive gaming news and analysis, <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">be sure to read GameSpot sister site onGamers</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/competitive-gaming-s-legitimacy-gets-a-boost-as-gamers-will-compete-at-espn-s-next-x-games/1100-6419258/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kirby-triple-deluxe-review/1900-6415743/ <p style="">Kirby might not carry quite the same level of prestige as Nintendo's <a href="/super-mario-3d-land/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/super-mario-3d-land/">most famous platforming mascot</a>, but you'd be hard pressed to find a reason why in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It's as inventive as platformers come, unashamedly making use of just about every piece of 3D trickery around to craft some wildly unique, colorful, and thoroughly masterful levels. More impressive is how Triple Deluxe makes such trickery seem absolutely effortless: there are some very clever moments here, but they never come at the expense of solid platforming.</p><p style="">It helps that you're introduced to Triple Deluxe's 3D charms gradually. Early levels are standard Kirby fare, where you leap around smashing star boxes and generally making life miserable for your enemies by swallowing them whole and spitting them out again at their buddies. Things happening in the background offer hints at what's to come--you see monsters taking a stroll, some star boxes to smash--but these things are kept tantalizingly out of reach for the moment.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418500" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418500/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Eventually, floating stars transport you to those background layers, letting you gobble up enemies with wild abandon before making a safe return to the familiar foreground. It's simple stuff to begin with, but everything is intelligently designed to guide you from one 3D concept to the next, and all without a help box in sight. Before you know it, there are enemies flying in from the background to the foreground, cannons that shoot you deep into the back of a level, and giant hands that squash you right up against the screen.</p><p style="">New ideas and challenges fly in thick and fast, but are so well implemented that they rarely overwhelm you. One moment you're using the 3DS's motion controls to blast a rocket at a distant set of otherwise insurmountable blocks and using a star to travel to the background and grab some goodies, and the next, you're traversing a ghost world, where the enemies and platforms only appear on a mirror image in the background. Brilliant boss battles pit you against a tree that uproots and leaps into the background, firing fruit and slapping you around with lethal tendrils, or find you taking on a mischievous paintbrush that lays thick splashes of paint across the screen to hide behind.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516387" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516387"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/917/9176928/2516387-image2014_0410_1433_0_result.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">This is one of the few 3DS games that really makes use of the handheld's 3D screen. You <i>can</i> play with the 3D off, with shadows and blurring helping to define what is and isn't in the foreground, but having the 3D on helps massively in navigating the intricate levels and gives an amusing squashed Kirby some visual pop. It helps with figuring out some of the puzzles too. Many of them make use of power-ups, which Kirby acquires by swallowing certain enemies. Land a fire power-up, and you can blow flames at enemies and set fuses alight. These fuses are spread out over blocks that you move by tilting the 3DS, with careful alignment required to get the flame to the end, and launch Kirby out of a cannon with a satisfying pop.</p><p style="">Even outside of puzzles, the power-ups bring much amusement thanks to the impressive level of detail that has gone into each and every one. Circus Kirby bounces across the screen with all the elegance of a clown; Beetle Kirby viciously skewers enemies on his horn; and sword-sporting Kirby takes mighty swipes at the opposition, all while dressed up as a puffy pink version of Link. Selected levels unleash a neon blast of Kirby's rainbow-colored hypernova ability, which lets him vacuum up nigh on everything that's onscreen, and shift around large objects that would otherwise be immovable. Puzzles have him bringing snowmen back to life by dragging their heads back to their torsos, or sucking up rockets from towering silos and spitting them back at their supports. None of the puzzles are especially challenging, but such are the aesthetic charms on show as you solve them that it's hard to be disappointed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516388" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2516388"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/917/9176928/2516388-image2014_0410_1542_0_result.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Indeed, Triple Deluxe's levels feature some of the prettiest visuals on the 3DS, with a striking color palette to gawk at and the always-cute Kirby and his vast array of adorable facial expressions to fall in love with. It's a gorgeous game, but its levels are also superbly balanced and expertly crafted, while being as imaginative as anything to come from the platforming benchmark that is the Mario series. Not only that, but it feels fresh and exciting. Sure, some of its 3D ideas may have been attempted before, but they've never felt as complete as they do here.</p><p style="">The game is stuffed with content too. There are secrets to be found on every level, stars to collect, and an amusing rhythm-based minigame and multiplayer fighting game to dig into. You even have the option of going back and playing the game again as the mallet-smashing King Dedede, complete with remixed levels and bosses, and it's a tempting proposition when the platforming is this good. Triple Deluxe is an absolute diamond of a game, and cements Kirby's place as nothing less than a bone fide platforming superstar.</p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kirby-triple-deluxe-review/1900-6415743/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-not-looking-into-hearthstone-for-xbox-one-and-ps4/1100-6419259/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2503978" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2503978"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1197/11970954/2503978-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Blizzard's development team for addictive collectible card game <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft</a> aren't looking into making a console version of the game right now, but continued interest from the community might change that in the future.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The idea of getting it onto console has come up from players," said production director Jason Chayes <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-28-blizzard-not-working-on-hearthstone-for-consoles" rel="nofollow">in an interview with Eurogamer</a>. "It's not something we're actually looking at right now. We feel like we have our hands full in the short term with getting onto Android as soon as we can, which is kind of one of the big priorities we're looking at right now."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Hearthstone has seen a new lease of life since the release of the iPad version of the game, which was recently launched worldwide. Alongside the Android version, Blizzard is also working on its first expansion pack, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-adventure-curse-of-naxxramas-announced-and-you-can-play-without-spending-a-penny/1100-6418919/" data-ref-id="1100-6418919">Curse of Naxxramas</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">But what if PS4 and Xbox One owners keep crying out for Hearthstone on their consoles? "What we've said in the past," added Chayes, "and this will continue to be the case, is that we want to be able to hear back from our community and our players what they're really interested in, what they're very passionate about."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"If getting Hearthstone onto console is something there's a huge interest in, then we'd love to hear about that so it's something we can be thinking about."</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417838" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417838/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Martin Gaston is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/squidmania" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @squidmania</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-not-looking-into-hearthstone-for-xbox-one-and-ps4/1100-6419259/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kid-friendly-lego-mmo-from-mature-themed-age-of-conan-developer-gets-an-open-beta-this-june/1100-6419257/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2052706" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2052706"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/2/7/0/6/2052706-729527_20130829_011.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/lego-minifigures-online/" data-ref-id="false">Lego Minifigures Online</a>, the upcoming kid-friendly MMO from mature-themed <a href="/age-of-conan-hyborian-adventures/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Conan</a> developer Funcom, will enter open beta on PC this June, the company announced today. The open beta will be held in "select markets," though we're still waiting to find out what that means.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As its name suggests, Lego Minifigures Online is based on the massively popular collectible toys. These toys "come to life" as players can collect them and take them on virtual adventures though worlds themed around pirates, space, and medieval settings, among others.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lego Minifigures Online is expected to launch in full as a free-to-play title across PC, iOS, and Android this fall. It's already been in closed beta for many months now, and Funcom says the purpose of the open beta is to test the game "even more thoroughly" with a large number of players. You can register for the Lego Minifigures Online open beta <a href="http://www.playminifigures.com/en" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">at the game's website</a>.</p><p style="">Separately, Funcom <a href="http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_secures_additional_equity" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced that it has secured $1.6 million</a> in funding, which should give the company "increased financial flexibility in preparing for the launch of Lego Minifigures Online." The funds come from YA Global Master SPV Ltd, which is managed by US-based investment firm Yorkville Advisor.</p><p style="">For more on Lego Minifigures Online, check out <a href="/lego-minifigures-online/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:44:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kid-friendly-lego-mmo-from-mature-themed-age-of-conan-developer-gets-an-open-beta-this-june/1100-6419257/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-s-weird-shooter-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-hits-pc-june-24/1100-6419256/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517610" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517610"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517610-gardenwarfare.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PC version of <a href="/reviews/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-review/1900-6415676/" data-ref-id="1900-6415676">Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare</a>--PopCap Games' "weird" shooter--will launch on June 24, publisher Electronic Arts announced today. The game will be available through Origin and other retailers, the company said. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare originally launched for Xbox 360 and Xbox One in February and EA just recently announced that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-adds-microtransactions-to-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-next-week/1100-6419237/" data-ref-id="1100-6419237">microtransactions are coming to the game starting this week</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The standard $30 PC version of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare includes the main game and the previously released Garden Variety and Zomboss Down DLC. You can also buy a $35 digital deluxe version (exclusive to Origin) that includes 80,000 in-game coins and a custom accessories pack, as well as two preorder packs if you decide to reserve the game early.</p><p style="">EA has not yet disclosed the PC requirements for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, so you'll need to wait a little while longer to find out if your rig is beefy enough to run it. For more on Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-review/1900-6415676/" data-ref-id="1900-6415676">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:20:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-s-weird-shooter-plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare-hits-pc-june-24/1100-6419256/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6408665" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6408665/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Although we've gotten <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-original-xbox-shows-launching-in-2014-microsoft-hires-amc-exec/1100-6416732/">hints about what Microsoft has in store for their slate of original programming</a>, the company unveiled more complete details today on the full scope of what they have in store. Not limited to just Halo shows and this weekend's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/did-atari-bury-millions-of-e-t-copies-in-a-landfill-in-new-mexico-we-ll-soon-find-out-if-it-s-fact-or-fiction/1100-6418772/">E.T. Atari game documentary</a>, Microsoft has a full slate of interactive programs including dramas, comedies, animated series, and live events.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Nancy Tellem, president of Xbox Entertainment Studios who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-hires-former-cbs-tv-exec/1100-6396737/">joined Microsoft in 2012</a>, and Jordan Levin, the studio's executive vice president, talked about the studios plans at a recent press event. Tellem said, "We started the studio a year and half ago focused on premium television experiences. What differentiates us is not only setting the bar high as far as what we hope to accomplish with the content that we're producing, but hopefully producing content that people actually want to interact with and developing features to support that."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">But interactive elements are what can potentially set Xbox programming apart. Levin said, "This is a unique experience because the technology piece of this is not simply a back-end piece, it's not about how video gets into the home, it's not about how video gets discovered or curated, although that's a piece of it. It's really about how technology works hand-in-hand in the development process to create an experience that extends beyond just a passive, traditional one and starts to offer some great interactivity."</p><blockquote data-size="small" data-align="right"><p style="">"It's really about how technology works hand-in-hand in the development process to create an experience that extends beyond just a passive, traditional one and starts to offer some great interactivity." -- Jordan Levin</p></blockquote><p style="">Details are still in-development for how to incorporate the technology, but Tellem explained: "As we're going through the development process, we always involve our interactive team to see what we can create that's organic to the piece and that we hope will resonate. It starts with premium content and good content that's entertaining and engaging. To add interactive features such as adding that social community and being able to communicate in real-time with others who are actually watching. We're working right now on time-shifted comments. Because it's a video-on-demand platform, comments that come in about the show, when you watch it'll be as if it's happening while you watch and you can participate in them as well.</p><p style="">"We're in the early stages. This is not a situation of building tons of features and assuming that the audience will necessarily engage or know how to engage. As you'll see, the key is making sure that whatever we're developing is intuitive and creates a frictionless interactivity with what you're watching."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Here a list from Microsoft of some of the projects we'll be seeing soon:</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Halo TV Series - </b>We already knew that Micorosft was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-series-in-the-works-with-steven-spielberg/1100-6408658/">partnering with iconic director Steven Speilberg</a> <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-series-in-the-works-with-steven-spielberg/1100-6408658/">for this one</a>. Speilberg will work as executive producer, and he'll be working with develoer 343 Industries and Amblin Television. We don't know much about it, but Micorosoft's Phil Spencer has said before that<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-tv-show-won-t-be-filler-microsoft-says/1100-6416982/"> the show won't just be "filler."</a></p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Untitled Halo digital feature - </b>Separate from the Spielberg's TV series,<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ridley-scott-and-battlestar-galactica-director-working-on-new-halo-project/1100-6418732/"> this "digital feature" from Ridley Scott and <i>Battlestar Galactica</i> director Serigo Mimica-Gezzan</a> is set to debut sometime later this year.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Every Street United - </b>A soccer reality TV series "focused on the global search for soccer's most gifted and undiscovered street stars scouted across eight countries." The show will feature soccer stars Thierry Henry and Edgar Davids, and the search will come to a head in July with a "4v4 street game finale in the shadow of the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Bonnaroo music festival -</b> You'll be able to watch the 13th annual through Xbox Live. The festival run from Friday, June 13 to Sunday, June 15, and will include "interactive features" to let viewers interact with other watchers and also switch between different stages.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Signal to Noise/Atari: Game Over - </b>Signal to noise is the working title for a documentary series from Academy Award winning producer Simon Chinn (<i>Searching for Sugar Man </i>and <i>Man on Wire) </i>that will "expose little-known stories of how modern technology has radically altered the way we interact with our world." The first part deals with this weekend's desert dig for millions of buried E.T. Atari video game cartridges (spoilers: <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/buried-copies-of-failed-movie-game-e-t-have-been-found/1100-6419235/">They found some, but we're not currently sure exactly how many there are</a>).</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Humans - </b>An eight-episode drama from the UK Channel 4 about an parallel present reality where almost everyone has a human-like robotic servant in their home called a Synth. And if science fiction has taught us anything, it's that creating robots that look like humans always goes really, really well for everyone involved.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">We also learned about some in-development projects that are currently unconfirmed.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Fearless - </b>An "unscripted series" from former Australian Navy bomb clearance diver Paul de Gelder who travels around the world to seek out people who "risk their lives to make the world a better place."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Gun Machine - </b>A "hard-boild detective thriller" based on the novel buy Warren Ellis. The story will follow a "detective tracking a serial killer who is tied to a mysterious collection of guns used in infamous New York murders."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Untitled JASH comedy -</b> A half-hour variety show from the comedy collective JASH, which was founded by Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Tim and Eric, and Reggie Watts. It's being pitched as a show where "the biggest names in comedy" give the stage to "the people that make them laugh."</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Extraordinary Believers -</b> A stop-motion show from the creators of <i>Robot Chicken. </i>Seth Green and Matt Senreich are involved as executive producers.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""><b>Winterworld - </b>A live-action series based on the graphic novel <i>Winterworld. </i>In a world after a second Ice Age that's frozen the planet completely, the last vestiges of humanity have "formed tribes that war, enslave, and trade with one another in an effort to survive the infinite winter."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">For now, programming will usually be exclusive to the Xbox Live program, though whether content will only be exclusive to Xbox Live subscribers, and how long, is still in discussion. Some projects may expand out to other platforms, and some may potentially be released as free to all Xbox owners, even without a Live subscription.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Sony announced that they're also currently working on original entertainment programming for the PlayStation, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/following-xbox-sony-announces-first-original-tv-show-for-playstation/1100-6418431/">starting with a show called <i>Powers</i></a>. But Tellem is bullish that the Microsoft platform stands above the competition. "We have over 85 million consoles sold globablly and we have 48 million subscribers. And we have all the assets from Microsoft at our disposal: MSN, Skype, and Bing. ... From my vantage point, we're bigger than Direct TV, we're bigger than a lot of cable companies and cable channels, and yet we have an amazing targeted audience of people who are really fans. The idea that we have this console in everyone's living room or bed room and it's connected is an incredible opportunity to distribute and to share our content in a really global manner."</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">In the future, some of the properties that Microsoft would like to expand out with this kind of additional, original programming include Age of Empires, State of Decay, Forza, Fable, and Gears of War.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">What do you think about the recent push toward original programming on your console? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a> </strong><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 06:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-reveals-programs-for-xbox-original-tv-programming/1100-6419255/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-president-we-are-not-just-a-video-game-company/1100-6419254/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517598" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517598"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517598-nintendodc.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">In a new interview, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that though the company is not moving away from gaming anytime soon, the Mario and Zelda creator sees itself as an "entertainment" company--and that doesn't mean just games, Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Speaking with <a href="http://diamond.jp/articles/-/52232" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Diamond.jp </a>(translated by <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/460890/iwata-pledges-to-push-nintendo-beyond-games/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">CVG</a>), Iwata said many in the public--and even some inside Nintendo--consider Nintendo to be a company that only makes video games. But he wants to change this mindset, just as his <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-nintendo-president-hiroshi-yamauchi-dies-at-85/1100-6414673/" data-ref-id="1100-6414673">late predecessor Hiroshi Yamauchi</a> did, Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"A lot of people around the world think Nintendo is solely a company that makes video games, and I believe more and more of our own employees have started thinking in this way," Iwata said. "Some employees in charge of development find themselves in positions where all they are thinking about is how they can make the game in front of them more fun, so I don't think it can be helped if others outside of our company see us the same way.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"So even though we won't change the fact that our focus is on video games, I felt the need to take that occasion to state that Nintendo is a company that can do whatever it wants," he added.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Iwata's comments came in response to a reporter asking him to offer more information about his announcement in January that Nintendo was thinking about a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-thinking-about-new-business-structure-studying-smartphone-market/1100-6417194/" data-ref-id="1100-6417194">new business structure</a>" that would "extend the definition of entertainment" with its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/" data-ref-id="1100-6418059">upcoming quality of life platform</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Yamauchi always said 'Nintendo is an entertainment company and should never be anything else', but he didn't necessarily think 'entertainment equals video games'," Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Recently the words 'quality of life' have been coming up regularly. Entertainment is there to improve people's quality of life. After your basic needs, there's entertainment. However, when it came to improving people's quality of life, I didn't know the difference between us and household appliance makers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"At the start of this year, I finally figured that the concept of 'improving people's quality of life with fun,' with emphasis on the 'fun', would be perfect for Nintendo. And that's why I decided to focus on this during the financial results meeting in January."</p><p style="">We still don't know much about Nintendo's plans for its new quality of life initiative, though GameSpot editor Tom McShea says it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-s-plan-to-quietly-kill-the-wii-u/1100-6418177/" data-ref-id="1100-6418177">may actually be a way in which Nintendo quietly nudges out the underperforming Wii U console</a>. E3 2014 is right around the corner, so we may find out sooner rather than later. </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:51:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-president-we-are-not-just-a-video-game-company/1100-6419254/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/reddit-user-reimagines-xbox-controller-a-treasure-map/1100-6419253/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517585" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517585"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517585-xboxmap.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Over the weekend, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/23wh31/i_made_an_xbox_controller_map/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Reddit user iwilding</a> posted an image of an Xbox controller reimagined as a treasure map and the imaginative design has drawn the praise of an Xbox executive.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox controller treasure map includes locations like "West Trigger Isles" and "East Bumper Island," as well as "Dashboard Forest" and "Starting Woods," all of which are riffs on Xbox button naming conventions. There's even "AXBY Lakes."</p><p style="">Xbox director of product planning, Albert Penello, said on Twitter that the design is "<a href="https://twitter.com/albertpenello/status/459563861989797888" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">so cool</a>." I most definitely agree.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/reddit-user-reimagines-xbox-controller-a-treasure-map/1100-6419253/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-we-re-not-favoring-playstation-over-xbox-for-destiny/1100-6419252/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517577" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517577"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517577-destinybungie.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">In Bungie's <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---04252014/en/News/News?aid=11492" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">latest weekly update blog post</a>, the <a href="/destiny/" data-ref-id="false">Destiny</a> developer denied a claim that it is favoring PlayStation over Xbox. A fan asked, "Will you guys give a nod to your Xbox fan base or just keep ignoring them?"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Bungie community manager David Dague responded, "Who's ignoring you? We're right here; making a game we hope you'll love. We're listening to your questions, and answering the ones we can. If you're a gamer who wants to play a Bungie game, you're very much on our mind-- every day."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's not terribly surprising that the fan reached that conclusion. After all, Destiny was showcased at Sony's PlayStation 4 announcement event in February 2013 and then again at Sony's E3 media briefing later that year. Sony even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTXN9uCd0mw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">teamed up with Bungie for a new PS4 commercial</a>, and the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-beta-hits-ps3-ps4-first/1100-6416200/" data-ref-id="1100-6416200">beta for Destiny will begin this summer<em> first</em> on PlayStation 3 and PS4</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is a dramatic about-face for Bungie, which is perhaps best known as a longtime wholly owned Microsoft studio, made famous for its Halo games that were released exclusively on PC and Xbox consoles. The studio would later regain its independence and sign a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-activision-lock-down-10-year-exclusivity/1100-6260577/" data-ref-id="1100-6260577">10-year publishing arrangement with Call of Duty company Activision Publishing</a> for their next major franchise, Destiny. It is Bungie's first multiplatform game in a decade.</p><p style="">We recently visited Bungie's offices and will have much more on Destiny later today. Destiny launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-announces-destiny-release-date-delays-beta/1100-6416594/" data-ref-id="1100-6416594">September 9</a> for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 05:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungie-we-re-not-favoring-playstation-over-xbox-for-destiny/1100-6419252/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-warcraft-movie-set-image-emerges/1100-6419251/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517568" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2517568"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2517568-warcraftnew.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The latest issue of Hollywood news magazine <em>Empire</em> includes the first images ever revealed from the in-production <em>Warcraft</em> film at Legendary Pictures. We see the two monitors director Duncan Jones (<em>Moon</em>, <em>Source Code</em>) is looking at, which appear to give us a first look at the Stormwind throne room.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Unfortunately, that's all we can turn out from the image, posted at <a href="http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/31821/photo-scan-first-warcraft-set-photo" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Darkhorizons</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><em>Warcraft</em> is scheduled to hit theaters in March 2016. It was originally slated to arrive on December 18, 2015, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-makes-a-smart-choice-delays-warcraft-movie-to-2016/1100-6416445/" data-ref-id="1100-6416445">Blizzard delayed the film's release</a> after Disney announced that <em>Star Wars: Episode VII</em> would also arrive on December 18.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The <em>Warcraft</em> movie features an <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-effects-studio-working-on-warcraft-film-an-orcs-vs-humans-origin-story/1100-6416089/" data-ref-id="1100-6416089">Orcs. vs. Humans plot </a>and acclaimed <em>Star Wars</em> effects studio Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-effects-studio-working-on-warcraft-film-an-orcs-vs-humans-origin-story/1100-6416089/" data-ref-id="1100-6416089">working on the film to help bring its CG scenes to life</a>. The next <a href="/world-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">World of Warcraft</a> expansion is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor/1100-6416073/" data-ref-id="1100-6416073">Warlords of Draenor</a>, which launches this year.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:39:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-warcraft-movie-set-image-emerges/1100-6419251/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/soon-you-ll-be-able-to-get-pokemon-x-and-y-toys-in-a-mcdonald-s-happy-meal/1100-6419250/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png" data-ref-id="1300-2517562" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png" data-ref-id="1300-2517562"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1493/14930800/2517562-screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+11.32.43.png"></a></figure><p style="">If you're in the US and completely gutted about the fact that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/help-nintendo-post-a-profit-by-eating-these-super-mario-happy-meals/1100-6417539/" data-ref-id="1100-6417539">you missed out the Mario McDonald's Happy Meals</a>, well, maybe this will cheer you up: American branches of the fast food giant will soon be offering up a <a href="http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/index.html#/Toys" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Pokemon Happy Meal</a>. Pokemon!</p><p dir="ltr" style="">After the current Spider-Man Happy Meal promotion comes to an end, Nintendo will usher in a selection of toys from <a href="/pokemon-x/" data-ref-id="false">Pokemon X</a> <a href="/pokemon-y/" data-ref-id="false">and Y</a>. The twelve lucky Pokemon chosen to be randomly sandwiched between a burger and fries are Pikachu, Mewtwo, Xerneas, Yvetal, Charizard, Blastoise, Ivysaur, Fennekin, Froakie, Chespin, Pancham, and Helioptile.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Customers of the kid-focused value meal will also get to snap up a trading card, and scan their toys in with McDonald's McPlay Power app.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">And, you know, you get the meal.</p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 03:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/soon-you-ll-be-able-to-get-pokemon-x-and-y-toys-in-a-mcdonald-s-happy-meal/1100-6419250/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-developer-from-software-purchased-by-lollipop-chainsaw-publisher-kadokawa/1100-6419249/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2449558" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2449558"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2449558-frpg2_2014_03_05_115222.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/dark-souls/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls</a> and <a href="/dark-souls-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls II</a> developer From Software has been bought by Japanese publisher Kadokawa.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kadokawa will acquire a majority 80 per cent share of From Software's stock, <a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2014/04/28/report-kadokawa-acquires-dark-souls-developers-software/" rel="nofollow">reported Siliconera</a>, and the deal will be finalised on May 21. The amount of money spent on the deal was not reported.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The bulk of From Software's success in the West now comes from the Dark Souls series, but the developer is also responsible for the Armoured Core and Tenchu games. From Software also developed 2004's Japan-only Xbox shooter <a href="/metal-wolf-chaos/" data-ref-id="false">Metal Wolf Chaos</a>, where you played as an ousted US president attempting to regain control of his country with an uber-powerful mecha.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kadokawa is a Japanese publishing group that deals is anime, manga, video games, and video games. It's probably most well-known over here for publishing <a href="/lollipop-chainsaw/" data-ref-id="false">Lollipop Chainsaw</a> and <a href="/killer-is-dead/" data-ref-id="false">Killer is Dead</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"With a new system, from this point on, I believe we'll be able to make newer and more in depth games," said From Software boss Naotoshi Zin.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417601" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417601/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Mon, 28 Apr 2014 02:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-developer-from-software-purchased-by-lollipop-chainsaw-publisher-kadokawa/1100-6419249/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-mario-golf-world-tour/1100-6419248/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2028079" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2028079"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/8/0/7/9/2028079-704056_20130214_001.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Hit the green this week with the Australian retail release of <a href="/mario-golf-world-tour/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Golf: World Tour</a>. The game launches ten years after 2004's<a href="/mario-golf-advance-tour/" data-ref-id="false"> Mario Golf: Advance Tour</a> and is the sixth entry into the Mario Golf series.</p><p style="">Fans can choose to play as one of several iconic characters from the Mario universe, including Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Waluigi, and Bowser. The game will support online multiplayer golf tournaments, and the ability to find other online players in the community to golf with.</p><p style="">Just last week<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/3ds-game-mario-golf-world-tour-getting-108-downloadable-holes-buy-them-all-for-15/1100-6419132/" data-ref-id="1100-6419132"> Nintendo announced a total of 108 new downloadable holes</a> and additional Mushroom Kingdom golfers to be made available for the game as downloadable content. The add-ons will be released in three separate packs between now and June this year.</p><p style="">Fans can pick up a DLC pass to receive all three expansions as soon as they become available and receive a special Gold Mario character. For more on Mario Golf: World Tour, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-golf-world-tour/1900-6415740/" data-ref-id="1900-6415740">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><p style="">For those more partial to role-playing games, Ubisoft's <a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a> launches this week. The game combines 2D side-scrolling platforming with RPG elements. Players take on the role of Aurora, who is working to restore the kingdom of Lemuria by recapturing three sources of light and defeating an evil Queen. The game uses an active time battle system, and a second player can join in as Aurora's firefly ally Igniculus.</p><p style="">Child of Light will be released in stores for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC on May 1. A digital release will be making its way to Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Wii U on the same day.</p><p style="">For more details on games out this week, check out the full list below.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418033" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418033/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><b>April 29, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/gardening-mama-mama-to-mori-no-nakama-tachi/" data-ref-id="false">Gardening Mama 2: Forest Friends </a>(3DS)</p><p style=""><b>May 1, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a> (Retail release - PS4, PS3, PC. Digital release - Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U)</p><p style=""><b>May 2, 2014</b></p><p style=""><a href="/mario-golf-world-tour/" data-ref-id="false">Mario Golf: World Tour</a> (3DS)</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Zorine Te is an associate editor at GameSpot, and you can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/ztharli" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @ztharli</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 27 Apr 2014 23:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-new-releases-mario-golf-world-tour/1100-6419248/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-dev-explains-how-its-multiplayer-mode-is-really-a-seamless-online-experience/1100-6419247/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418467" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418467/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/watch-dogs/">Watch Dogs</a> developer Ubisoft Montreal doesn't think of the game as having traditional multiplayer, but rather a "seamless online" experience.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We don't talk about it in terms of single-player and multiplayer," Lead Gameplay Designer Danny Belanger said in a post on <a href="http://blog.ubi.com/watch-dogs-multiplayer-guide/" rel="nofollow">Ubisoft's blog</a>. "It's all online. It's seamless. You continue your game. That aspect, for me, is crucial because otherwise it's a break in the experience."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you've probably seen in the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-multiplayer-explained-in-9-minute-developer-walkthrough-video/1100-6419161/">recently released 9-minute video</a>, you can play Watch Dogs online with other players in a variety of modes, but you don't just choose these from a menu as you do in so many other games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Other players can invade your game at any time as long as you're not doing anything that could be disrupted (a story mission, for example), and Watch Dogs will also try to learn how much of an online experience you're looking for.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We have a shield," Belanger said. "So if someone comes into your game and hacks you, you're protected. It can't happen. The less you partake in the multiplayer, the longer the shield. If you're not hacking people and you're not into that gameplay, the game will recognize and acknowledge that you're not into that. That's fine." If you want, you can also toggle off the online multiplayer options completely in the game's menu.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Another cool way in which Watch Dogs keeps this online experience seamless is that you never play as anyone but the main character, Aiden Pearce. Even online, you'll always see yourself as Pearce, but to every other player you'll look like a "fixer," whose appearance is chosen from a pool of NPCs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Watch Dogs launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-release-date-announced-for-everything-except-wii-u/1100-6417977/">May 27</a> for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. The Wii U version, which is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-for-wii-u-definitely-not-canceled/1100-6418164/">definitely not canceled</a>, is coming sometime later. You can read more about Watch Dogs in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-what-can-you-do-besides-hacking/1100-6419140/">GameSpot editor Shaun McInnis' recently published preview</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 27 Apr 2014 16:07:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-dogs-dev-explains-how-its-multiplayer-mode-is-really-a-seamless-online-experience/1100-6419247/
