Written By Kom Limpulnam on Senin, 10 Maret 2014 | 23.07
The wait for Respawn Entertainment's much-anticipated multiplayer shooter Titanfall is nearly over. One of 2014's biggest games comes to Xbox One and PC beginning tomorrow, and now Respawn has published a comprehensive list of when, exactly, you'll be able to start playing.
Have you called in sick yet?
The below information is for digital copies of Titanfall for Xbox One and PC. If you got your hands on an early copy of the game, go ahead and play right now, as Respawn will not ban you for early play (at least if you have a legitimate copy). Pre-loading for the PC version of Titanfall began last week. The install size is around 50GB.
Today, Sony officially announced the "Archival Disc," described as a next-generation iteration of its Blu-ray format that can house up to 1TB of data. Currently, Blu-ray discs, like the ones used for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One games, can store up to 50GB of data.
Sony describes the Archival Disc as a "new standard for professional-use, next-generation optical discs, with the objective of expanding the market for long-term digital data storage." The Archival Disc was developed in conjunction with electronics giant Panasonic.
Archival Disc systems will launch in summer 2015, with the first versions featuring 300GB of storage capacity--that's 6X the capacity of current 50GB Blu-rays. Sony will expand recording capacity per disc to 500GB and 1TB sometime later, though specific timing was not announced.
"In recent times, demand for archival capabilities has increased significantly in the film industry, as well as in cloud data centers that handle big data, where advances in network services have caused data volumes to soar," Sony said in a statement.
The new Archival Discs are write-once and are double-sided with three layers per side.
The Indiegogo campaign for Christian-themed video game Bible Chronicles: The Call of Abraham has concluded well short of its target of $50,000. The campaign from developer Phoenix Interactive Studios raised $875 from nine backers when it ended on March 5.
This was Phoenix Interactive Studios' second attempt to raise money to complete The Call of Abraham, after developers originally launched a Kickstarter campaign in January. This effort was canceled in the 11th hour after raising $19,000 of its $100,000 goal from 199 backers.
Kickstarter has an all-or-nothing clause, so Phoenix Interactive Studios could not keep that money. However, Indiegogo does not have this clause, meaning the $875 will stay with the studio. It is unclear how Phoenix Interactive Studios will move forward on the project.
A Steam Greenlight page for The Call of Abraham went live in January and currently has 244 comments, though the game has not been approved by Valve yet.
In Call of Abraham, a third-person adventure game, you play as a member of Abraham's caravan and will (virtually) travel to places like Egypt and Mesopotamia. The game was not designed with evangelism in mind, its designers said in January, but rather seeks only to tell a story they believe is interesting and one that had a "real impact" on the course of history.
For or more on Call of Abraham, be sure to check out our in-depth interview with the game's creators.
One of the most pressing unanswered questions about Sony's upcoming cloud-powered streaming service PlayStation Now is how much it will cost to rent games. We may now know, as an image posted on the Gaikai website shows a rental for Naughty Dog's Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will be $5, while you can rent Ubisoft's Far Cry 3 for $6.
The image was spotted by VG247 and remains available through the history section of Gaikai's website. Sony purchased Gaikai in 2012 for $380 million and announced during CES this year that it would use the company's technology to power PlayStation Now, which is now in beta.
The duration of a game rental is not specified in the image. In addition to individual game rentals, Sony will offer a Netflix-style subscription package, though the image today does not mention subscription plans. Sony has yet to officially announce pricing information for PlayStation Now and the company has not commented on today's report.
It is possible that the image posted on Gaikai's website is nothing more than a mockup of what the PlayStation Now user interface could look like.
PlayStation Now will go live in North America this summer for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. Support for the PlayStation Vita, as well as Bravia TVs and smartphones and tablets, will come later.
For more on PlayStation Now, check out our interview with PlayStation marketing executive John Koller and our hands-on preview of the streaming service in the video below.
What are you looking for from Sony's PlayStation Now streaming service? Is $5 the sweet spot for rentals? Let us know in the comments below.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Next week during a Game Developers Conference session in San Francisco, Sony will give a presentation on "innovation at PlayStation and the future of gaming," it was announced on the event's website.
Leading the presentation will be SCEA senior director of R&D Richard Marks and SCEA senior software engineer Anton Mikhailov, also of the company's R&D department. PlayStation president of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida will also speak during the session, which will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 5:45 p.m. PDT.
No other details about the GDC session were revealed, but its announcement comes as Sony is expected to officially announce its long-rumored PlayStation 4 virtual reality headset during the show. An "inside source" speaking with TechRadar said last month that Sony's Oculus Rift competitor is coming along nicely, noting the "quality and resolution are really, really good."
Of course, Sony already has a line of dedicated head-mounted displays. But this new virtual reality headset is believed to be tailored specifically for gaming purposes. Its announcement would come as little surprise, as PS4 lead system architect Mark Cerny said last month that virtual reality could be a major force in the industry over the next decade.
"The impact of virtual reality technologies could be pretty significant going forward in that time frame," Cerny said at the time.
The final version of Titanfall for Xbox One will run in 792p, the same sub-1080p resolution that the game's beta featured last month, Respawn Entertainment has confirmed. Lead engineer Richard Baker confirmed the resolution to Eurogamer and said the studio is tinkering with ways to improve the game's visual performance post-launch.
"We've been experimenting with making it higher and lower. One of the big tricks is how much ESRAM we're going to use, so we're thinking of not using hardware MSAA [multisample anti-aliasing] and instead using FXAA [fast approximate anti-aliasing] to make it so we don't have to have this larger render target," Baker said.
"We're going to experiment. The target is either 1080p non-anti-aliased or 900p with FXAA. We're trying to optimize... we don't want to give up anything for higher res. So far we're not 100 percent happy with any of the options, we're still working on it," he added. "For day one it's not going to change. We're still looking at it for post-day one. We're likely to increase resolution after we ship."
Baker explained that a significant chunk of Titanfall's performance is on the GPU side, and noted that "there's still room for optimization and we're still working on it." A solid 60fps was an ideal scenario, Baker said, but he explained that this was not achievable when there's mass-scale fights going on with lots of particle effects and physics objectives in motion.
"We're still working to condense the systems, make them more parallel so we can hit 60 all the time, ideally," he said.
Titanfall launches tomorrow for Xbox One and PC, while the Xbox 360 version will launch on March 25 from external studio Bluepoint Games. Our review goes live at 12 noon PDT and you can check out this chart for when, down to the minute, you can begin playing tonight.
Written By Kom Limpulnam on Senin, 03 Maret 2014 | 23.07
Gamespot's Site MashupPS4-exclusive Infamous: Second Son goes goldKickstarter reaches $1 billion in pledges -- Games are the biggest category overallGet this adorable Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL on March 14Don't expect a Smash Bros.-style fighting game from Microsoft for Xbox OneXbox One could get photorealistic rendering system for "amazing visuals"Nintendo explains why it wants to improve your quality of lifeNamco responds to Dark Souls 2 PC April 25 release date listingNew Ultra Street Fighter 4 mode allows return of overpowered SagatCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 DLC could feature a new playable characterXbox One and PS4 versions of Mass Effect Trilogy discussed at BioWareLeaked Titanfall screenshots show ziplines and heavy turrets in multiplayer - ReportLoadout's "billions" of weapon configurations bring in two million players in two weeksTitanfall might get a DLC season pass, pilot-only mode could come after launchPlay Batman vs Superman vs many other DC characters in Infinite Crisis' open beta on March 14State of Decay: Lifeline puts you in control of the military
http://auth.spacecat.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 03 Mar 2014 07:17:51 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-infamous-second-son-goes-gold/1100-6418064/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2042300" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2042300"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Sucker Punch Productions has completed development on PlayStation 4-exclusive <a href="/infamous-second-son/" data-ref-id="false">Infamous: Second Son</a> ahead of the game's March 21 release, the Sony-owned studio has confirmed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Infamous: Second Son has gone GOLD!," Sucker Punch Productions cofounder Brian Fleming <a href="https://twitter.com/brian_fleming/status/438470375018487808" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. "Big day here at SPP!"</p><p style="">Infamous: Second Son, which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-game-infamous-second-son-requires-24gb-install/1100-6417844/" data-ref-id="1100-6417844">requires a 24GB install</a>, launches exclusively for the PS4 on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-game-infamous-second-son-launching-march-21/1100-6416199/">March 21</a>. It is the third main entry in the series, following 2009's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infamous/">original Infamous</a> and 2011's <a href="/infamous-2/" data-ref-id="false">Infamous 2</a>. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infamous-second-son/">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6410888" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6410888/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 07:02:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-infamous-second-son-goes-gold/1100-6418064/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kickstarter-reaches-1-billion-in-pledges-games-are-the-biggest-category-overall/1100-6418063/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447258" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447258"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kickstarter today recorded its one billionth dollar pledged, nearly four years after the crowdfunding site went live in April 2009. The company launched a special <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/1billion" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">One Billion Dollars page</a> today to celebrate the milestone, which features loads of details about the achievement.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">First, and perhaps most notably, though people have pledged $1 billion to date, Kickstarter only counts $859 million in successful dollars. Unlike Indiegogo, Kickstarter is all-or-nothing, so if a project comes up short, backers will get refunds. A total of 5.7 million individuals contributed to the $1 billion milestone.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Games category on Kickstarter is the biggest overall in terms of dollars pledged. Since launch, people have pledged $215.75 million to gaming-related Kickstarters, with $189.84 million of those dollars going to successful campaigns. Gaming projects on Kickstarter have a success rate of 35.15 percent, the fourth-worst overall, only behind Technology (34.79 percent), Publishing (32.29 percent), and Fashion (29.3 percent).</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The first chapter in <a href="/brutal-legend/" data-ref-id="false">Brutal Legend</a> developer Double Fine's <a href="/broken-age/" data-ref-id="false">Broken Age</a>, the game considered to be the one that began the Kickstarter revolution for gaming, is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/broken-age/" data-ref-id="false">available today</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Below are some of the most interesting data points from Kickstarter's $1 billion milestone.</p><ul><li dir="ltr">More than half of the $1 billion was pledged in the past 12 months.</li><li dir="ltr">Backers come from 224 countries and territories, and all seven continents.</li><li dir="ltr">US backers gave the most with $663,316,496 in total contributions to date.</li><li dir="ltr">1,689,979 people have backed more than one project.</li><li dir="ltr">15,932 people have backed more than 50 projects.</li><li dir="ltr">March 13, 2013 was Kickstarter's biggest day on record when 54,187 people pledged $4,029,585.45 to 1,985 projects.</li><li>On the day Kickstarter launched (April 28, 2009), 40 people pledged $1,084 to seven projects.</li></ul><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416841" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416841/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 06:45:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kickstarter-reaches-1-billion-in-pledges-games-are-the-biggest-category-overall/1100-6418063/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-this-adorable-yoshi-s-new-island-3ds-xl-on-march-14/1100-6418062/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447243" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447243"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Nintendo announced today that it will mark the release of <a href="/yoshis-new-island/" data-ref-id="false">Yoshi's New Island</a> this month with a limited-run 3DS XL bundle featuring a specially designed system and copy of the game for $200.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you can see in the image above, the Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL system is green and features an image of Yoshi on the front. On the back, you'll find a handful of Yoshi eggs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Yoshi's New Island is the first entry in the Yoshi's Island series designed specifically for the 3DS. The side-scrolling platformer has players controlling Yoshi as he carries Baby Mario on an adventure to find his kidnapped brother.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The special Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL launches March 14 alongside the game, which will sell by itself for $40. For more on Yoshi's New Island, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/yoshis-new-island/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417459" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417459/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </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><br /></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 06:13:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-this-adorable-yoshi-s-new-island-3ds-xl-on-march-14/1100-6418062/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-a-smash-bros-style-fighting-game-from-microsoft-for-xbox-one/1100-6418061/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447239" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447239"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">If you're holding out for a Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game for the Xbox One featuring mascots like Master Chief or Marcus Phoenix, here's some bad news. It sounds like that's not going to happen, at least not anytime soon, according to Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I love [Super Smash Bros.] but for me it works cause it's Nintendo and their incredible IP lineup," Spencer <a href="https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/439665895091081216" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">told a fan on Twitter</a>. "I find others less interesting; just me." Nintendo's fighting game series pulls characters from its long list of industry-topping games, including Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Pokemon, among others.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft has a large library of wholly owned IP to draw characters from for such a game, but it doesn't sound like Spencer--who is part of the team at Xbox responsible for greenlighting games--is interested in the idea. Spencer also said recently that Microsoft <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-microsoft-to-release-mario-kart-style-racing-game-for-xbox-one/1100-6417693/" data-ref-id="1100-6417693">doesn't plan to launch a Mario Kart-style game anytime soon for Xbox One</a> because Nintendo already owns that market.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Sony, on the other hand, released the Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game <a href="/playstation-all-stars-battle-royale/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale</a> in 2012 featuring first-party characters like Kratos (God of War), Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal), and Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet), among others.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415749" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415749/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""> </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, 03 Mar 2014 05:47:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-a-smash-bros-style-fighting-game-from-microsoft-for-xbox-one/1100-6418061/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-could-get-photorealistic-rendering-system-for-amazing-visuals/1100-6418060/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447237" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447237"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox One could one day make use of a powerful rendering technique called "real-time ray-tracing," an advanced system used to achieve photorealistic lighting effects. Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer has confirmed that internal tests are already underway.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've done experiments with Realtime Raytracing," Spencer <a href="https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/439673026699751425" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. " A ton of potential with this tech; amazing visuals." You can see a video demonstration of Nvidia's Kepler real-time ray-tracing system <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9SH8xlgzoI" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">on YouTube courtesy of The Verge</a>.</p><p style="">Real-time ray-tracing would conceivably offer up a significant boost in visual quality for Xbox One games, something Microsoft would likely welcome in the wake of the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-1080p-60fps-these-little-things-get-way-overblown/1100-6417326/" data-ref-id="1100-6417326">ongoing 1080p debate</a>. The rendering technique would, however, be yet another computational effort for the Xbox One, but it's possible Microsoft could offload that process to its <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2013/08/xbox-one-why-im-excited" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">vast network of cloud-powered servers</a>. Respawn Entertainment is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-developer-tackles-xbox-one-cloud-confusion/1100-6410672/" data-ref-id="1100-6410672">tapping into Microsoft's cloud network </a>to help with performance for its upcoming multiplayer shooter <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416249" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416249/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 05:20:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-could-get-photorealistic-rendering-system-for-amazing-visuals/1100-6418060/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg" data-ref-id="1300-2445960" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg" data-ref-id="1300-2445960"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Late in January, Nintendo surprised some gamers when it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-coming-in-may-and-nintendo-reveals-2014-strategy/1100-6417422/" data-ref-id="1100-6417422">announced plans to establish a new health-focused QOL (quality of life) platform</a> that would leverage a new "non-wearable" device. Now, president Satoru Iwata has outlined his vision for the new business unit in a letter to shareholders and investors <a href="http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/management/message.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">posted to the Nintendo website</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In his note, Iwata said the the "raison d'etre" of entertainment is to put smiles on people's faces through products and services, noting Nintendo has attempted over the past decade to focus on expanding the gaming population by offering products that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their age, gender, of experience. Looking to the next decade, Iwata said, "What Nintendo will try to achieve in the next 10 years is a platform business that improves people's [quality of life] in enjoyable ways."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Iwata did not share specific details about what Nintendo's new quality of life initiatives might look like, but he said the company will "continue to value the spirit of originality described in our motto 'The True Value of Entertainment Lies in Individuality,' and will continue to provide products and services which pleasantly surprise people."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Importantly, Iwata stressed that Nintendo's quality of life platform will be <em><ins><strong>separate</strong></ins></em> from the company's dedicated video game business. This QOL-improving platform will "strive to further promote our existing strategy of expanding our user base, create an environment in which more people are conscious about their health, and in turn expand Nintendo's overall user base," Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Finally, Iwata pointed out that a spirit of trying new things--sometimes successfully and sometimes not--is part of Nintendo's history. After all, the company began as a traditional Japanese playing card company 125 years ago. The new QOL platform is the company's latest attempt at innovation, he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Nintendo has continued to try new things, and with a history of experiencing many failures and small successes, we managed to pioneer the home video game market," Iwata said. "What has remained the same from the past is that we have always tried to create something new from materials and technologies available at that time, to position entertainment as our core business and to improve people's QOL in enjoyable ways. We will continue to value self-innovation in line with the times and aim for growth."</p><p style="">The new health business for Nintendo comes at a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-slashes-wii-u-sales-expectations-by-two-thirds/1100-6417187/" data-ref-id="1100-6417187">challenging time for the company</a>, as the Wii U has failed to gather the traction of its predecessor, the Wii. Donkey Kong developer Retro Studios, owned by Nintendo, recently said that the Wii U is a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/donkey-kong-metroid-prime-dev-calls-wii-u-a-powerhouse-confirms-new-game/1100-6418032/" data-ref-id="1100-6418032">powerhouse</a>."</p><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416421" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416421/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 04:39:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/namco-responds-to-dark-souls-2-pc-april-25-release-date-listing/1100-6418058/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447223" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447223"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Bandai Namco has reiterated that it is yet to announced the release date for the PC version of <a href="/dark-souls-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls II</a> following the publication of marketing materials which featured an April 25 release date.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We haven't announced a PC release date yet," <a href="https://twitter.com/namcogames/status/439488490347433984" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said the publisher on Twitter</a>. "We'll have more info to share on that front soon though!"</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447225" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447225"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">A Bandai Namco representative <a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2014/02/28/dark-souls-ii-coming-pc-steam-april-25/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said to Siliconera</a> that the Collector's Edition of the game shown in its marketing materials--which feature a t-shirt, cloth map, copy of the game, art book, and Black Armour Weapons Set DLC--is only for Southeast Asia.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Any PC release of Dark Souls II will follow the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version, which will be released in North America on March 11 and in Europe on March 14. Unlike the original, the PC version of Dark Souls II will use Steamworks.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Developer From Software has previously said that the PC version of Dark Souls II will run at 60fps, as opposed to the 30fps cap on console.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417325" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417325/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 04:29:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/namco-responds-to-dark-souls-2-pc-april-25-release-date-listing/1100-6418058/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-ultra-street-fighter-4-mode-allows-return-of-overpowered-sagat/1100-6418057/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447207" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447207"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/super-street-fighter-iv-arcade-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Ultra Street Fighter IV</a> will introduce a new mode that allows players to select which iteration of their character they want to play as.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Dubbed Edition Select Mode, players can select balance rules from all of the game's releases: Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition, Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition Ver. 2012, and Ultra Street Fighter 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The obvious highlight here is that players will, in this mode, be able to play the original Street Fighter IV Sagat--considered by many to be brutally overpowered. The character was nerfed in later revisions of the game, and the game's fighters will also receive another round of rebalancing as part of Ultra Street Fighter IV.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"In all the years that I've been playing through the SF4 series, I can't count how many times discussions on 'who the strongest character has been thus far' have come up among players both old and new," <a href="http://www.capcom-unity.com/combofiend/blog/2014/03/02/ultra-street-fighter-iv-edition-select" rel="nofollow">Capcom's Peter Rosas wrote on Capcom Unity</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Seeing of how there was no actual way to measure whether vanilla SF4 Sagat was stronger than AE Yun, players would engage in long theoretical discussions with no way to figure out who was right."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Well, time to change that in Ultra SF!"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Ultra Street Fighter IV will be released in June for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in August on PC.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOhECaPwsho" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FOOhECaPwsho%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOOhECaPwsho&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOOhECaPwsho%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube&wmode=opaque" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 03:34:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-ultra-street-fighter-4-mode-allows-return-of-overpowered-sagat/1100-6418057/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dlc-could-feature-a-new-playable-character/1100-6418056/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447196" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447196"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Data files contained within <a href="/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/" data-ref-id="false">Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2</a> suggest that the title will a receive DLC content, possibly titled Revelations, which casts players as series favourite Alucard.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Play as Alucard in this extensive add on for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2," reads info mined from the game's files by <a href="http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2014/03/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.html" rel="nofollow">All Games Beta</a>. "The immersive story is expanded further as new branches of the plot are uncovered, along with rich new environments and challenging puzzles. Fight creatures of darkness and discover the true extent of Alucard's involvement in Dracula's story, his deal with death and his fight against Satan. Experience a whole new aspect of the thrilling conclusion to the 'Lords of Shadow' saga, including some enlightening revelations!"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In the Lords of Shadow series, Alucard is actually Trevor Belmont, the son of corrupted Lords of Shadows 1 and 2 protagonist Gabriel Belmont, who is turned into a vampire during 3DS spinoff <a href="/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/" data-ref-id="false">Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Alucard is also a favourite of the Castlevania series, and was the star of what is arguably the series' high point: <a href="/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/" data-ref-id="false">Castlevania: Symphony of the Night</a> on the original PlayStation 1.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">GameSpot has contacted Konami for more information.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC last week. "Regardless of your experience with the saga, if you have the patience to get through the rough start, you'll discover a much better game waiting for you on the other side," <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-review/1900-6415677/">wrote Peter Brown in GameSpot's Lords of Shadow 2 review</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417360" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417360/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 02:26:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dlc-could-feature-a-new-playable-character/1100-6418056/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-and-ps4-versions-of-mass-effect-trilogy-discussed-at-bioware/1100-6418055/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447189" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447189"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png"></a></figure><p style="">BioWare has said that it has had discussions about bringing a version of the original <a href="/mass-effect-trilogy/" data-ref-id="false">Mass Effect trilogy</a> to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">BioWare and EA released a Mass Effect trilogy bundle on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2012, with the pack containing Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, and various DLC bits and bobs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Over the weekend, BioWare Edmonton and Montreal general manager Aaryn Flynn responded to a question on <a href="https://twitter.com/AarynFlynn/statuses/440158741787197440" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter</a> asking about bringing the original games to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We have discussed that internally," he said. "If we can put solid plans together we'll share. Great to hear you're keen."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">BioWare has previously confirmed that it is working on a Mass Effect 4, presumably for the current crop of consoles, but has not announced much about the title other than it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mass-effect-4-might-not-relate-to-shepard-at-all-says-bioware/1100-6415581/">will not feature Shepard in a lead role</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I can't get into details, but the idea is that we have agreed to tell a story [in Mass Effect 4] that doesn't relate necessarily to any of the Shepard events at all, whatsoever," said lead writer Mac Walters last year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The original Mass Effect team at BioWare's Edmonton studio are now working on a brand new IP, with BioWare Montreal inheriting Mass Effect 4 duties.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417050" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417050/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 01:51:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-and-ps4-versions-of-mass-effect-trilogy-discussed-at-bioware/1100-6418055/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/leaked-titanfall-screenshots-show-ziplines-and-heavy-turrets-in-multiplayer-report/1100-6418054/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447141" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447141"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">More images from upcoming first-person shooter <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall </a>have <a href="http://imgur.com/a/gNljK" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">emerged online</a>, with the alleged screenshots showing new game details, including the Generations feature, monsters, and the ability for players to travel around maps on ziplines.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447143" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447143"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg"></a><figcaption>Credit: Reddit.</figcaption></figure><p style="">According to a post on <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/titanfall/comments/1zdq8p/leaked_pics_more_info_in_comments/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Reddit </a>that was submitted earlier today, features include a Pilot Hunter mode, in which the goal is to score points by killing the opposing team's pilots; autonomous heavy turrets that will typically require multiple Titans to destroy; and ziplines which players can travel on to quickly leave areas.</p><p style="">The post also provided an alleged image of what progressing through Generations will look like in-game.</p><p style="">Developer Respawn Entertainment recently teased that a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/" data-ref-id="1100-6418043">pilot-only mode may come sometime after launch. </a></p><p style="">Titanfall launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-launching-march-11-2014/1100-6415710/" data-ref-id="1100-6415710">March 11</a> for Xbox One and PC, with an Xbox 360 version--developed externally at Bluepoint Games--to follow on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-delayed/1100-6417577/" data-ref-id="1100-6417577">March 25</a>. Microsoft is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-throwing-huge-titanfall-launch-party-in-texas/1100-6418024/" data-ref-id="1100-6418024">throwing a huge party in Texas</a> to mark the game's release.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447148" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447148"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg"></a><figcaption>Alleged in-game screenshot of a progression to Generation 2.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417266" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417266/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:32:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/leaked-titanfall-screenshots-show-ziplines-and-heavy-turrets-in-multiplayer-report/1100-6418054/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/loadout-s-billions-of-weapon-configurations-bring-in-two-million-players-in-two-weeks/1100-6418053/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447067" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447067"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Over two million users signed up for free-to-play shooter <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/loadout/">Loadout</a> in its first 14 days of release, logging in over 9 million hours in the game, developer Edge of Reality has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The developer said that Loadout has been so popular that it made getting into the game difficult on day one. Edge of Reality has since improved its infrastructure, but is still having trouble meeting demand.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Loadout's most notable feature is its weapon-crafting system, with over "44 billion possible variations" for players to assemble, allowing them to define their own class and play style.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The incredible surge of interest at launch shattered all our expectations, and it unfortunately just became too much for our servers to handle in the beginning," Edge of Reality CEO Rob Cohen said in a press release. "Very few Steam titles have reached the peak concurrent users we achieved upon release. We're committed to delivering an excellent game to our community, and we continue to work hard to ensure that our servers provide all our players with the same fluid, responsive, and enjoyable experience across the board."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/loadout-review/1900-6415663/">Our review</a> found that Loadout stands out against other shooters with its humor, entertaining multiplayer modes, and addictive weapon-crafting system.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417008" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417008/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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<br /></a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:35:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/loadout-s-billions-of-weapon-configurations-bring-in-two-million-players-in-two-weeks/1100-6418053/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446727" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446727"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Tonight during a special Microsoft Store event in Connecticut, <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a> developer Respawn Entertainment explained that the upcoming game could get a DLC season pass and teased that a pilot-only mode may come sometime after launch.</p><p style="">Respawn community manager Abbie Heppe said cofounder <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-won-t-have-a-season-pass-or-split-screen-but-it-might-include-some-dinosaurs/1100-6418026/" data-ref-id="1100-6418026">Vince Zampella's tweet this week about the game not having a season pass</a> was a mistake. She clarified tonight that the game won't have an <em><strong>online pass</strong></em>, but said the company has nothing to announce--at least right now--regarding a <em><strong>season pass</strong></em>. Electronic Arts <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-killing-online-passes-for-existing-games/1100-6409065/" data-ref-id="1100-6409065">did away with online passes last year</a>.</p><p style="">A tweet from the official Titanfall Twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/Titanfallgame/status/439452664166752256" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">apologizes for the confusion</a>.</p><p style="">The season pass would presumably include access to various Titanfall DLC packs at a discounted rate compared to buying them individually. Though Respawn has yet to announce firm plans for post-release support for Titanfall, the developer said previously that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-dlc-in-planning-stages-could-evolve-with-players/1100-6417412/" data-ref-id="1100-6417412">DLC for the game was in the planning stages</a>. Titanfall is a major multiplayer shooter, so significant add-on content should be expected.</p><p style="">Also during the special event tonight at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford, Conn. Heppe said though a pilot-only multiplayer mode for Titanfall won't be available at release, "we'll see what happens after launch." The chief intrigue of Titanfall is its pilots vs. mechs gameplay, so a pilots-only mode would be a surprise.</p><p style="">Titanfall launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-launching-march-11-2014/1100-6415710/" data-ref-id="1100-6415710">March 11</a> for Xbox One and PC, with an Xbox 360 version--developed externally at Bluepoint Games--to follow on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-delayed/1100-6417577/" data-ref-id="1100-6417577">March 25</a>. Microsoft is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-throwing-huge-titanfall-launch-party-in-texas/1100-6418024/" data-ref-id="1100-6418024">throwing a huge party in Texas</a> to mark the game's release.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417279" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417279/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </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> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/play-batman-vs-superman-vs-many-other-dc-characters-in-infinite-crisis-open-beta-on-march-14/1100-6418052/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447034" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447034"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The DC Comics multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infinite-crisis/">Infinite Crisis</a> will start its open beta on March 14, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developer Turbine have announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Warner Bros. also said that it's adding three new Champions to the game: Green Arrow, Aquaman, and Mecha Superman. That brings Infinite Crisis to a total of 27 playable characters by the time the open beta begins.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Infinite Crisis is set across the 52 universes of the DC multiverse. So far Turbine has shown steampunk and post-apocalyptic-themed stages and characters. The newly announced Mecha Superman, a gigantic robot constructed of a crashed Kryptonian space probe, is a fine example of some of the more esoteric DC characters in the game.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Much like in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/league-of-legends/">League of Legends</a>, Infinite Crisis is free-to-play, giving you access to six Champions, three of which rotate out for new champions weekly.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Turbine, which was founded in 1994 and is also responsible for MMO <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-online-helms-deep/">The Lord of the Rings Online</a>, recently announced some <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/layoffs-at-lord-of-the-rings-online-and-infinite-crisis-developer/1100-6417708/">layoffs at the studio</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417432" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417432/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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, 02 Mar 2014 14:16:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/play-batman-vs-superman-vs-many-other-dc-characters-in-infinite-crisis-open-beta-on-march-14/1100-6418052/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-lifeline-puts-you-in-control-of-the-military/1100-6418051/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446962" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446962"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Lifeline, the upcoming expansion for <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/state-of-decay/">State of Decay</a>, will put you in control of a military unit with new objectives and abilities, developer Undead Labs announced on <a href="http://undeadlabs.com/2014/02/news/in-the-army-now/" rel="nofollow">its blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">You'll control Greyhound One, a small military unit sent to the city of Danforth to rescue scientists whose research is critical to fighting the zombie outbreak. The game will start at the height of the crisis, when you still have access to off-map support from the military, but support will diminish with time as the situation deteriorates. This is opposite the progression structure in the original game, where you start off small and become increasingly stronger as you recruit more people and gather resources.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">One of your first objectives will be to secure a landing zone and base where you can receive supply drops and extract civilians, a new goal in the game. Lifeline will also add new military facilities, defenses, weapons, and a new map.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"In zombie fiction, the military is often the go-to bad guy," Undead Labs said. "They're the hammer to which every problem is a nail, blindly mowing everything down to serve some unknown goal. But this view is fairly one-sided and naïve. On the State of Decay team, we have a different perspective (some of us firsthand) — the military is made up of many good men and women who stand on the line that divides safety and civilization from chaos and war."</p><p style="">Earlier this year, Undead Labs confirmed that it had signed a multi-year, multi-title agreement to extend its development relationship with Microsoft, leading to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-dev-extends-partnership-with-microsoft/1100-6417066/">speculation of a possible State of Decay sequel</a>. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/state-of-decay/">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415049" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415049/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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, 02 Mar 2014 13:00:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-lifeline-puts-you-in-control-of-the-military/1100-6418051/
Gamespot's Site MashupPS4-exclusive Infamous: Second Son goes goldKickstarter reaches $1 billion in pledges -- Games are the biggest category overallGet this adorable Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL on March 14Don't expect a Smash Bros.-style fighting game from Microsoft for Xbox OneXbox One could get photorealistic rendering system for "amazing visuals"Nintendo explains why it wants to improve your quality of lifeNamco responds to Dark Souls 2 PC April 25 release date listingNew Ultra Street Fighter 4 mode allows return of overpowered SagatCastlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 DLC could feature a new playable characterXbox One and PS4 versions of Mass Effect Trilogy discussed at BioWareLeaked Titanfall screenshots show ziplines and heavy turrets in multiplayer - ReportLoadout's "billions" of weapon configurations bring in two million players in two weeksTitanfall might get a DLC season pass, pilot-only mode could come after launchPlay Batman vs Superman vs many other DC characters in Infinite Crisis' open beta on March 14State of Decay: Lifeline puts you in control of the military
http://auth.spacecat.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Mon, 03 Mar 2014 07:17:51 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-infamous-second-son-goes-gold/1100-6418064/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2042300" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2042300"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/mig/2/3/0/0/2042300-704525_20130610_002.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Sucker Punch Productions has completed development on PlayStation 4-exclusive <a href="/infamous-second-son/" data-ref-id="false">Infamous: Second Son</a> ahead of the game's March 21 release, the Sony-owned studio has confirmed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Infamous: Second Son has gone GOLD!," Sucker Punch Productions cofounder Brian Fleming <a href="https://twitter.com/brian_fleming/status/438470375018487808" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. "Big day here at SPP!"</p><p style="">Infamous: Second Son, which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-game-infamous-second-son-requires-24gb-install/1100-6417844/" data-ref-id="1100-6417844">requires a 24GB install</a>, launches exclusively for the PS4 on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-game-infamous-second-son-launching-march-21/1100-6416199/">March 21</a>. It is the third main entry in the series, following 2009's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infamous/">original Infamous</a> and 2011's <a href="/infamous-2/" data-ref-id="false">Infamous 2</a>. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infamous-second-son/">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6410888" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6410888/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 07:02:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-infamous-second-son-goes-gold/1100-6418064/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kickstarter-reaches-1-billion-in-pledges-games-are-the-biggest-category-overall/1100-6418063/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447258" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447258"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447258-kick.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kickstarter today recorded its one billionth dollar pledged, nearly four years after the crowdfunding site went live in April 2009. The company launched a special <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/1billion" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">One Billion Dollars page</a> today to celebrate the milestone, which features loads of details about the achievement.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">First, and perhaps most notably, though people have pledged $1 billion to date, Kickstarter only counts $859 million in successful dollars. Unlike Indiegogo, Kickstarter is all-or-nothing, so if a project comes up short, backers will get refunds. A total of 5.7 million individuals contributed to the $1 billion milestone.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Games category on Kickstarter is the biggest overall in terms of dollars pledged. Since launch, people have pledged $215.75 million to gaming-related Kickstarters, with $189.84 million of those dollars going to successful campaigns. Gaming projects on Kickstarter have a success rate of 35.15 percent, the fourth-worst overall, only behind Technology (34.79 percent), Publishing (32.29 percent), and Fashion (29.3 percent).</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The first chapter in <a href="/brutal-legend/" data-ref-id="false">Brutal Legend</a> developer Double Fine's <a href="/broken-age/" data-ref-id="false">Broken Age</a>, the game considered to be the one that began the Kickstarter revolution for gaming, is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/broken-age/" data-ref-id="false">available today</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Below are some of the most interesting data points from Kickstarter's $1 billion milestone.</p><ul><li dir="ltr">More than half of the $1 billion was pledged in the past 12 months.</li><li dir="ltr">Backers come from 224 countries and territories, and all seven continents.</li><li dir="ltr">US backers gave the most with $663,316,496 in total contributions to date.</li><li dir="ltr">1,689,979 people have backed more than one project.</li><li dir="ltr">15,932 people have backed more than 50 projects.</li><li dir="ltr">March 13, 2013 was Kickstarter's biggest day on record when 54,187 people pledged $4,029,585.45 to 1,985 projects.</li><li>On the day Kickstarter launched (April 28, 2009), 40 people pledged $1,084 to seven projects.</li></ul><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416841" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416841/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 06:45:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/kickstarter-reaches-1-billion-in-pledges-games-are-the-biggest-category-overall/1100-6418063/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-this-adorable-yoshi-s-new-island-3ds-xl-on-march-14/1100-6418062/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447243" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447243"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447243-adorableyoshi.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Nintendo announced today that it will mark the release of <a href="/yoshis-new-island/" data-ref-id="false">Yoshi's New Island</a> this month with a limited-run 3DS XL bundle featuring a specially designed system and copy of the game for $200.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As you can see in the image above, the Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL system is green and features an image of Yoshi on the front. On the back, you'll find a handful of Yoshi eggs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Yoshi's New Island is the first entry in the Yoshi's Island series designed specifically for the 3DS. The side-scrolling platformer has players controlling Yoshi as he carries Baby Mario on an adventure to find his kidnapped brother.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The special Yoshi's New Island 3DS XL launches March 14 alongside the game, which will sell by itself for $40. For more on Yoshi's New Island, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/yoshis-new-island/" data-ref-id="false">GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417459" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417459/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </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><br /></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 06:13:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-this-adorable-yoshi-s-new-island-3ds-xl-on-march-14/1100-6418062/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-a-smash-bros-style-fighting-game-from-microsoft-for-xbox-one/1100-6418061/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447239" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447239"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447239-xboxonecontroller.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">If you're holding out for a Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game for the Xbox One featuring mascots like Master Chief or Marcus Phoenix, here's some bad news. It sounds like that's not going to happen, at least not anytime soon, according to Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I love [Super Smash Bros.] but for me it works cause it's Nintendo and their incredible IP lineup," Spencer <a href="https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/439665895091081216" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">told a fan on Twitter</a>. "I find others less interesting; just me." Nintendo's fighting game series pulls characters from its long list of industry-topping games, including Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Pokemon, among others.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft has a large library of wholly owned IP to draw characters from for such a game, but it doesn't sound like Spencer--who is part of the team at Xbox responsible for greenlighting games--is interested in the idea. Spencer also said recently that Microsoft <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-microsoft-to-release-mario-kart-style-racing-game-for-xbox-one/1100-6417693/" data-ref-id="1100-6417693">doesn't plan to launch a Mario Kart-style game anytime soon for Xbox One</a> because Nintendo already owns that market.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Sony, on the other hand, released the Super Smash Bros.-style fighting game <a href="/playstation-all-stars-battle-royale/" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale</a> in 2012 featuring first-party characters like Kratos (God of War), Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal), and Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet), among others.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415749" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415749/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""> </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, 03 Mar 2014 05:47:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-a-smash-bros-style-fighting-game-from-microsoft-for-xbox-one/1100-6418061/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-could-get-photorealistic-rendering-system-for-amazing-visuals/1100-6418060/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447237" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447237"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1179/11799911/2447237-xboxonenew.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox One could one day make use of a powerful rendering technique called "real-time ray-tracing," an advanced system used to achieve photorealistic lighting effects. Microsoft Studios executive Phil Spencer has confirmed that internal tests are already underway.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've done experiments with Realtime Raytracing," Spencer <a href="https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/439673026699751425" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. " A ton of potential with this tech; amazing visuals." You can see a video demonstration of Nvidia's Kepler real-time ray-tracing system <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9SH8xlgzoI" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">on YouTube courtesy of The Verge</a>.</p><p style="">Real-time ray-tracing would conceivably offer up a significant boost in visual quality for Xbox One games, something Microsoft would likely welcome in the wake of the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-1080p-60fps-these-little-things-get-way-overblown/1100-6417326/" data-ref-id="1100-6417326">ongoing 1080p debate</a>. The rendering technique would, however, be yet another computational effort for the Xbox One, but it's possible Microsoft could offload that process to its <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2013/08/xbox-one-why-im-excited" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">vast network of cloud-powered servers</a>. Respawn Entertainment is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-developer-tackles-xbox-one-cloud-confusion/1100-6410672/" data-ref-id="1100-6410672">tapping into Microsoft's cloud network </a>to help with performance for its upcoming multiplayer shooter <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416249" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416249/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 05:20:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-could-get-photorealistic-rendering-system-for-amazing-visuals/1100-6418060/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg" data-ref-id="1300-2445960" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg" data-ref-id="1300-2445960"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1197/11970954/2445960-smash_waluigiassist.jpeg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Late in January, Nintendo surprised some gamers when it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-kart-8-coming-in-may-and-nintendo-reveals-2014-strategy/1100-6417422/" data-ref-id="1100-6417422">announced plans to establish a new health-focused QOL (quality of life) platform</a> that would leverage a new "non-wearable" device. Now, president Satoru Iwata has outlined his vision for the new business unit in a letter to shareholders and investors <a href="http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/management/message.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">posted to the Nintendo website</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In his note, Iwata said the the "raison d'etre" of entertainment is to put smiles on people's faces through products and services, noting Nintendo has attempted over the past decade to focus on expanding the gaming population by offering products that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their age, gender, of experience. Looking to the next decade, Iwata said, "What Nintendo will try to achieve in the next 10 years is a platform business that improves people's [quality of life] in enjoyable ways."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Iwata did not share specific details about what Nintendo's new quality of life initiatives might look like, but he said the company will "continue to value the spirit of originality described in our motto 'The True Value of Entertainment Lies in Individuality,' and will continue to provide products and services which pleasantly surprise people."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Importantly, Iwata stressed that Nintendo's quality of life platform will be <em><ins><strong>separate</strong></ins></em> from the company's dedicated video game business. This QOL-improving platform will "strive to further promote our existing strategy of expanding our user base, create an environment in which more people are conscious about their health, and in turn expand Nintendo's overall user base," Iwata said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Finally, Iwata pointed out that a spirit of trying new things--sometimes successfully and sometimes not--is part of Nintendo's history. After all, the company began as a traditional Japanese playing card company 125 years ago. The new QOL platform is the company's latest attempt at innovation, he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Nintendo has continued to try new things, and with a history of experiencing many failures and small successes, we managed to pioneer the home video game market," Iwata said. "What has remained the same from the past is that we have always tried to create something new from materials and technologies available at that time, to position entertainment as our core business and to improve people's QOL in enjoyable ways. We will continue to value self-innovation in line with the times and aim for growth."</p><p style="">The new health business for Nintendo comes at a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-slashes-wii-u-sales-expectations-by-two-thirds/1100-6417187/" data-ref-id="1100-6417187">challenging time for the company</a>, as the Wii U has failed to gather the traction of its predecessor, the Wii. Donkey Kong developer Retro Studios, owned by Nintendo, recently said that the Wii U is a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/donkey-kong-metroid-prime-dev-calls-wii-u-a-powerhouse-confirms-new-game/1100-6418032/" data-ref-id="1100-6418032">powerhouse</a>."</p><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6416421" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6416421/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><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, 03 Mar 2014 04:39:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-explains-why-it-wants-to-improve-your-quality-of-life/1100-6418059/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/namco-responds-to-dark-souls-2-pc-april-25-release-date-listing/1100-6418058/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447223" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447223"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447223-5968023924-24359.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Bandai Namco has reiterated that it is yet to announced the release date for the PC version of <a href="/dark-souls-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls II</a> following the publication of marketing materials which featured an April 25 release date.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We haven't announced a PC release date yet," <a href="https://twitter.com/namcogames/status/439488490347433984" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said the publisher on Twitter</a>. "We'll have more info to share on that front soon though!"</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447225" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447225"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_medium/1493/14930800/2447225-3937505040-image.png"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">A Bandai Namco representative <a href="http://www.siliconera.com/2014/02/28/dark-souls-ii-coming-pc-steam-april-25/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said to Siliconera</a> that the Collector's Edition of the game shown in its marketing materials--which feature a t-shirt, cloth map, copy of the game, art book, and Black Armour Weapons Set DLC--is only for Southeast Asia.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Any PC release of Dark Souls II will follow the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version, which will be released in North America on March 11 and in Europe on March 14. Unlike the original, the PC version of Dark Souls II will use Steamworks.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Developer From Software has previously said that the PC version of Dark Souls II will run at 60fps, as opposed to the 30fps cap on console.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417325" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417325/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 04:29:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/namco-responds-to-dark-souls-2-pc-april-25-release-date-listing/1100-6418058/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-ultra-street-fighter-4-mode-allows-return-of-overpowered-sagat/1100-6418057/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447207" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447207"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447207-4936186634-sagat.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/super-street-fighter-iv-arcade-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Ultra Street Fighter IV</a> will introduce a new mode that allows players to select which iteration of their character they want to play as.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Dubbed Edition Select Mode, players can select balance rules from all of the game's releases: Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition, Super Street Fighter 4 Arcade Edition Ver. 2012, and Ultra Street Fighter 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The obvious highlight here is that players will, in this mode, be able to play the original Street Fighter IV Sagat--considered by many to be brutally overpowered. The character was nerfed in later revisions of the game, and the game's fighters will also receive another round of rebalancing as part of Ultra Street Fighter IV.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"In all the years that I've been playing through the SF4 series, I can't count how many times discussions on 'who the strongest character has been thus far' have come up among players both old and new," <a href="http://www.capcom-unity.com/combofiend/blog/2014/03/02/ultra-street-fighter-iv-edition-select" rel="nofollow">Capcom's Peter Rosas wrote on Capcom Unity</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Seeing of how there was no actual way to measure whether vanilla SF4 Sagat was stronger than AE Yun, players would engage in long theoretical discussions with no way to figure out who was right."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Well, time to change that in Ultra SF!"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Ultra Street Fighter IV will be released in June for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and in August on PC.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOhECaPwsho" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FOOhECaPwsho%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOOhECaPwsho&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOOhECaPwsho%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube&wmode=opaque" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 03:34:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-ultra-street-fighter-4-mode-allows-return-of-overpowered-sagat/1100-6418057/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dlc-could-feature-a-new-playable-character/1100-6418056/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447196" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447196"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447196-1529053385-13937.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Data files contained within <a href="/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2/" data-ref-id="false">Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2</a> suggest that the title will a receive DLC content, possibly titled Revelations, which casts players as series favourite Alucard.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Play as Alucard in this extensive add on for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2," reads info mined from the game's files by <a href="http://www.allgamesbeta.com/2014/03/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2.html" rel="nofollow">All Games Beta</a>. "The immersive story is expanded further as new branches of the plot are uncovered, along with rich new environments and challenging puzzles. Fight creatures of darkness and discover the true extent of Alucard's involvement in Dracula's story, his deal with death and his fight against Satan. Experience a whole new aspect of the thrilling conclusion to the 'Lords of Shadow' saga, including some enlightening revelations!"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In the Lords of Shadow series, Alucard is actually Trevor Belmont, the son of corrupted Lords of Shadows 1 and 2 protagonist Gabriel Belmont, who is turned into a vampire during 3DS spinoff <a href="/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-mirror-of-fate/" data-ref-id="false">Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Alucard is also a favourite of the Castlevania series, and was the star of what is arguably the series' high point: <a href="/castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/" data-ref-id="false">Castlevania: Symphony of the Night</a> on the original PlayStation 1.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">GameSpot has contacted Konami for more information.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC last week. "Regardless of your experience with the saga, if you have the patience to get through the rough start, you'll discover a much better game waiting for you on the other side," <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-review/1900-6415677/">wrote Peter Brown in GameSpot's Lords of Shadow 2 review</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417360" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417360/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 02:26:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-dlc-could-feature-a-new-playable-character/1100-6418056/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-and-ps4-versions-of-mass-effect-trilogy-discussed-at-bioware/1100-6418055/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447189" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png" data-ref-id="1300-2447189"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1493/14930800/2447189-9577677650-23531.png"></a></figure><p style="">BioWare has said that it has had discussions about bringing a version of the original <a href="/mass-effect-trilogy/" data-ref-id="false">Mass Effect trilogy</a> to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">BioWare and EA released a Mass Effect trilogy bundle on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2012, with the pack containing Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, and various DLC bits and bobs.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Over the weekend, BioWare Edmonton and Montreal general manager Aaryn Flynn responded to a question on <a href="https://twitter.com/AarynFlynn/statuses/440158741787197440" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter</a> asking about bringing the original games to Xbox One and PlayStation 4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We have discussed that internally," he said. "If we can put solid plans together we'll share. Great to hear you're keen."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">BioWare has previously confirmed that it is working on a Mass Effect 4, presumably for the current crop of consoles, but has not announced much about the title other than it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mass-effect-4-might-not-relate-to-shepard-at-all-says-bioware/1100-6415581/">will not feature Shepard in a lead role</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I can't get into details, but the idea is that we have agreed to tell a story [in Mass Effect 4] that doesn't relate necessarily to any of the Shepard events at all, whatsoever," said lead writer Mac Walters last year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The original Mass Effect team at BioWare's Edmonton studio are now working on a brand new IP, with BioWare Montreal inheriting Mass Effect 4 duties.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417050" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417050/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 03 Mar 2014 01:51:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-and-ps4-versions-of-mass-effect-trilogy-discussed-at-bioware/1100-6418055/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/leaked-titanfall-screenshots-show-ziplines-and-heavy-turrets-in-multiplayer-report/1100-6418054/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447141" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447141"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/280/2802776/2447141-titanfall_zipline.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">More images from upcoming first-person shooter <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall </a>have <a href="http://imgur.com/a/gNljK" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">emerged online</a>, with the alleged screenshots showing new game details, including the Generations feature, monsters, and the ability for players to travel around maps on ziplines.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447143" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447143"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/280/2802776/2447143-titanfall_turret.jpg"></a><figcaption>Credit: Reddit.</figcaption></figure><p style="">According to a post on <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/titanfall/comments/1zdq8p/leaked_pics_more_info_in_comments/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Reddit </a>that was submitted earlier today, features include a Pilot Hunter mode, in which the goal is to score points by killing the opposing team's pilots; autonomous heavy turrets that will typically require multiple Titans to destroy; and ziplines which players can travel on to quickly leave areas.</p><p style="">The post also provided an alleged image of what progressing through Generations will look like in-game.</p><p style="">Developer Respawn Entertainment recently teased that a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/" data-ref-id="1100-6418043">pilot-only mode may come sometime after launch. </a></p><p style="">Titanfall launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-launching-march-11-2014/1100-6415710/" data-ref-id="1100-6415710">March 11</a> for Xbox One and PC, with an Xbox 360 version--developed externally at Bluepoint Games--to follow on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-delayed/1100-6417577/" data-ref-id="1100-6417577">March 25</a>. Microsoft is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-throwing-huge-titanfall-launch-party-in-texas/1100-6418024/" data-ref-id="1100-6418024">throwing a huge party in Texas</a> to mark the game's release.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447148" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447148"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/280/2802776/2447148-titanfall_regenerating.jpg"></a><figcaption>Alleged in-game screenshot of a progression to Generation 2.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417266" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417266/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 21:32:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/leaked-titanfall-screenshots-show-ziplines-and-heavy-turrets-in-multiplayer-report/1100-6418054/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/loadout-s-billions-of-weapon-configurations-bring-in-two-million-players-in-two-weeks/1100-6418053/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447067" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447067"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2447067-3117600593-24213.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Over two million users signed up for free-to-play shooter <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/loadout/">Loadout</a> in its first 14 days of release, logging in over 9 million hours in the game, developer Edge of Reality has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The developer said that Loadout has been so popular that it made getting into the game difficult on day one. Edge of Reality has since improved its infrastructure, but is still having trouble meeting demand.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Loadout's most notable feature is its weapon-crafting system, with over "44 billion possible variations" for players to assemble, allowing them to define their own class and play style.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The incredible surge of interest at launch shattered all our expectations, and it unfortunately just became too much for our servers to handle in the beginning," Edge of Reality CEO Rob Cohen said in a press release. "Very few Steam titles have reached the peak concurrent users we achieved upon release. We're committed to delivering an excellent game to our community, and we continue to work hard to ensure that our servers provide all our players with the same fluid, responsive, and enjoyable experience across the board."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/loadout-review/1900-6415663/">Our review</a> found that Loadout stands out against other shooters with its humor, entertaining multiplayer modes, and addictive weapon-crafting system.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417008" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417008/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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<br /></a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:35:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/loadout-s-billions-of-weapon-configurations-bring-in-two-million-players-in-two-weeks/1100-6418053/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446727" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446727"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2446727-5179501631-24458.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Tonight during a special Microsoft Store event in Connecticut, <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a> developer Respawn Entertainment explained that the upcoming game could get a DLC season pass and teased that a pilot-only mode may come sometime after launch.</p><p style="">Respawn community manager Abbie Heppe said cofounder <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-won-t-have-a-season-pass-or-split-screen-but-it-might-include-some-dinosaurs/1100-6418026/" data-ref-id="1100-6418026">Vince Zampella's tweet this week about the game not having a season pass</a> was a mistake. She clarified tonight that the game won't have an <em><strong>online pass</strong></em>, but said the company has nothing to announce--at least right now--regarding a <em><strong>season pass</strong></em>. Electronic Arts <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-killing-online-passes-for-existing-games/1100-6409065/" data-ref-id="1100-6409065">did away with online passes last year</a>.</p><p style="">A tweet from the official Titanfall Twitter account <a href="https://twitter.com/Titanfallgame/status/439452664166752256" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">apologizes for the confusion</a>.</p><p style="">The season pass would presumably include access to various Titanfall DLC packs at a discounted rate compared to buying them individually. Though Respawn has yet to announce firm plans for post-release support for Titanfall, the developer said previously that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-dlc-in-planning-stages-could-evolve-with-players/1100-6417412/" data-ref-id="1100-6417412">DLC for the game was in the planning stages</a>. Titanfall is a major multiplayer shooter, so significant add-on content should be expected.</p><p style="">Also during the special event tonight at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford, Conn. Heppe said though a pilot-only multiplayer mode for Titanfall won't be available at release, "we'll see what happens after launch." The chief intrigue of Titanfall is its pilots vs. mechs gameplay, so a pilots-only mode would be a surprise.</p><p style="">Titanfall launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-launching-march-11-2014/1100-6415710/" data-ref-id="1100-6415710">March 11</a> for Xbox One and PC, with an Xbox 360 version--developed externally at Bluepoint Games--to follow on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-delayed/1100-6417577/" data-ref-id="1100-6417577">March 25</a>. Microsoft is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-throwing-huge-titanfall-launch-party-in-texas/1100-6418024/" data-ref-id="1100-6418024">throwing a huge party in Texas</a> to mark the game's release.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417279" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417279/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </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> Sun, 02 Mar 2014 16:00:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-might-get-a-dlc-season-pass-pilot-only-mode-could-come-after-launch/1100-6418043/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/play-batman-vs-superman-vs-many-other-dc-characters-in-infinite-crisis-open-beta-on-march-14/1100-6418052/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447034" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2447034"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_small/1535/15354745/2447034-3596726564-617px.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The DC Comics multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/infinite-crisis/">Infinite Crisis</a> will start its open beta on March 14, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developer Turbine have announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Warner Bros. also said that it's adding three new Champions to the game: Green Arrow, Aquaman, and Mecha Superman. That brings Infinite Crisis to a total of 27 playable characters by the time the open beta begins.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Infinite Crisis is set across the 52 universes of the DC multiverse. So far Turbine has shown steampunk and post-apocalyptic-themed stages and characters. The newly announced Mecha Superman, a gigantic robot constructed of a crashed Kryptonian space probe, is a fine example of some of the more esoteric DC characters in the game.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Much like in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/league-of-legends/">League of Legends</a>, Infinite Crisis is free-to-play, giving you access to six Champions, three of which rotate out for new champions weekly.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Turbine, which was founded in 1994 and is also responsible for MMO <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-online-helms-deep/">The Lord of the Rings Online</a>, recently announced some <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/layoffs-at-lord-of-the-rings-online-and-infinite-crisis-developer/1100-6417708/">layoffs at the studio</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417432" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417432/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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, 02 Mar 2014 14:16:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/play-batman-vs-superman-vs-many-other-dc-characters-in-infinite-crisis-open-beta-on-march-14/1100-6418052/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-lifeline-puts-you-in-control-of-the-military/1100-6418051/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446962" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2446962"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/scale_super/1535/15354745/2446962-4693700544-20418.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Lifeline, the upcoming expansion for <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/state-of-decay/">State of Decay</a>, will put you in control of a military unit with new objectives and abilities, developer Undead Labs announced on <a href="http://undeadlabs.com/2014/02/news/in-the-army-now/" rel="nofollow">its blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">You'll control Greyhound One, a small military unit sent to the city of Danforth to rescue scientists whose research is critical to fighting the zombie outbreak. The game will start at the height of the crisis, when you still have access to off-map support from the military, but support will diminish with time as the situation deteriorates. This is opposite the progression structure in the original game, where you start off small and become increasingly stronger as you recruit more people and gather resources.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">One of your first objectives will be to secure a landing zone and base where you can receive supply drops and extract civilians, a new goal in the game. Lifeline will also add new military facilities, defenses, weapons, and a new map.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"In zombie fiction, the military is often the go-to bad guy," Undead Labs said. "They're the hammer to which every problem is a nail, blindly mowing everything down to serve some unknown goal. But this view is fairly one-sided and naïve. On the State of Decay team, we have a different perspective (some of us firsthand) — the military is made up of many good men and women who stand on the line that divides safety and civilization from chaos and war."</p><p style="">Earlier this year, Undead Labs confirmed that it had signed a multi-year, multi-title agreement to extend its development relationship with Microsoft, leading to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-dev-extends-partnership-with-microsoft/1100-6417066/">speculation of a possible State of Decay sequel</a>. For more on the game, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/state-of-decay/">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6415049" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6415049/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a><br /></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, 02 Mar 2014 13:00:00 -0800 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/state-of-decay-lifeline-puts-you-in-control-of-the-military/1100-6418051/
