News::'DOTA 2' VR spectator mode may be as exciting as playing the game

The next time you want to follow an eSports tourney, you might find yourself strapping on a virtual reality headset. Valve just teased a VR spectator mode for DOTA 2 (scroll down to the video above "you're not starting from scratch") that gives you more information than you're used to seeing during a MOBA match. The actual game is front and center, but look around and you'll see details of each team's heroes, a visually rich map and nice-to-know stats.

Via: Robert McGregor (Twitter)

Source: Steam

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News::'Zelda' turns 30 and gets a browser-based tribute game

While we all endure the endless wait for a new Zelda game to grace the Wii U in its last days, the original quest that put Link (and Ganon) on the map is getting a new lease on life. The fan-made project, a voxel-based tribute to The Legend of Zelda that debuted on the NES 30 years ago, takes the 8-bit classic and reimagines it as a playable 2.5D, browser-based game. Yes, you can play it on your laptop or mobile phone. It's a tribute, albeit unfinished, to "the greatest console game of all time" from programmers Scott Lininger and Mike Magee. And, knowing Nintendo, it's the kind of thing we imagine won't survive on the internet for long. So on this day of VR buzz, why not switch tracks for a bit and indulge in video gaming's past.

Via: The Verge

Source: Zelda 30 tribute

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News::'Quantum Break' looks relentlessly surreal

I've never taken as many screenshots of an Xbox One game as I have Quantum Break. When I wasn't preoccupied with slowing down the flow of time to outrun enemies who wanted to murder me or to stop a 60-foot tall section of scaffolding from squashing me like a grape, I was tweaking the in-game camera to frame the scenes of chaos around me. The aesthetic Developer Remedy Entertainment used for its latestis captivating, blending elements of surrealist art, cinema and even lo-fi photography into a look that's unlike anything I've seen before.

It's too bad that the game lacks a proper photo mode, because as the narrative progresses and the space-time continuum starts destroying itself, Quantum Break ratchets the surreal factor to the extreme.

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News::Make your own creature feature in Fallout 4's 'Wasteland Workshop'

Fallout 4's second DLC pack, "Wasteland Workshop", is scheduled for release next Tuesday, April 12th. Today, however, Bethesda dropped this wicked cool preview of what's in store for players. Wasteland Workshop will enable you to further upgrade your homebase with more elaborate decor like Nixie lights, letter kits and a taxidermy station but that's beside the point. The new DLC is primarily focused on a wholly new gameplay mechanicism: the ability to capture and tame beasts from across the Wasteland.

Source: Bethesda (YouTube)

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News::'The Last of Us' and 'Uncharted' movies could be in trouble

The Last of Us and the Uncharted series are known for their cinematic feel and spectacular set pieces, so it's not surprising that Hollywood wants to adapt them for the big screen. If you're sold on the idea of a live-action search for El Dorado, or a painstaking journey across a Clicker-infested America, we've got some bad news however. In an interview with IGN, Neil Druckmann, creative director at Naughty Dog, hinted that both projects are in trouble. Regarding a movie version of The Last of Us, he said:

Source: IGN

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News::'Eve: Valkyrie' is coming to the HTC Vive this year

With the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive now available for consumers, the virtual reality wars have officially begun. But depending on your headset choice, the content options will vary. So if you had your heart set on playing CCP Games' multiplayer dogfighting space shooter Eve:Valkyrie, but worried it'd be tied to the Rift, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The Icelandic studio announced on Twitter today that the VR title will be heading to the Vive in 2016. Beyond that very vague release window, we don't have much more in the way of specifics. So while you wait patiently for your chance to take part in CCP's epic space battle, why not check out the plethora of content just waiting for you on Vive's launch day.

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News::HTC starts shipping its Vive virtual reality headset

Oculus may have gotten a little head start by shipping its Rift virtual reality headset almost two weeks ago, but HTC's VR gadget is heading to customers today. The HTC Vive is heading out to folks who pre-ordered the $799 device that arrives with two location sensors and a pair of wireless controllers. The company confirmed reports of payment processing issues a few days ago, promising to send out shipments based on position in the pre-order queue. Of course, Oculus is facing shipping delays of its own due to "unexpected component shortage."

Source: HTC Vive (Twitter)

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News::PS4 Remote Play comes to your computer on April 6th

At last, PS4 Remote Play is coming to your computer. Sony has confirmed that the console's big 3.50 system update is arriving on April 6th with the game streaming feature intact, giving you a chance to play console titles from your PC or Mac. You can't play beyond 720p (albeit at 60 frames per second if you like), and you'll need to connect your DualShock 4 controller over USB, but this could still be a big relief if you can't wait to play on your TV. And don't worry if you have no interest in Remote Play -- there's much more on tap.

Source: PlayStation Blog

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News::HTC Vive review: Truly immersive VR comes at a cost

The virtual reality wars have officially begun. Last week the consumer version of the Oculus Rift finally started shipping, and now HTC's $800 Vive headset is ready to roll. It's a collaboration between HTC and Valve, and it's also a showcase for Valve's SteamVR platform. In particular, the two companies are aiming for a more immersive VR experience: The Vive comes with motion controllers, and you can turn an entire room into a VR play field. More so than the Rift, the Vive shows us that interacting with virtual environments naturally is a key part of immersion. But unfortunately, you'll have to deal with additional discomfort and a higher cost to achieve that.

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News::The line between sports and eSports continues to blur

The division between the activities you do outside with balls and those indoors with mice is narrowing by the day. Not content with invading the realm of traditional broadcasting, eSports is now getting its very own daily recap show that'll mirror the format of ESPN's SportsCenter. Machinima is launching Inside eSports, which will air seven days a week and show off news and analysis from the world of electronic gaming. Unlike ESPN's offering, Inside eSports will be an online-only affair, which will broadcast on Go90, Verizon's nascent video network. It'll begin broadcasting in May, although you won't see many commercials and advertising for it until June -- presumably to give producers time to iron out any kinks.

Via: The Video Ink

Source: Variety

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News::Microsoft wants you to hack together a 'Halo 5' app

Sure, you've been making multiplayer levels with Halo 5: Guardians' Forge mode, but now Microsoft wants you to create something different for the game. Like a web app or something along those lines for the stats coming from its online gametypes. Last year near Halo 5's launch developer 343 Industries released an API in beta, and now it's added access to "raw match events endpoint" data that the studio says will offer a wealth of info on each kill from any match. That's including, but not limited to, Gamertag of the rival, weapon used in the kill, where it was in terms of the game's play clock and map coordinates for where it went down.

Source: Halo Waypoint

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