Tag Archives: Video games

Harmonix resurrects ‘Rock Band’ for Xbox One & PS4–get all the details here

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Eight years after releasing the original Rock Band, developer Harmonix is readying the fourth iteration in the musical video game franchise. Rock Band 4 is coming to current-gen consoles only, namely Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Right off the bat, here are answers to questions you probably want to know immediately. The Rock Band Music Store will be accessible in the new title; this will allow gamers to download and play over 2,000 tracks when the game launches. Of course, those tracks are in addition to new tracks that will ship on the title’s disc. Due to licensing restrictions, songs featured on Rock Band 3 and The Beatles Rock Band will not be carried over to the Music Store. What about previously purchased songs you might have downloaded for Rock Band, RB2, and RB3? The developer claims all your DLC will transfer from PS3 to PS4 and from Xbox 360 to Xbox One; purchases are tied to your console maker, so if you purchased songs on PS3 and want to play them on Xbox One, that unfortunately won’t be possible.

And what about those plastic peripherals probably collecting dust in your basements and garages? Harmonix is working closely with Microsoft and Sony to make your old-gen guitars and drum kits compatible with RB4. Keyboards, however, will no longer be supported. But of course, the dev is collaborating with accessory maker Mad Catz again to ship updated instruments with the game.

Besides all this, we really don’t know much about the game yet. In a behind-the-scenes clip, the team at Harmonix shares their excitement about creating a brand new Rock Band that will go back to the franchise’s roots in terms of gameplay; and at the same time, it will introduce new ways to play. “There is some evolution of the way that you play that’s in this game that really wouldn’t have been possible if we made the game a couple years ago,” teases company CEO Steve Janiak. Harmonix, whose self-publishing this passion project, says fans of the franchise should not expect a Rock Band 5 any time soon. They envision RB4 to serve as a platform that can exist for the entire length of a console generation; instead of saturating the market with new $60 titles every year, they will continually evolve gameplay with software updates and keep things fresh, of course, with new DLC tracks. Music to my ears!

You can sign up for preorder notifications today. Jump after the break to eyeball the familiar-looking instruments, and rock on!

Bonus! Check out this 15-year-old girl shredding on her custom-made Vigier Excalibur playing “Through the Fire and the Flames” and let all the good Rock Band memories come flooding back. Continue reading Harmonix resurrects ‘Rock Band’ for Xbox One & PS4–get all the details here →

Nintendo deems the New 3DS XL ready for US gamers

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At last, the house that built Mario is spreading the (portable) love. After releasing the New Nintendo 3DS XL in Japan in October of last year, Ninty is launching the updated dual-screen portable game machine here in the States next month. The latest version of the 3DS boasts a slew of enhancements; most exciting is the inclusion of not one or two but three new control input mechanisms. The C stick (that small round nub located above the ABXY buttons) allows for intuitive camera control in games that decide to support it. And new ZL and ZR buttons positioned behind and below the top screen add even more functionality for gameplay. Nintendo has also modernized the 3D display; new face-tracking technology makes for a more stable and immersive experience. Elsewhere, an NFC chip is packed inside and with an upcoming software update you’ll be able to push your amiibo collection to Super Smash Bros. 3DS. Last, the camera has been improved and a beefier CPU will have you noticing faster game start-ups and load times.

The New Nintendo 3DS XL hits the shelves February 13 in black and red paint jobs for $199.99. Watch a video reveal after the jump. (Also coming out that day is the 3D remake of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask–score!) [Note: Ninty is only releasing the New XL in the States; the New (regular-sized) 3DS remains an overseas exclusive, for now.]

[Via Nintendo 1, 2] Continue reading Nintendo deems the New 3DS XL ready for US gamers →

PlayStation Now game streaming service now offers subscription program

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Sony’s game streaming service PlayStation Now has been available in beta for months, allowing PS4 gamers to stream last-generation PS3 games on their shiny new consoles. As of today, PS Now is officially released in earnest and comes with more ways to play. In beta, gamers could only stream games a la carte, and pricing depended on the title and how long you rented the game for. Today, the service supports a subscription model; PS4 owners can cough up $19.99 for one month or $44.99 for three months of back-catalog gameplay. PS Now currently provdes “instant and unlimited access to a catalog of more than 100 PS3 games” with more on the way. This new model is launching exclusively on the PS4 first, and Sony promises it will reach other PS Now enabled devices in the future. Want a taste? The company’s offering a free seven-day trial to the subscription program; get it here or fire up your console. Click here to scan a list of all the currently available PS3 titles streaming today, and jump after the break for video.

[Via PlayStation Blog] Continue reading PlayStation Now game streaming service now offers subscription program →

Sony celebrates 20 years of PlayStation with a retro-designed limited edition console

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This December 3 marked the 20th anniversary of PlayStation. It was on that day in 1994 when Sony released the original PlayStation in Japan forever changing the gaming landscape and evolving the industry into what it has become today: a place to play and discover and wow with incredible, life-like graphics and intuitive mechanics.

To celebrate 20 years of PlayStation, Sony is manufacturing a special, limited edition PS4 with a design that harkens back to the aforementioned OG PlayStation. The bundle is packed with a 20th Anniversary Edition PS4, DualShock 4 wireless controller, PlayStation Camera, and a vertical stand all coated in the same Original Grey finish as the PS1. You’ll also spot the original PS logo across the new hardware, as well as a cool 20/X/Square/Triangle pattern design scheme embossed all over the console and the controller’s touch pad. And when Sony says “limited,” they mean it: only 12,300 of these bad boys will be made (that number matches the PS1’s release date–neat, huh?). Consoles will be specially marked with their number (as in x/12,300). Want one? Today (12/6) the company put it up for preorder on its online store and to nobody’s surprise it sold out in minutes. This is not to say Sony won’t release another batch, but eBay will likely end up being your best bet in the future.

Already own a PS4 and still want to get in on the celebration? Sony’s got you covered: fire up your console, download the latest firmware update, and you’ll be privy to a free PS1 retro theme that takes over your home screen with a predominantly grey color scheme with floating colorful O’s, X’s, Squares, and Triangles. It also features a familiar boot-up sound! Preview the theme here.

Elsewhere in PS Land, Sony is holding its inaugural PlayStation Experience this weekend in Las Vegas. Some cool announcements worth mentioning follow, in brief. Remember when Microsoft offered those customizable console faceplates for its Xbox 360? Well, Sony is following in their footsteps with new faceplates to spruce up the PS4 for those so inclined. “Project Skylight Beta” is currently offering two faceplates at $24.99 apiece featuring designs inspired by the games The Order: 1886 and LittleBigPlanet 3 with more on the way. Removing the console’s current faceplate and snapping in a new one is, well, a snap; Sony demonstrates the painless process here.

Also at PSX, the company held a keynote for fans brimming with upcoming titles for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita. Engadget‘s done a nice job of collecting trailers for the announced games. Ones that popped out for me include this new look at Hello Games’ trippy exploration adventure No Man’s Sky, this first look at Capcom’s fifth major installment in the Street Fighter franchise, and this 15-minute preview of stunning in-game footage from Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Oh, and speaking of games, EA is handing out three free (I’ll reiterate: free) games at this very moment. PS4 owners can download the addictive animated shooter Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, PS3 users can nab the uniquely first person Mirror’s Edge, and handheld Vita gamers are awarded Need for Speed: Most Wanted. You’ll want to hop on this fast–these awesome deals expire tonight at midnight PST/3am EST.

Jump after the break to continue the anniversary celebration with unboxing videos and a special clip featuring Sackboy and the rest of the LittleBigPlanet universe embodying the past 20 years of PlayStation. Continue reading Sony celebrates 20 years of PlayStation with a retro-designed limited edition console →

Sony pushes out Share Play for PS4, a new way to experience games without a disc

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Believe it or not, Sony’s PlayStation 4 has been on the market for one year now. To celebrate its one year anniversary, the console maker has released the first major software update for PS4, namely version 2.0. With it comes theming, a more organized games and app library, new voice commands, and the ability to share game session recordings directly to YouTube, just to name a few functionality and aesthetic updates. But there’s one new addition I’m here to spew about because it’s something that may very well change the game (pun!) forever.

It’s called Share Play, and it’s something Sony teased at Gamescom this year. Essentially it works like a “virtual couch;” two players in a party (with PS Plus subscriptions, of course) can play a game as if they were in the same room. A real-life example helps explain: Let’s say you have a copy of Destiny and you’re stuck at a certain level. With Share Play, you can invite a friend to join your party and actually share your gameplay session with them, across the Internet in real time. Your friend, then, can take over the controls of your character and take a crack at getting you past the hard part. Additionally, if the game supports local multiplayer (let’s say NBA 2K15), your friend can join your session and complete against you. The magic here: your friend does not have to own the game you are playing. That’s right–you are hosting an “online local co-op experience,” Sony calls it, where you can share your screen with a spectator, hand over your gameplay session to a friend, and invite a friend to join a multiplayer session. If you thought the inclusion of Twitch and UStream was an effective tool of the future for the console market, Share Play takes things to a whole ‘nother level.

Now, there are a couple stipulations. As mentioned earlier, you and your friend your sharing your session with must be Plus subscribers; additionally, Sony says Share Play sessions can last “for up to one hour at a time.” Not exactly sure what this means; will the session time out after the hour has passed? If you’ve got a PS4 you can test it out for yourself today; software update v2.0 is out now. See how Share Play works in the video above.

Hideo Kojima & Guillermo del Toro are working on a new ‘Silent Hill’ game starring Norman Reedus (Plus: my impressions)

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Take a moment to let that sink in. Good. Now, once more with feeling:

Renowned video game developer and creator of the Metal Gear franchise Hideo Kojima and film director/producer Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, TV’s The Strain) are teaming up to create the next installment in the Silent Hill franchise with The Walking Dead‘s Norman Reedus as the game’s protagonist.

During Sony’s press event at Gamescon on Tuesday, a mysterious new horror game dubbed “P.T.” from unknown developer 7780s Studio was teased on-screen. Sony advised interested gamers to access a playable demo on PS4 via PSN to learn more. Soon enough, an excitable, British gamer chick who goes by the name of SoapyWarpig uploaded a live stream of her completing the demo via Twitch. I highly recommend you watch the final minutes of her gameplay; her colorful commentary is so incredibly enjoyable.

After completing the nightmarish demo (see my impressions below), the names Hideo Kojima, Guillermo del Toro, and Norman Reedus flash on the screen as you briefly visit a dark and gloomy street and are introduced to Reedus’ character. And then the black words Silent Hills splash on a bright white screen as Akira Yamaoka’s classic, chilling Silent Hill theme plays. In amazing Kojima style, gamers were duped into thinking this was some random horror game from some unknown studio. Silent Hills is in fact a Kojima Productions title; 7780s Studio was completely fabricated! Oh, and “P.T.” stands for “Playable Teaser,” that first of its kind boasts Sony. Other details surrounding the now-highly anticipated game, including release date and console support, are still being kept under wraps for now.

I played “P.T.” in its entirety and yes, it scared the living shit out of me. For my impressions skip after the break. Continue reading Hideo Kojima & Guillermo del Toro are working on a new ‘Silent Hill’ game starring Norman Reedus (Plus: my impressions) →

Xbox and PlayStation at Gamescom 2014

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Gamescom is a video games trade show–like E3, except for the that fact that it takes place in Europe (in Cologne, Germany to be precise) and it attracts a much, much larger crowd of attendees including members of the press and game developers. And just like they did at Los Angeles’ E3 in June, console makers Microsoft and Sony held press events revealing new titles, providing updates on previously announced ones, and showing off new system features. For the latest on the games, I recommend you visit Joystiq. This post will mostly focus on software updates coming to the Xbox One and PS4, as well as new hardware options revealed. For the full scoop, jump after the break. Continue reading Xbox and PlayStation at Gamescom 2014 →

The Big Three are all about the games at E3 2014

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The 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo came and went this week and The Big Three–Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo–were all about games, games, and games. The Xbox maker’s show was literally a lineup of upcoming titles for Xbox One. Sony managed to squeeze some hardware and PSN news into theirs but like MSFT they mainly showcased games for PS4. And Nintendo did what they do best: stand out from the pack with a highly entertaining (not live) “digital event” featuring a fun lineup of games starring their famous mascots.

Jump after the break for the full rundown of games unveiled by The Big Three at this year’s E3. Continue reading The Big Three are all about the games at E3 2014 →

Microsoft announces ‘Halo 5: Guardians’ for Xbox One

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On Friday Microsoft announced the next game in the Halo franchise and it’s called Halo 5: Guardians. Despite the subtitle (read: ODST, Reach) and the introduction of a new hero in the game artwork (see above), Guardians is in fact a direct followup to Halo 4 and it is “the next installment in the legendary saga of the Master Chief.” Guardians, from Halo 4 developers 343 Industries, is coming exclusively to Xbox One running at “60 frames per second, on dedicated servers, with the scope, features and scale [Microsoft has] been dreaming of for more than a decade.” The Xbox maker said the following in a press statement regarding the highly anticipated title:

“Halo 5: Guardians” is a bigger effort than “Halo 4.”  That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine.  Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we’ve invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen.

For more on Guardians, pop over to Halo Waypoint where you’ll find a blog post written by 343 Industries Franchise Development Director Frank O’Connor and a piece of concept art from the game. Obviously there’s a lot more where this came from and you can expect Microsoft to push next Halo at E3 next month. Rewatch the “Halo on Xbox One” teaser here, for now.

Guardians is slated to release in fall 2015 and in that same year Microsoft will launch the Steven Spielberg produced live-action Halo TV series. It’s being billed as “a series that will stand alone, as well as complement and enrich the game experience.”

[Via Xbox Wire]

Xbox One update brings social improvements, Twitch live broadcasting

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I told you it was coming and now it’s here: part 2 of Xbox One’s first major system update has arrived. As promised, the update provides improvements to the multiplayer and party systems. You can get to your friends list faster now that the Friends app shows you the list right off the bat when you open it up; to get to the activity feed simply swipe to the right. Also, party chat is turned on by default now so when you invite friends into a party you can get the conversation started immediately. The Friends app has also been updated to feature the missing “recent players” list. Another significant addition to the XB1 is live broadcasting. When the Twitch app gets updated this week, gamers will be able to say “Xbox, broadcast” to stream their gameplay live to other platforms. Twitch also allows you to watch stream from other Xbox One gamers as well as other platforms like PS4 and PCs. Though live broadcasting gameplay was a major feature that shipped with PS4 at its launch, Microsoft may have the upper hand now since their console extends the ability to share and view beyond their own system.

Just like the first update, this new one will automatically download while your console is “Instant On” enabled; if it isn’t you’ll be prompted to download and install it the next time you turn it on. Interestingly, and quite annoyingly, Microsoft is also issuing a firmware update for its Xbox One wireless controllers. Connect your pad to the system via micro-USB and hit start, go to settings, system, update controller. The update open the controller to accepting the Xbox One stereo headset adapter as well as support for 1st and 3rd party headsets.

Click after the break to view the full list of updates packed inside the latest Xbox One update. You’ll also spot a brief video tour of the new update, as well as a first look at Twitch live broadcasting. The Twitch app update enabling this anticipated new XB1 feature goes live this Tuesday, March 11 to coincide with the launch of the even more anticipated XB1 exclusive title Titanfall.

[Via Xbox 1, 2] Continue reading Xbox One update brings social improvements, Twitch live broadcasting →

Compare ‘Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes’ graphics on next and last-gen consoles

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Hideo Kojima’s next installment in the Metal Gear franchise arrives next month, so Kojima Productions is giving gamers a closer look at the new title that’s coming to next-gen consoles (namely Xbox One and PS4) as well as their predecessors (Xbox 360 and PS3). The video embedded above shows how Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes will look on all four consoles. Graphics are stunning on the next-gen platforms, of course, but this clip is absolute proof that last-gen hardware still has much life left in it. Take a look for yourself.

Note: The Xbox One version of the game runs at 720p while the PS4’s runs at 1080p; they both, however, run at 60 frames-per-second. As for last-gen hardware, the game runs at 720p and 30fps on both. View screenshot comparisons here.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes releases on all aforementioned platforms March 18.

Xbox One receives its first major update with another one on the way

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If you flipped on your Xbox One over the weekend then you were privy to the console very first significant update. Though the majority of new improvements are under-the-hood (namely stability and bug fixes), users will notice a few changes in appearance and functionality. A tiny yet welcome addition to the home screen is a battery indicator letting you know how much juice is left in your controller; if you don’t see it simply tap the Xbox button on your pad and it’ll reveal itself. Additionally, the My games & apps section has been updated and organized separating installed games and apps into respective folders. You can now “manage” games and apps; you can view how much space they take up and delete them from you console if you so choose. Also, users can see exactly how much space they have remaining on their HDDs. A download queue is also located inside the My games & apps section; you can pick the order in which you want your content to load from there. Lastly, the One now works with any USB keyboard–browsing with Internet Explorer just got a lot easier. Jump after the break for the full update breakdown.

The update rolled out to Xbox One owners over the weekend. If you have the “Instant On” feature enabled then your console will automatically download the update while it’s in sleep mode. If you turned that feature off then you’ll be prompted to download and install the update the next time you boot up.

Microsoft says this is phase one of a two part update coming to Xbox One. The next update will roll out in March and it promises improvements to the multiplayer and party systems. Stick it here to find out when it drops.

[Via Microsoft 1, 2] Continue reading Xbox One receives its first major update with another one on the way →