News::Rockstar North boss Leslie Benzies resigns after 17 years

Rockstar North President Leslie Benzies has bid farewell to the studio after 17 years and a handful of highly influential games under his belt. As the head of Rockstar North, Benzies was the lead developer of the Grand Theft Auto series from Grand Theft Auto 3 on, and he produced Red Dead Redemption, Manhunt 2, LA Noire and Max Payne 3. Benzies was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2014, alongside Rockstar founders Dan Houser and Sam Houser.

Via: Kotaku

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News::Amazon Prime gives you 20 percent discounts on new games

If you're a big video game fan with an Amazon account, there's a real chance that you have a few games on pre-order. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a break on those games without waiting for a special promo or (gasp) dealing with a traditional retailer? You can after today. Amazon has started a discount program that gives you 20 percent off of newly released (within 2 weeks) and upcoming games if you're a Prime subscriber. It's a bit like similar options at Best Buy and GameStop, but you're getting a bunch of extra services beyond gaming -- you can catch up on Mozart in the Jungle while you're waiting for Uncharted 4 to ship.

Source: Amazon (1), (2)

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News::'To the Moon' and back again: Making a sequel after indie success

Kan Gao's life changed remarkably in 2011. That's the year his studio, Freebird Games, released To the Moon, a tender role-playing game about two doctors who travel through a dying man's memories to grant him a final wish. To the Moon launched quietly, but it had a resounding impact on the gaming industry -- it won a nomination at the 2012 Independent Games Festival and picked up other awards, including the headlining spot on my own "Best of 2011" lineup. Last year, To the Moon even showed up on a list of Engadget readers' favorite video game soundtracks.

To the Moon's success has allowed Gao to focus on developing original games full-time. Still, it's taken five years to officially reveal his next project, a To the Moon sequel called Finding Paradise that's due to hit PC, Mac and Linux in late 2016 or early 2017.

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News::N64's 'GoldenEye 007' goes modern with Unreal Engine 4

Ah, yes. GoldenEye 007. One of the classic Nintendo 64 titles and a memorable first-person shooter is certainly a game that I spent a lot of time with. Now we have a glimpse of what the game could look like if it was made with the tools available to developers today. YouTube user Jude Wilson recreated a portion of the Facility Map using Unreal Engine 4, offering a bit of nostalgia for those of us who are familiar with the title. Wilson isn't the first to do this, as Mario and Sonic have already been given the UE4 treatment. It's an interesting take, but don't take our word for it, go through the level yourself via the video down below.

Via: Cinema Blend

Source: Jude Wilson (YouTube)

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News::The original 'Psychonauts' comes to PS4 this spring

Slowly but surely, Double Fine Productions is re-releasing its greatest hits on the PlayStation 4. In addition to Grim Fandango, Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, the developer has announced plans to bring Psychonauts to Sony's latest system. Unlike Double Fine's point-and-click adventure games though, it won't be getting the full remaster treatment -- instead, it'll just be a straight port of the PC, Xbox and PS2 classic. The original wasn't a massive success, but its mixture of solid platforming and timeless Tim Schafer humour won it plenty of praise from the press in 2005.

Source: PlayStation Blog

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News::'Homefront: The Revolution' coming to the US on May 17th

After switching studios twice, Homefront: The Revolution will finally be released in North America on PC, Xbox One and Playstation 4 on May 17th, while Europe and other regions will get it on May 20th. If you're interested in an earlier look, a beta will arrive exclusively to consoles in February. The futuristic guerrilla shooter is the sequel to the original Homefront, and has the same Red Dawn-style premise of a foreign power (North Korea, of course) occupying the US. Unlike the original, however, the action takes place in an open world, namely dystopian Philadelphia in the year 2030.

Via: Polygon

Source: Deep Silver

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News::Nintendo bundles 'Pokémon Red' and 'Blue' in new 3DS pack

Happy birthday, Pikachu! And Bulbasaur, and Charmander, and Squirtle, and Growlithe, and ... about 700 other adorable creatures. February 27th is Pokémon Day, and this year Nintendo is celebrating the franchise's 20th anniversary with the release of a special 3DS bundle. It includes Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue pre-installed, plus two cover plates with artwork from the original games and a download code for an exclusive Home Menu theme. Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow will be available to download in the 3DS eShop on February 27th, as well.

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