News::Activision on games like 'Call of Duty': 'People appreciate our approach'

This week has already seen the release of Assassin's Creed IV, and the yearly sports titles have been making the rounds over the last couple of months. Examiner recently spoke with Activision's Eric Hirshberg, whose company is just about to release the next annual entry in their Call of Duty franchise, and asked whether he thought yearly titles were underappreciated.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384422/activision-on-games-like-call-of-duty-people-appreciate-our-approach

News::Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z releasing March 2014

In North America, Team Ninja's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will be hitting PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on March 4, 2014. There's a new trailer for the game which features Miss Monday, Yaiba's "in-game tour guide." You'd ... you'd better just watch it for yourself.

I probably should be in the market for this, as a fan of Ninja Gaiden, cyborgs, ninjas, and especially cyborg ninjas. For whatever reason, it hasn't been on my radar ever since the initial reveal. Maybe it's the game's juvenile tone? Yeah. Fairly sure that's not helping.

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/yaiba-ninja-gaiden-z-releasing-march-2014-264640.phtml

News::Rumour: Multiplayer Cut from the WiiU version of Watch_Dogs

Amazon have changed the preorder bonus on the WiiU from addtional Multiplayer - Singleplayer perks at the request of Ubisoft. Is this a sign that the WiiU version may be having its online features cut.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384319/rumour-multiplayer-cut-from-the-wiiu-version-of-watch-dogs

News::Atomic Ninjas Slashing Onto PC, Mac and Linux

Grip Games recently released PS3 and PS Vita game, Atomic Ninjas, is slashing its way onto new platforms: namely, the PC, Mac and Linux. Grip Games have also started a Steam Greenlight Campaign, and plan to release it to other gaming portals, like Desura.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384481/atomic-ninjas-slashing-onto-pc-mac-and-linux

News::Major League Gaming will be bigger than the NHL in two years

MLG predicted to be bigger than the NHL in two years, says MLG president.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384420/major-league-gaming-will-be-bigger-than-the-nhl-in-two-years

News::Last minute 'Call of Duty: Ghosts' pre-order round-up

XMNR: It's the Thursday before the release of Call of Duty: Ghosts to the PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 and PC with the Xbox One version not far behind. This means it is time for guide detailing which retailers have the best deals or bonus offers on what is one of the hottest games of the holiday season.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384345/last-minute-call-of-duty-ghosts-pre-order-round-up

News::Destiny Devs Talk Space Travel, PC, And Microtransactions

IGN:The Destiny developer has shed some light on how space travel will function in the game, and also chatted about future features and platforms.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384358/destiny-devs-talk-space-travel-pc-and-microtransactions

News::Defiance DLC Coming this Winter, Halloween Patch Now Live

Trion Worlds has announced that the second wave of downloadable content (DLC2) for Defiance will be coming this winter. A Halloween update has also been made available today.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384357/defiance-dlc-coming-this-winter-halloween-patch-now-live

News::Yaiba - Ninja Gaiden Z - Trailer #2

New and Improved Trailer for Yaiba - Ninja Gaiden Z.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384466/yaiba-ninja-gaiden-z-trailer-2

News::Halloween Special: The Best Horror Games of 2013 So Far

GameDynamo - "Halloween is probably one of the best occasions to kick back, turn off the lights, and open up a horror game or two (or three). You'll definitely have quite a few to choose from, too. In terms of horror, 2013's been a pretty fantastic year. Submitted for your pleasure; here are a few of the best releases we've seen so far (this year, anyway)."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384458/halloween-special-the-best-horror-games-of-2013-so-far

News::Clementine Is the Clear Choice for the Lead Role in The Walking Dead: Season Two

CCC Says: "A note on this article: were going to have tons of spoilers, so if you havent played the first game and dont want it spoiled, go play it and come back. Well wait. Yesterday, Telltale Games revealed The Walking Dead Season 2 was in works by releasing a trailer featuring Clementine, the costar of the first game. The trailer was released on the ubiquitous streaming site, YouTube, with the the following description attached: The Walking Dead: Season Two continues the story of Clementine, a young girl orphaned by the undead apocalypse. Left to fend for herself, she has been forced to learn how to survive in a world gone mad. Many months have passed since the events seen in Season One of The Walking Dead, and Clementine is searching for safety. But what can an ordinary child do to stay alive when the living can be just as bad -- and sometimes worse -- than the dead? As Clementine, you will be tested by situations and dilemmas that will test your morals and your instinct...



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384409/clementine-is-the-clear-choice-for-the-lead-role-in-the-walking-dead-season-two

News::First Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag PC Screenshots Look Glorious

DSOGaming writes: "Nvidia and Ubisoft have released the first PC screenshots of Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag, and let us tell that they look spectacularly amazing."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384374/first-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-pc-screenshots-look-glorious

News::Gore blimey: Total War Rome 2 gets some more bloody DLC

Creative Assembly has been building up a slow but steady amount of goodwill after Rome IIs semi-disastrous launch by sticking to a regular patch schedule and giving out free factions like the Seleucids and the Nomadic Tribes. But today it has announced that a Blood and Gore pack (much like Shogun 2s) can be purchased on Steam for $3.00 USD.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384467/gore-blimey-total-war-rome-2-gets-some-more-bloody-dlc

News::The Stanley Parable | Review - AWESOMEoutof10

AWESOMEoutof10's David Chandler knows that The Stanley Parable is a game like no other, so he gave it a review like no other. "The truth, the reader discovered, is that The Stanley Parable warrants anyones consideration. It was truly that simple. Since, however, the reader felt compelled to read on, the narrator felt obliged to elaborate, which suits the subject at hand. After all, isnt compulsion the reason we play games in the first place? Dont they serve as distractions from the mundane yet paradoxically employ rigid structural and narrative boundaries?"



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384471/the-stanley-parable-review-awesomeoutof10

News::Softpedia- Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review

SP:The Assassin's Creed series is one of Ubisoft's biggest bets, as every year the large publisher pools together the resources of its global studios to produce another title in the series and delight fans with new adventures.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384383/softpedia-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review

News::Xbox One game gifting may be coming after all

Back when the Xbox One was announced and all of that terrible DRM news came out of it, there was one pretty neat feature -- digital game gifting. Essentially, the practice allowed you to buy a game digitally, play it, then "gift it" to a friend on your Xbox Live friend's list.

It's something not even Steam allows, and I would have loved to have seen it on a console for the very first time. But after Microsoft pulled an Xbox 180 on their DRM policies, the idea was abandoned -- most would say that the good (the support of used games and the removal of always-on DRM)) far outweighed the bad, and they'd be absolutely correct.

But there may be light at the end of the sharing tunnel, as Major Nelson confirms that it's a "Great feature we'd like to add in someday, but it won't be there at launch." It's not concrete confirmation, but if enough fans rise to the occasion, it's possible Microsoft could support it in the future.

Can I buy a game and gift it to a friend digitally? [Reddit via OXM]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/xbox-one-game-gifting-may-be-coming-after-all-264623.phtml

News::Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review | Geekenstein

"The other sticking point might be the price. Gas Guzzlers Extreme will cost those in the USA $25, which is a step above the accepted price for downloadable games of this nature. However, Id argue that Gas Guzzlers is a step above the standard downloadable fare. There has been much ado lately about the death of the B-Tier game, especially with the closings of Midway and THQ. However, Gas Guzzlers is firmly placed in this category. The game sets its goals and then firmly accomplishes them without going above and beyond, which is especially easy to do considering how few Car Combat games get made in 2013. Its not going to hit anyones Top 10 list, but Gas Guzzlers is a fun, easy to play experience that is easily recommendable to anyone who misses the glory days of the genre." - Alex Santa Maria of Geekenstein



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384315/gas-guzzlers-extreme-review-geekenstein

News::The Typing of The Dead: Overkill Review - Sega's Halloween Surprise a New Hit? | Entertainment Fuse

Entertainment Fuse: With Halloween fast approaching Sega has managed to squeeze out the horror title The Typing of the Dead: Overkill just in time for the 31st. I jump into the type text zombie action adventure to see if game can get me pumped for Halloween.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384386/the-typing-of-the-dead-overkill-review-segas-halloween-surprise-a-new-hit-entertainment-fuse

News::Goodbye Deponia Review | TSA

TSA writes: "Rufus is a strange one; utterly sure of his own abilities through years of every stupid scheme he comes up with somehow, quite magically, coming up trumps. Of course, it very rarely pans out quite how you expected things will, even given some of the more outlandish set ups, but thats half the charm of the game."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384408/goodbye-deponia-review-tsa

News::Battlefield 4 review - LogiaGamer

After two years with respect to the output of the previous installment, Battlefield 4 runs to multiple platforms to battle Call of Duty. As a result the game? The shooter has gotten very good grades, but not revolutionize the genre. The highest note is for the Spanish Vandal (9.3/10) who believe that "Together Battlefield 4 like much to the fans who are dedicated to multiplayer, you find a better version and very funny. Many improvements are implemented in the arsenal, with a range of customization with which each person will have a custom gun. "



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384398/battlefield-4-review-logiagamer

News::How to Pair Your DualShock 4 with a PC

A quick walkthrough of how to set up your DualShock 4 on your PC.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384346/how-to-pair-your-dualshock-4-with-a-pc

News::Top-13 the best Halloween games

GameSpace: "The scariest night of the year is coming, but you still have no plans, how to spend it? We'd like to advise you our set of the most frighten video games with perfect atmosphere and extreme tension that fit Halloween night greatly."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384202/top-13-the-best-halloween-games

News::The PS4 launch line-up has been updated again.

News::Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review | The Controller Online

Scott from The Controller Online writes: "Were continually surprised by the rate at which Ubisoft seem to be able to produce Assassins Creed games but even after last Falls immense entry theyre back yet again with another ambitious effort. Assassins Creed 4 Black Flag is actually the sixth full console release in the series and bids farewell to Desmond, the long-time present day protagonist, in a favor of a new story. A story full of pirates. One that some may say is entering a market that is already saturated with Assassins Creed games. I say hoist the mainsail, run out the guns, and lets see if theres any treasure left buried in the Animus."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384382/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review-the-controller-online

News::Arma III - Trailer

Bohemia Interactive shared a new trailer for Arma III entitled Survive.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384384/arma-iii-trailer

News::Call of Duty: Ghosts is upscaled at 720p on the Xbox One

A lot of rumors have been flying around in regards to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Call of Duty: Ghosts , and Infinity Ward's Mark Rubin has addressed them once and for all. For starters, Ghosts runs at 1080p on the PlayStation 4, and is upscaled at 720p on the Xbox One. Both versions are 60 fps.

Rubin is also happy about the reception with the game's alien-centric Extinction mode, so I hope it lives up to the hype. It'll be really interesting to see how Call of Duty and Battlefield 4 fare on PC versus the Xbox One and PS4, and how it changes the attitudes of major FPS developers going forward.

Mark Rubin [TwitLonger]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/call-of-duty-ghosts-is-upscaled-at-720p-on-the-xbox-one-264617.phtml

News::Check These Stunning New Dark Souls 2 Screenshots

Check out these gorgeous new screenshots for Dark Souls 2. The game will release in March 2014.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384299/check-these-stunning-new-dark-souls-2-screenshots

News::Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Premium Edition announced, Dracula and Satan face off in new trailer

El33tonline writes: "If youve been wondering what devilishly delectable special edition and pre-order bonuses Konami has cooked up for its upcoming action adventure Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 then youre in luck as the publisher has just issued a Halloween update for the game."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384324/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-premium-edition-announced-dracula-and-satan-face-off-in-new-trailer

News::Indie dev accuses global publisher of stealing game, forced to take it back

Indie developer Ryan Sharr accused global publisher 505 Games of stealing his game, Roam. Turns out he was wrong. Oops!



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384287/indie-dev-accuses-global-publisher-of-stealing-game-forced-to-take-it-back

News::Watch eight minutes of Call of Duty's alien horde mode

GameSpot has a quick look of Call of Duty: Ghosts' new Extinction mode, which seems to be Infinity Ward's take on Treyarch's zombies -- with aliens in it. But if you take a closer look at Extinction, it looks like there's a decent amount of variety within the mode to differentiate itself, with a full leveling system, classes, and an enhanced emphasis on co-op.

According to the developers, there's a focus on "base defense with wave based gameplay, and scavenging and leveling." Extinction encourages scavenging to find special items like flares (which distract enemies), hypno-knives (to convert enemies to your cause), and other items like electric fences.

All in all, it sounds pretty appealing, and I'm more than willing to give it a shot. I really like the part where the developers talk about breaking away from the Modern Warfare universe as much as possible to try something new -- we'll see how true that really is next week!

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/watch-eight-minutes-of-call-of-duty-s-alien-horde-mode-264616.phtml

News::​Here's 30 Minutes of the PS4's Awesome-Looking Space Combat Game

News::'Batman: Arkham Origins' Review | Comics Alliance

Theyve taken the same approach, the same mechanics, the same setting, the same aesthetics and the same beats to their new story, and it suffers for it even when that approach is just as solid as it always was.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384348/batman-arkham-origins-review-comics-alliance

News::Football Manager 2014 Launches in PAL Territories

Sports Interactive and SEGA Europe Ltd. have today launched Football Manager 2014, now available for Windows PC, Mac and, for the first time, Linux. Football Manager 2014 features a number of technical innovations designed to make the management experience more engaging, fun and immersive.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384290/football-manager-2014-launches-in-pal-territories

News::Let's Play Pantsless - Outlast (PC)

Just in time for Halloween, Aaron from Leviathyn.com straps on an adult diaper and whimpers pathetically while playing Outlast for the PC.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384318/lets-play-pantsless-outlast-pc

News::Male Wii Fit trailer revealed for new Smash Bros.

In Sakurai's "Pic of the Day" post in the Smash Bros . Miiverse section, he recently revealed a brand new addition to the pair of games -- a Male Wii Fit Trainer. In all likelihood the male version is not a new character, but a costume swap for the Female Trainer -- this is especially evident since the pair has the exact same movement in the screenshot.

At least, that's what I hope is the case, as it would be great to have as little clones as possible in the new Smash.

Smash Bros. [Miiverse]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/male-wii-fit-trailer-revealed-for-new-smash-bros--264618.phtml

News::Xbox One Dev: All Those Saying Theyll Buy Titanfall on PC Forget Who Makes the OS

"Recently, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen has stated that Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall will be a life-time exclusive to the Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384334/xbox-one-dev-all-those-saying-theyll-buy-titanfall-on-pc-forget-who-makes-the-os

News::Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut review | Lazygamer

Deadly Premonition is the strangest survival horror you'll ever play. It's terrible...but it's so bad, it's good.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384337/deadly-premonition-directors-cut-review-lazygamer

News::8 Horror Games That Will Have You Wetting Yourself

Getting you ready for the upcoming holiday with eight horror games that will give you nightmares.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384340/8-horror-games-that-will-have-you-wetting-yourself

News::Three Maps That Need to Return in Battlefield 4

While shooters are generalized as $60 map packs by people that dont play them, the changes from game to game in multiplayer shooters are about more than new maps. In the case of Battlefield 4, there is an overhauled progression system and Levelution, DICEs new dynamic environment shifting mechanic. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 had a retro map pack, bringing classic maps into the modern franchise entry, as did Battlefield 3. Here are the maps that most need to be brought to the newest installment in the series.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384286/three-maps-that-need-to-return-in-battlefield-4

News::American Civil War 2 Review {Critically Sane}

Critically Sane: "American Civil War 2 is an excellent game. However, its complexity (which could not really be mitigated by any sort of tutorial) and lack of graphical capability will keep it confined to a niche audience of period fans and hardcore strategy gamers. Once you crack that hard outer shell, you will find an incredibly rich interior with what in my mind is the best simulation of the entire war on the market. Getting there, however, requires an investment only the ardent few will provide."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384323/american-civil-war-2-review-critically-sane

News::Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review - BootHammer

"Gas Guzzlers Extreme is a welcome addition to the vehicular combat genre. It may not overhaul the genre, but certainly adds depth to the core components. The Multiplayer capabilities are where this game really shines. If youre looking for hours of fun, action, and mayhem, Gas Guzzlers Extreme is a great buy." -BootHammer



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384325/gas-guzzlers-extreme-review-boothammer

News::EA financial figures show abysmal Wii U software sales

For quite a while now, some people have been knocking EA for not supporting the Wii U -- and with some new information, it's not hard to see why. Currently out of all of the total software sales in the last quarter ($695 million), only three percent are from the Wii and the Wii U.

Conversely, the Xbox 360 comprises 54% of sales, whereas the PS3 is sitting at 42%. Of course, this presents a "chicken and egg" scenario where both EA and Nintendo potentially lose. On one hand, the Wii U needs support to succeed, and releasing a scant few games this year on the Wii U and Wii will of course equate to low sales.

On the other, EA has an obligation to stay in business, and spending tons of cash on the development of something responsible for 3% of your profits doesn't make much sense. It'll be interesting to see where the Wii U is at after the holidays. Hopefully EA wises up and legitimately considers an exclusive with some effort put into it before ignoring the Wii U for good.

The 1%: Why EA ditched the Wii U [MMGN]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ea-financial-figures-show-abysmal-wii-u-software-sales-264619.phtml

News::ZTGD | Batman: Arkham Origins Review

Ken McKown writes: The Arkham series has become the gold standard for licensed titles, and comic book games in general. It has also become one of my favorite new series from this current generation of consoles. The third and likely final chapter on this current generation is more of the same I have come to know and love, with a few minor setbacks that keep it from reaching the same fondness of the originals. Part of that is likely due to the fact that a new developer has taken over the reigns, or perhaps more due to the idea that this series hasnt really progressed much since it was conceived. Still, for those that enjoy the Arkham franchise, this is yet another great entry in the Batman lore.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384316/ztgd-batman-arkham-origins-review

News::Dark Souls II is Coming | Preview XPStar

XPStar: Are You Ready to Take Up the Challenge... Again? If theres one game of recent years known for its ball-busting difficulty, its Demons Souls. If theres ANOTHER, its... Dark Souls.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384227/dark-souls-ii-is-coming-preview-xpstar

News::The Halo Booletin: 10.30.13

B is for Bravo: One of my favorite things about working at 343 Industries is the ability to watch various concepts go from sketches on a pad to full-fledged experiences. As you can imagine, being a part of top secret codenamed projects is exciting for plenty of reasons. It can also be tough to keep my mouth shut when working on awesome, unannounced things.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384217/the-halo-booletin-10-30-13

News::Borderlands 2 $100,000 Loot Hunt Week Three

Week three of the Borderlands 2 $100,000 Loot Hunt is now in progress. Check out a recap of week two and info on week three.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384107/borderlands-2-100-000-loot-hunt-week-three

News::Ed Boon teases Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks HD

Once upon a time, Midway Games made a Mortal Kombat themed beat 'em up called Shaolin Monks. It starred Liu Kang and Kung Lao in an epic quest to defeat Shang Tsung, featuring full co-op, RPG elements, and a story. Surprisingly, it did rather well both commercially and critically, which might be why Ed Boon is teasing an HD version of Shaolin Monks over Twitter.

Jokingly, Boon tweeted a picture of a Shaolin Monks strategy guide, stating "Someone put this on my desk. WTF? Do they think we're doing an HD version to download ... um.. or something." I don't think I'm alone in saying I would easily buy a $10 downloadable version for the co-op factor alone -- and with a number of Mortal Kombat games coming to Steam recently, a PC release could sell very well.

I for one love these MK spinoffs, and as wonky as it was, I was also a fan of Mortal Kombat: Mythologies Sub Zero -- there's something about that game that drew me in over the course of an entire week.

Ed Boon [Twitter]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ed-boon-teases-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-hd-264615.phtml

News::DmC's Dante is a Bad Character

Joe from Awesome Games writes: 'Reboots and reinterpretations are always going to ruffle a few feathers. People understandably get attached to the original characters and storylines making this happen is the job of any good writer, after all so any attempt at sweeping whats already been established to one side rarely sits well with the majority of a series fan base.'



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384210/dmcs-dante-is-a-bad-character

News::Disgaea 4 Return gets a debut Vita trailer

Disgaea 4 is coming to the Vita in the form of Disgaea 4 Returns , and you can get a quick look at what's on offer in this new trailer from developer NIS. The franchise's signature style is all here, including Prinny costumes, anime cutscenes, and stylish combat.

Although Disgaea 4 isn't my favorite in the series, it's still very much a quality strategy RPG, and a great addition to the Vita's lineup in 2014.

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/disgaea-4-return-gets-a-debut-vita-trailer-264613.phtml

News::Sanatana Mishra Interview - Eurogamer Expo 2013 | The Indie Mine

The Indie Mine talks to Sanatana Mishra about his crazy twin stick shooter Assault Android Cactus and publishing on the new consoles during this year's Eurogamer Expo.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384252/sanatana-mishra-interview-eurogamer-expo-2013-the-indie-mine