Thursday, August 29, 2013

News::Achievement Unlocked Thoughts About Achievements

How the challenge of drinking 1,000 beers got me reflecting on the nature of achievements.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343106/achievement-unlocked-thoughts-about-achievements

News::WoW Thoughts On Could WoW Go Free-To-Play

Thoughts on Tom Chilton's comments on what could happen to WoW's subscription model.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343113/wow-thoughts-on-could-wow-go-free-to-play

News::Saints Row IV - Video Showcase

Dubstep guns and alien simulations and superpowers, oh my! This week on Steampunks Nick will show off Saints Row IV in all its ridiculous glory!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343198/saints-row-iv-video-showcase

News::Saints Row IV Review | Gather Your Party

Saints Row IV is a sandbox game by Volition that has had a fractured development. It was originally meant as DLC for Saints Row: The Third under the name of Enter the Dominatrix, but was later expanded to be a full game. Then THQ went bankrupt and the development team and IP were bought by Deep Silver. The end result is a game thats lacking in content, but is otherwise fun to play.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343318/saints-row-iv-review-gather-your-party

News::Final Fantasy XIV Affixing Materia(s) on your Equipment

Now that you have learned what Spiritbond is and how to get yourself a bunch of materia, its now time to put them on your equipment. In Final Fantasy XIV, the Materia that you will get from Spiritbonding will help your gear be more efficient and powerful by providing better stats.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343338/final-fantasy-xiv-affixing-materia-s-on-your-equipment

News::Golden Joystick Awards 2013 Nominees Announced

The Golden Joystick Awards today announces the shortlist for its 2013 ceremony with public voting now open. Celebrating the very best in the videogames industry, the Golden Joystick Awards are the only annual awards voted for by gamers, garnering a record-breaking four million votes last year.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1342883/golden-joystick-awards-2013-nominees-announced

News::How to survive PAX

[Pictured: a poor soul who barely made it out alive, holding the avatars of those who couldn't make it at all.]


PAX is wonderful. But it's also a downright daunting experience for newcomers and veterans alike. I don't know a single person who just "goes to PAX." It requires planning. It causes stress. For example, I got my haircut last week, and the haircut lady told me I should look into special shampoo for thinning hair. Because of PAX!


OK, so maybe that's just because I'm 31 and almost dead, but still. This shit is stressful. Luckily, I've been through this a couple times now, and I've got a couple quick tips for getting the most bang for your buck.


How to survive PAX screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/how-to-survive-pax-260821.phtml

News::Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Review | CheatCC

CCC Says: "When Square Enix decided to end Final Fantasy XIV, the company didn't just shut down the servers. No, it smashed the entire world to pieces: A dragon escaped from prison and wiped out most of Eorzea. The idea was to set the stage for rebirth. Today, a completely overhauled version of the game is online, with a story set in the wake of the catastrophe, a new graphics engine, and a seemingly endless series of quests to complete."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343345/final-fantasy-xiv-a-realm-reborn-review-cheatcc

News::GTA V Finally Gets A Launch TrailerBut What Does it Show?

CCC Says: "Still riding the hype-spike generated by the recent coverage of Grand Theft Auto Online, the independent multiplayer component of Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar today released the official launch trailer for the next GTA installment. Were sitting less than three weeks away from the games console launch, so, unsurprisingly, no mindboggling details have come to light in this, the latest in a long line of trailers and teasers. However, the official trailer is still packed with plenty of goodies for GTA fans to latch onto."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343348/gta-v-finally-gets-a-launch-trailer-but-what-does-it-show

News::Gone Home - Video Showcase

How do you make a game where level design dictates the story? Watch Steampunks this week to find out how GONE HOME manages to tell one of the most compelling tales of 2013 entirely through exploration!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343200/gone-home-video-showcase

News::Saints Row IV - SweetFX vs Vanilla Comparison

DSOGaming writes: "Ah, the beauty of SweetFX. Saints Row IV vanilla looks really blurry as Volition used a lot of low-res textures but thanks to SweetFX, the game's visuals get a bit better. Below you can find a comparison between our SweetFX settings and the vanilla version."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343263/saints-row-iv-sweetfx-vs-vanilla-comparison

News::Fantastic Neighborhood Podcast 76

This week Jon talks about the games he played this week including Saints Row IV and Dragons Crown. Fred recaps his Gencon trip and they both go to see The Worlds End. There are also several Dubstep emergencies. Gameclub this week was the absolute fantastic puzzle platformer Thomas was Alone. We get all choked up about these blocks. This is a big recommend if you have not played it yet.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343139/fantastic-neighborhood-podcast-76

News::TMNT: Out of the Shadows Review | GamesRadar

If were being honest, there are more mediocre TMNT video games than there were puns about shell shock in the first draft of this review. Considering the sheer quantity of of low-rent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games out there, its a wonder that this beat-em-up franchise has had such remarkable longevity.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343310/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-review-gamesradar

News::SimCity on Mac is "totally unplayable"

It looks like it's another launch day fiasco for EA and SimCity.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343301/simcity-on-mac-is-totally-unplayable

News::[WKG] Preview: Running On Walls And Giant Mechs In Titanfall

There were many great games headlining Gamescom this year, each billed to be a must buy on release, however there was only one title that Chris Locke from We Know Gamers made a beeline for as soon as the gates were opened and that was Titanfall. Fast paced shooting, giant mechs and jetpacks, how could it go wrong? Obviously it didn't, so hold onto your butts as Chris drops some multiplayer info on you!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343307/wkg-preview-running-on-walls-and-giant-mechs-in-titanfall

News::The Gaming Precision Podcast #2: PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One

Episode two of The Gaming Precision Podcast is here! This week, we discuss the PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and more!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343329/the-gaming-precision-podcast-2-playstation-4-vs-xbox-one

News::Reinforced: Natural Selection 2 gets large free expansion update Free Steam weekend

Unknown Worlds release their free expansion and explain how they plan to fund the studio moving forward.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343336/reinforced-natural-selection-2-gets-large-free-expansion-update-free-steam-weekend

News::Hear the difference between 360 and Xbox One voice chat

It appears as if the Xbox One will be getting a major upgrade in voice chat quality, and you can see the difference right here, or on Major Nelson's blog. Due to the integration of Skype's audio codec and a better controller (with an improved wireless data transfer rate), a higher quality voice output is achieved. Major Nelson notes that this will not only work with Skype, but multiplayer as well.



After a bit of flip-flopping, it's nice to know that the headset will now be bundled with every Xbox One. Whether it will actually sound like this consistently is up in the air, but on paper and in a closed environment, it's sounding pretty damn good.


Xbox Live [Major Nelson]


Hear the difference between 360 and Xbox One voice chat screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/hear-the-difference-between-360-and-xbox-one-voice-chat-260975.phtml

News::(WGB) Memoria - Review

Baden of WGB writes: "Ah, Daedalic, youve quietly worked your way into my heart through your beautifully crafted point and click titles. Churning out quality titles Daedalic are on a mission to prove that theres still a place for the classic genre in this bullet riddled world of murky browns and bland greys. Their newest title Memories is yet another example of why point and click games are brilliant, presenting a wonderfully crafted world, engaging story and great gameplay."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343028/wgb-memoria-review

News::Elder Scrolls Online Developer Maria Aliprando Details the Dungeons, Quests and Tamriel at Large

The Elder Scrolls Online developer Maria Aliprando talks about the dungeons, PvP, quests and the world of Tamriel at large.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343312/elder-scrolls-online-developer-maria-aliprando-details-the-dungeons-quests-and-tamriel-at-large

News::The Sims 4 Preview | NZGamer

NZG - "Ah the Sims; progeny of the SimCity franchise I love so much, I find it impossible to loathe you. Sure, your focus on the lives and loves of just a handful of Sims at a time varies somewhat from your ancestor's interest in the macro concerns of an entire city of simulated people, but the general gist - allowing players to interfere with the lives of virtual citizens - is still something you hold dear to your chest."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343261/the-sims-4-preview-nzgamer

News::Amazon digital summer sale stars 'Battlefield 3', 'BioShock Infinite' and more

XMNR: Amazon kicked off a digital games "Late Summer Sale" on Thursday that only has around a thousand downloadable PC games like Battlefield 3 Premium, Borderlands 2, Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite and The Bureau: XCOM Declassified at some really cheap prices.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343013/amazon-digital-summer-sale-stars-battlefield-3-bioshock-infinite-and-more

News::Ubisoft is Setting the Bar for Next Gen Gaming

TG writes: With the arrival of the PS4 on November 15th, next gen gaming will officially hit the market. Between now and then, we will be taking a look at several different third party and first party developers who are working hard to make next gen gaming the best possible. Ubisoft is the first third party developer we are going to look at and we will be checking out four of their upcoming next gen releases.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343278/ubisoft-is-setting-the-bar-for-next-gen-gaming

News::Watch_Dogs Hands-On Preview | CheatCC

CCC Says: "This has turned out to be a very interesting year for the arrival of Watch_Dogs. Headline news stories such as Snowden's NSA leaks and the George Zimmerman trial, not to mention the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Seaboard blackout that inspired the game in the first place, have shown the game's themes of surveillance, vigilantism, and the increasing complexity of our urban lives to be quite relevant."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343297/watch-dogs-hands-on-preview-cheatcc

News::eGamer Podcast 46: Mediated Vaginas

Recorded 28 August, 2013, this is episode 46 of the eGamer Podcast. Topics discussed include Ben Affleck as Batman, Nintendos 2DS and Miley Cyrus. Shownotes are through the link.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343176/egamer-podcast-46-mediated-vaginas

News::One-Sentence Reviews - Volume Four

SuperPhillip Central writes, "We have gotten a lot of good feedback regarding this segment. You'd wonder why it's been over a year since we've last done it, then, wouldn't you! It's One-Sentence Reviews, where we take thirty games and try to summarize our thoughts about them and criticize them in one sentence. Sure, we occasionally do a run-on sentence here and there, but that's all right. Some of these games listed have already had in-depth reviews, and many of the games will be reviewed with more detail later. Regardless, let's jump right into this and enjoy ourselves, shall we?"



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343118/one-sentence-reviews-volume-four

News::Hunt Other Players In Dying Light's Be The Zombie Mode

Warner Bros has unveiled a player vs. player multiplayer mode in Dying Light called "Be the Zombie," which can be accessed by pre-ordering the game, along with another batch of screenshots.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343195/hunt-other-players-in-dying-lights-be-the-zombie-mode

News::Memoria Review Point and click through past and present | Gamer Horizon

In this Memoria review, find out if this sequel to Chains of Satinav is your kind of point and click adventure.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343258/memoria-review-point-and-click-through-past-and-present-gamer-horizon

News::SMITE is definitely worth your time

It took me quite a while to come around to SMITE . Despite the fact that it was getting rave reviews from some of my Twitter followers, I was already knee-deep in a number of MOBAs, keeping up with Dota 2 and League of Legends most of all.


But once I actually sat down and spent an afternoon with Hi-Rez Studios' latest, I couldn't put it down. SMITE not only bucks a few MOBA trends in a unique way, but it's also a hell of a lot of fun to play.


SMITE is definitely worth your time screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/smite-is-definitely-worth-your-time-260758.phtml

News::Night Force Action Report #110 - ExCon The Fourth

Horrible Night: "Jason quickly learns that the HoNight crew may not do so well on the Organ Trail. Ethan not only survives Gamescom but also a run in with Dota 2. Justin is being hunted so he digs deep into the 3DS. And everyone asks, 'Should Saints have super powers?"



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343248/night-force-action-report-110-excon-the-fourth

News::Toki Tori 2+ Review | ComboCaster

Toki Tori 2 + is the PC version and Mac version adapted Wii U released for a few months and was very well received. Contains some extra content as well as a map editor which further justifies the purchase, but it's essentially the same game. Met since the first game released a few years ago, or even the original launched at the beginning of the millennium for GameBoy already know what they will find here. A relaxing graphics mixed with puzzles that make our brain very warm at times, but that work brilliantly together.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343290/toki-tori-2-review-combocaster

News::Saints Row 4 patch to fix weapons bug is on the way

Volition is readying a Saints Row 4 patch designed to fix a bug that multiplies and removes weapons in the PC version of the game. Additionally, the studio's also working on updates for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the open-world action title.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343093/saints-row-4-patch-to-fix-weapons-bug-is-on-the-way

News::Spending Time: The Creeping Horror of Microtransactions in Full Priced Games

IncGamers' Peter Parrish takes a look at the devious business of adding extra charges to full priced games. "Of all the pernicious publisher practices out there, microtransactions in games youve already paid full price for are surely the worst. In fact lets dispense with the term microtransactions altogether, as it seems to have been designed by committee to make the concept sound as inoffensive as possible. Using the word only legitimises that deception. Most of the time they are anything but micro."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343280/spending-time-the-creeping-horror-of-microtransactions-in-full-priced-games

News::Project Phoenix Overtakes Second Stretch Goal with Over $650,000 in Pledges

With 12 days to go on the clock, the Kickstarter JRPG Project Phoenix just overtook its $650,000 stretch goal counting Kickstarter pledges (that now amount to $641,127) and $9,041 gathered via PayPal.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343276/project-phoenix-overtakes-second-stretch-goal-with-over-650-000-in-pledges

News::Learn the Difference Between Day and Night in the Latest Dying Light Video

Techland game developer talks about their newest title, Dying Light, and the differences between day and night in the game.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343266/learn-the-difference-between-day-and-night-in-the-latest-dying-light-video

News::Lost Planet 3 Review | Empire

When Capcom pulled back the curtain on Lost Planet 3 early in 2012 it wasnt the change in direction that turned heads, it was the fact that development duties had handed over to a Western studio, namely Spark Unlimited. Anyone a semblance of interest in games will recall the Sherman Oaks based developer as the team responsible for two of the most horrific games of a generation: Turning Point and Legendary: The Box.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343141/lost-planet-3-review-empire

News::Diablo III: Reaper of Souls concept Art

LGN "Blizzard has released some of the concept art for the first expansion pack of Diablo III, titled Diablo III: Reaper of Souls."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343174/diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls-concept-art

News::Are MMOs Being Dumbed Down?

Personally, Im not much of a team player in MMORPGs, preferring to solo as much content as I can, as Ive found that relying on random people will usually find you screwed. I decided to try two games for this little study, and made sure they were games that I had played off and on since release. This way, I could more easily compare the titles degree of difficulty from release to present day. This little study of mine has taken about two months to complete, with one month set aside for each game. So, sit back and relax, and prepare to read one hell of a long, drawn out opinion on why gamers have become lazy over time.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343183/are-mmos-being-dumbed-down

News::League of Legends Spotlight: Shopping Smart

This week, we cover what you'll need and how to buy it directly from the League of Legends store while you're holding off your lanes.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343209/league-of-legends-spotlight-shopping-smart

News::The Top 4 Strangest Games of 2013

The four games listed below might not be for everyone, but those who enjoy stepping outside of their comfort zone will surely find enjoyable, unforgettable, and downright strange titles.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343253/the-top-4-strangest-games-of-2013

News::10 (Useful) Things You Didn't Know About Minecraft

IGN - "Minecraft, in all its blocky goodness, is constantly being updated with new features. As all these updates pour in, its easy to miss the little tips and tricks that aren't heavily announced. Here are 10 of the most useful tricks in the game."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343170/10-useful-things-you-didnt-know-about-minecraft

News::Valves new Steam Guard trading protections go down poorly with users

"Yesterdays server update brought new trading restrictions/protections (depending on your point of view, really) to Steams Marketplace. The post about it in the Steam forum states that in order to trade, the user account needs to had Steam Guard enabled on it for 15 days. Unfortunately, this policy is going down like a lead balloon with extra lead weights tied to it."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343255/valves-new-steam-guard-trading-protections-go-down-poorly-with-users

News::Games Only Podcast Episode 102 - Saints Row IV, Final Fantasy XIV: ARR, Virtue's Last Reward

This week on the games only podcast we have a full crew. HP goes talk in depth about his love for Saints Row IV. Sunny gets sucked back into the world of Eorzea in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Blue gushes about Zero Escape: Virtues Last Reward. Doc apologizes and revises his Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons talk. Also, Dragons Crown is pretty bad. All of this and more on this weeks episode.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343199/games-only-podcast-episode-102-saints-row-iv-final-fantasy-xiv-arr-virtues-last-reward

News::Humble Paradox Bundle Available Now

The Humble Paradox Bundle has been unleashed, containing a number of games from the publisher behind some of PC's best strategy titles.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343249/humble-paradox-bundle-available-now

News::Play as the 'older' versions of Left 4 Dead's cast

That's Francis up there. Yeah. At one point in time, he and the other three survivors of Left for Dead looked ... how do I put this politely? Iteration is important, let's just say. Valve has graciously released the original character models for use in Left 4 Dead 2.


"It was an interesting walk back through our content tree to find all the various pieces and versions," writes Valve. "Depending on your definition of the old models, some of these may vary in some slight detail as we work in an iterative process and never internally defined a version of these models. They have always just been Zoey, Louis, Bill, and Francis to us."


You can find Zoey, Bill, Louis, and yes, bearded Francis, over on the Steam Workshop.


The Gang is Getting Back Together [Left 4 Dead]


Play as the 'older' versions of Left 4 Dead's cast screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/play-as-the-older-versions-of-left-4-dead-s-cast-260972.phtml

News::Final Fantasy XIV Breaks More Records: 218,000 Concurrent Connections; Players Will Get Free Days

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is getting more and more popular despite the server problems and the suspension of digital sales due to excessive traffic, and Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida provided some new data and the promise of "several free days" to make it up for the problems.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343252/final-fantasy-xiv-breaks-more-records-218-000-concurrent-connections-players-will-get-free-days

News::'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag' Interview: Game Director Ashraf Ismail

Ashraf "Ash" Ismail, Game Director of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, discusses the mechanical innovations used to bring open-world naval exploration and combat to Ubisoft's flagship (no pun intended) franchise.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343187/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-interview-game-director-ashraf-ismail

News::Hot Tin Roof: "The cat that wore a fedora" Preview | ChristmasMelon

"You take the role of a Private Investigator named Emma Jones, accompanied by her feline partner Franky, thats constantly got your back. Both equipped with fedoras you are assigned to homicide, the gritty stuff." - ChristmasMelon



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343202/hot-tin-roof-the-cat-that-wore-a-fedora-preview-christmasmelon

News::Peter Molyneux's top five games of all time

Peter Molyneux is such an icon when it comes to making games that it's easy to forget he really likes to play them too. So with that in mind we wanted to know: if he was stranded on an island with just five games, which five would they be?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1343241/peter-molyneuxs-top-five-games-of-all-time

News::Nintendo Download: Pokemon Rumble U

There isn't a whole lot today in this week's Nintendo Download, but there are a few heavy-hitters. Pokemon Rumble U makes its debut on the Wii U eShop for $17.99, and it features real-life toys as a companion to its gameplay.


Rayman Legends is also available on September 3rd, and the original Legend of Zelda drops today on the Wii U Virtual Console for $4.99. If you want an opinion on Rayman Legends you can check out Jim's review, and if you're thinking about picking up Zelda you can see how it holds up in my Zelda retrospective.


On the 3DS side, Wario Land 3 finally comes to the Virtual Console, alongside of a Bit. Trip Saga discount ($4.99 until September 15th). Should you want to see how Wario Land 3 fares, check out my Wario retrospective.


Nintendo Download: Pokemon Rumble U screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-download-pokemon-rumble-u-260967.phtml