News::'Splosion Man' developer Twisted Pixel is leaving Microsoft

Twisted Pixel may have gotten into Microsoft's good graces (and the company itself) through games like Splosion Man and The Maw, but it didn't stay there for very long. The developer has revealed that it's being spun out from Microsoft Studios roughly four years after it joined the fold. The reasons behind the departure aren't immediately apparent. However, it's safe to say that Twisted Pixel's most recent game, LocoCycle, didn't do it any favors -- the Xbox One launch title was so terrible that even the intro movie was hard to bear. Hopefully, the team's departure from Microsoft leads to bigger and better efforts.

Source: Twisted Pixel

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News::Google and Microsoft end their years-long patent war

And just like that, another one of the tech industry's epic patent battles is coming to a close. Google and Microsoft have dropped all 20 (!) of the lawsuits they've filed against each other, ending their five-year dispute over everything ranging from phones (Microsoft's main gripe) to Xbox video playback (Google's gripe, and formerly Motorola's). The two will now partner both on technology as a whole and on "certain patent matters," such as building a royalty-free video format that prevents these kinds of legal fights in the first place. The truce is no doubt a relief if you're tired of seeing endless stores about the lawsuits (guilty!), although it's not a complete shock if you've been following changes in corporate culture.

Source: Bloomberg

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News::Create 'Gran Turismo 6' race tracks on your tablet

For ages, Polyphony Digital has been promising a Gran Turismo 6 track editor that lets you build the race course of your dreams. Well, it's finally here... if not quite in the form you might have expected. Download the Track Path Editor app for Android and iOS and you can design circuits for the PlayStation 3 sim on your tablet. It's not so detailed that you'll recreate every nuance of your local raceway, but you can trace paths with your finger, choose themes and add scenery. Think of it as a way to extend the life of GT6 beyond the occasional new concept car -- you don't have to settle for driving on Autumn Ring or Brands Hatch for the hundredth time.

Source: Gran Turismo, Google Play, App Store

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News::Deadmau5 is on Twitch

If it weren't for Deadmau5's terrible broadband speeds, he wouldn't be on Twitch, the live video-streaming site favored by gamers. Prior to moving to the Canadian countryside just outside of Toronto and building "a goddamned death ray" in his back yard to get paltry 5 Mbps downloads, the electronic musician, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, had relied on a gigabit connection to broadcast music-making sessions in 2K resolution using his own data service provider. "The quality was pretty comparable [to Twitch], but I didn't have a social network behind it to help it along," he said during an interview from the first-ever TwitchCon. Now his TriCaster streaming setup is as good as "a $50,000 doorstop," and he instead uses the open-source OBS streaming software to broadcast games like Rocket League, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive; and studio recording sessions from his basement like the rest of us.

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News::'Mass Effect' is getting its own theme park attraction

Theme park attractions tend to be based on well-worn movies, if they're based on anything at all, but games? Not so much. However, Santa Clara-based California's Great America is planning to change that. It's launching a Mass Effect-based attraction in 2016 that will have a performer take you to a "distant planet," where you'll fight "larger-than-life foes" through a blend of 3D and "4D" (time travel?) effects. There's no mention of just who or what will make a cameo, although we wouldn't be surprised if Commander Shepard and the Reapers show up. Let's just hope it isn't too faithful to the in-game experience -- you probably wouldn't get a kick out of scanning planets for a few hours, or watching your favorite characters die.

Mat Smith contributed a ridiculous picture to this post.

Via: VG24/7

Source: BioWare

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News::NVIDIA's Shield TV goes on sale in the UK and Europe

In the six months since NVIDIA launched Shield TV, we've put it through its paces and called it best Android TV box money can buy. Consumers in the US have been able to get their hands on it since May, but now it's time for Europe to get in on the act. That's right, from tomorrow (October 1st), consumers in the UK, France, Germany and Scandinavia can buy the base 16GB model for £150/€200 or the 500GB Shield Pro for £230/€300.

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News::GeForce Now puts PC games on your NVIDIA device for $8 per month

NVIDIA's GRID service wasn't the be-all, end-all of its cloud gaming ambitions... if anything, the company was just getting started. The crew in Santa Clara has unveiled GeForce Now, an $8 per month subscription service that streams PC games to all of NVIDIA's Shield devices, ranging from the original handheld through to the Shield TV. It's still streaming at GRID's 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second, but you'll get a brand new interface with better parental controls. There are over 50 (mostly) major titles to start, including most of the Batman games (but not Arkham Knight), numerous Lego games and Ultra Street Fighter IV. You can buy other games outright, such as The Witcher 3, and there are promises of future games reaching GeForce Now as soon as they launch. The service goes live on October 1st in the US. Slideshow-324014

Source: NVIDIA

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News::PlayStation Vue adds EPIX Hits to its streaming selection

You might not be able to catch Optimus Prime on Netflix anymore, but soon you'll be able to see the autobot on PlayStation's TV alternative. After expanding its reach in the US, Vue has announced that it will offer EPIX Hits to the digital buffet of content already available. Joining the ranks of Machinima and a variety of channel packages, you'll be able to flip between gaming and blockbuster movies like Transformers: Age of Extinction all from the one place. EPIX Hits offers a free 30-day trial, with the option to add it onto your Showtime subscription or even as a standalone monthly purchase. Even if you're not a fan of Michael Bay, the service still has a relatively low cost of entry and plenty more to keep you watching.

Source: PlayStation

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News::Xbox One update increases party chat to 12 of your friends

Who says big companies never listen? Based on user feedback, Microsoft has increased the number of people in a local Xbox One party chat from the current eight. "Garnering over 2,200 votes on Xbox Feedback, we are expanding party chat to include 12 people," said Microsoft's Major Nelson (Larry Hryb). The new feature has rolled out to all Xbox One and Windows 10 Xbox app users, though it's not something visible, as Hryb said it's "all server side." The extra comms will be especially handy during Xbox One FIFA parties when 11 separate players are on the pitch per team.

Source: Microsoft

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