News::Here's your first (unofficial) look at 'Pokemon' on smartphones

You no longer have to guess what Pokémon Go will look like when it finally reaches smartphones. An attendee at a Pokémon Company SXSW panel recorded footage of the mobile game in action, and it's definitely not just a 3DS game writ large. You'll see Pokémon on a map of your surroundings; tap them and you'll zoom into an augmented reality view that plunks the critter into the real world. The clip doesn't show fighting, alas, but it does show staples like different capture balls (up to the surefire Master Ball) and a mysterious Crystals button that might refer to an in-game currency. As for a release date, prices and other details? Those will have to wait, unfortunately, but at least you have a sense of what you're in for.

Via: Phandroid, The Verge

Source: Eric F (YouTube)

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News::I lost a weekend playing 'Miitomo,' Nintendo's first smartphone game

So here it is: Miitomo is Nintendo's first smartphone app. It's a social interaction game that's... kind of existed before. Tomodachi Life was a surreal 3DS title populated by your own avatar, as well as StreetPass users, friends and any other Miis you made. It's not a conventional game: You don't move around a world collecting things or defeating things. This time, though, Nintendo is opening up this weird, wonderful universe of conversations, customizable clothing and interactions to anyone with a smartphone. There's no Mario, mushrooms or ink-spitting guns (yet), but the app is already number two in the App Store and it's rocketing up Google Play's charts as well. It launched last week in Japan, where I live, so this is how I spent the weekend. Welcome to the time (and battery) sucking word of Miitomo.

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News::'Halo 5' gets cooperative Firefight game mode this summer

Apart from the odd silly weekend playlist, Halo 5 doesn't really cater for your more casual gaming moods. You've got Arena matches for classic competition, and Warzone games when you're up for grand-scale carnage. A more chilled (or not) cooperative mode is coming, though, in the form of Warzone Firefight. It'll pit you and chums against increasingly overwhelming waves of alien enemies, similar to cooperative multiplayer modes you may have played in previous Halo titles. Over the weekend, Microsoft revealed a few more details about the new game type, as well as a trailer to get you nice and hype.

Source: Microsoft

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News::Dara O Briain to host gaming show 'Go 8 Bit' on Dave

British broadcasters have always struggled to create high quality TV shows about video games. Aside from Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe, few programmes have done the medium justice. Just look at the response to GTA docudrama The Gamechangers. Still, every so often a production company will take another crack at the idea. The latest attempt is Go 8 Bit, a game show presented by comedian Dara Ó Briain (who is also doing the Robot Wars reboot) and video game journalist Ellie Gibson. The first series will air on Dave this Autumn and consist of six 60-minute episodes.

Via: MCV

Source: UKTV

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News::'Forza Motorsport 6' gets eSports tourneys anyone can join

If you're the sort to regularly set lap records in Forza Motorsport 6, you're about to have your moment in the sun. Making good on its bet on eSports, Microsoft has announced two Forza-based eSports tournaments for late March that give any would-be Lewis Hamilton a chance at winning real prizes. The first, the Race Off Pro Series, will have you vying for Formula E glory starting on March 24th. If you place well enough in time trials and full-on races, you'll win a trip to London to compete in a championship with cash prizes.

Via: Xbox Wire

Source: Formula E, MLG

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