Monthly Archives: September 2013

Train2Game News: Sony Virtual Reality Headset

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PS4 VR HeadsetStrong speculation has risen that Sony plans to enter the virtual reality gaming space in a big way with PlayStation 4.

Multiple sources have indicated that Sony’s VR headset will work similarly to Oculus’. Internally, the device has been demonstrated with Evolution Studios’ PS4 racer DriveClub, with players able to look around the cockpit of a car.

The Liverpool studio, Evolution Studios, is home to the Worldwide Studios Stereoscopic 3D team, which has worked on 3D game development since 2008. The team, and 3D chief Mick Hocking, have been relatively quiet since PlayStation’s ill-fated 3D push in 2011.

Amid the growing popularity of the Oculus Rift VR headset among the development community and a small number of gamers it will be interesting to see how this Sony headset will stand up.

Sony’s VR headset was set to appear in some form at German show Gamescom last week, but was pulled. It is now expect it to be unveiled next year.

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida declined to comment when asked about VR in an interview with Eurogamer at Gamescom. “We don’t talk about that,” was all he’d say. This week Sony Computer Entertainment Europe declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer.

This is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Train2Game News: New Borderlands 2 DLC

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borderlands 22K and Gearbox Software announced the release of new Borderlands 2 downloadable content on all platforms worldwide.

One new head and skin set for each playable character, as well as Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2: Digistruct Peak Challenge, offer a fistful of reasons for fans to continue the shooting and looting mayhem on Pandora.

“After the close of the Season Pass, we promised fans they could expect more great content for Borderlands 2,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “Gearbox has been hard at work to provide additional top-shelf offerings for the title, and both our casual and hardcore fans alike will appreciate what’s laid on the table with this wave of exciting new downloadable content.”

The Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 2: Digistruct Peak Challenge offers 11 levels of powerful character growth, more legendary gear, and the new “Raid on Digistruct Peak” map, giving players a high-level challenge for only $4.99. When combined with the first Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack – also available separately for $4.99, or as part of the Season Pass for $29.99 – players can now take their Vault Hunters to an all-time high level of 72 and collect even more rare and valuable loot. Level 72 players will also unlock the opportunity to over-level the game as they quest for even more powerful enemies and loot in Pandora. For fans who want some vanity with a dose of insanity, one new head and skin set will be available for each Vault Hunter for $0.99 each, making all six of the playable Borderlands 2 characters more customizable than ever before.

“Fan support for the first Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack and the many individual character customization sets continues to be an important part of the overall success of Borderlands 2,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “With the game’s one-year anniversary on the horizon, 2K and Gearbox remain dedicated to supporting the Borderlands franchise, and will continue offering fans more of the DLC they want this holiday season and beyond.”

After a year of madness in the lands of Pandora, 2K and Gearbox are still continuing to expand the Borderlands 2 universe to bigger and greater things.

Train2Game News: Xbox One Launch Date

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Xbox OneThe Microsoft Xbox One will launch in 13 markets, including the US and UK, on November 22 of this year.

The date puts Microsoft behind its rival, the PlayStation 4, in the US, but a week ahead of it in the UK. Sony has set a US launch date of November 15 and a UK launch date of November 29.

“We’re now in a position to share that Xbox One will be available on November 22, 2013 in all 13 of our initial launch markets – Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and USA. Many more markets will follow in 2014,” confirmed Yusuf Mehdi, vice president of marketing, strategy and business.

“We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere. We sold out of our pre-order supply faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever. We look forward to celebrating with millions and millions of gamers this holiday.

“November 22 is a special day in Xbox history – on this day, we first launched Xbox 360 in 2005. Our next chapter begins in 79 days, when Xbox One becomes available. We built Xbox One to bring you the best games, unrivalled multiplayer and more entertainment than ever before. It’s nearly time to say ‘Xbox On’ and open a new world of games and entertainment.”

Microsoft has not confirmed its pre-order numbers but Mehdi added that limited number of additional Xbox One Day One consoles would be made available today. If you want an Xbox One on release day, act fast!

Train2Game News: Hero of Shaolin

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Hero of ShaolinHero of Shaolin, an interactive movie style game for Android mobile phones, is now available worldwide on the Google Play Store and was developed by Bitmash Labs.

In the game, the player controls the movie’s main character, Tuta Shen, in a fast-paced, live-action, kung fu match. A player’s accuracy and reaction times dynamically determine the outcome of the movie. Faithful to the chop-sockey genre, the game includes mild profanity and realistic depictions of violence.

Hero of Shaolin is the first Android game based on live-action, martial arts cinema footage. During a match, the game plays a fight scene video. The player must press buttons in sync with the kung fu moves Tuta Shen performs in the movie. Otherwise, the movie transitions to one of several “You Lose” cutscenes.

Theatrical sound effects, retro kung fu music and synchronized haptic feedback add dimension to the overall chop-sockey experience. The game’s melodramatic, English-dubbed dialogues pay tongue-in-cheek homage to the kung fu films of the 1970s.

“Traditional action movies force viewers into an entirely passive role. They exclude viewers from participating in the action or being a real stakeholder in the outcome. The idea behind Hero of Shaolin is to provide the ability to step inside the movie and experience the action first-hand.” said Eric Egalite, the game’s developer.

Hero of Shaolin is now available for free download on the Google Play Store.

Please visit http://www.heroofshaolin.com for additional information about the game.

Train2Game News: Sony wants your suggestions

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SONY_logoFollowing the success of Borderlands 2 coming to the PS Vita just because enough people wanted it to happen, Sony has announced they want to do it more often.

Head of 2K, developers of Borderlands 2, Randy Pitchford, announced his want to bring Borderlands 2 to the PS Vita but this seemed nothing more than just a pipe dream as Randy himself admitted that his studio couldn’t do it.

After this announcement talks began in Sony to make this happen. Sony spoke to Iron Galaxy, developers of Divekick and hashed out a deal to get the game ported to the hand held console with Sony publishing it.

According to Sony’s Director of Third Party Production, Gio Corsi, “The Third Party Relations team at PlayStation is well-known for developing solid relationships across this industry, and this new group will work closely with our publishing partners to bring their beloved IPs to new places… We already have a project underway, the recently announced PS Vita version of Borderlands 2.”

Corsi added “I will share more with you as our adventures continue and new games are made available,” he writes. “In the meantime, let me know in the [PS Blog] comments what you want to see on PlayStation (PS3, PS4, PS Vita). Or contact me on Twitter through the ingenious and mesmerizing handle of @giocorsi”

So if there is a game you want to see ported now is a perfect time for your voice to be heard! I would personally love the full version of Shining Force 3 ported to PS Vita!

Train2Game News: UK Top 20 Games – 02.09.13

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Saints Row IVSaints row IV hasn’t been knocked off the top spot for another week with the highest new entry being Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn which comes in at number three, just behind Splinter Cell: Blacklist. The other new entries this week are Rayman Legends at number six and Madden NFL twenty five at number seven.

All formats

Week ending 31 August 2013

POS.  TITLE  PUBLISHER  LAST
WEEK 
1 – SAINTS ROW IV DEEP SILVER 1
2 – TOM CLANCY’S SPLINTER CELL: BLACKLIST UBISOFT 2
3 FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN SQUARE ENIX –
4 DISNEY INFINITY DISNEY INFINITY 3
5 MINECRAFT: XBOX 360 EDITION MICROSOFT 4
6 RAYMAN LEGENDS UBISOFT –
7 MADDEN NFL 25 EA SPORTS –
8 CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II ACTIVISION 5
9 PAYDAY 2 505 GAMES 18
10 FIFA 13 EA SPORTS 6
11 ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF NINTENDO 7
12 LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 8
13 THE LAST OF US SONY COMPUTER ENT. 9
14 MAX PAYNE 3 ROCKSTAR 12
15 LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE 13
16 TOMB RAIDER SQUARE ENIX 15
17 SKYLANDERS GIANTS SKYLANDERS 16
18 ASSASSIN’S CREED III XBOX 360 CLASSICS 11
19 GRAND THEFT AUTO IV XBOX 360 CLASSICS 17
20 NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED EA GAMES –
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