Ahead of the game's official launch early next month, Heroes of the Storm has entered open beta, meaning anyone can now freely download and play Blizzard's take on the increasingly popular MOBA genre.
As announced last month, Heroes of the Storm will enter a two-week open beta following the lengthy closed alpha/beta testing process that began early last year. Previously, you had to receive an invite from Blizzard or purchase a Founder's Pack, a $40 package that included a beta invite and some in-game content.
Following this open beta, the game will drop its "beta" tag on June 2, though that won't mark the end of development--Blizzard intends to continue adding new characters and maps and refining gameplay.
Blizzard describes Heroes as a "fresh take" on the MOBA genre. Although its core is similar to that of games like League of Legends and Dota 2, it's a more welcoming experience for newcomers, dropping item management and offering shared experience across teams. It also speeds up the overall gameplay, letting players ride around on mounts. Matches typically take no more than 15-20 minutes.
Heroes recently got some mainstream attention when part of a tournament was broadcast on ESPN 2. This was criticized by both some ESPN viewers and at least one ESPN employee.
To encourage people to preorder the upcoming PS4 version of God of War III, which you can now do ahead of the game's release in July, Sony is offering some bonuses, including free streaming rentals of the earlier games in the series.
Anyone who preorders God of War III Remastered will receive the Fall of Olympus dynamic theme alongside the game at launch. If you're in North America, a preorder will net you that theme on May 26 alongside 90-day PlayStation Now rentals of God of War and God of War II.
Although it's not specified in the PlayStation Blog post announcement, the only versions of those games available for rental through Sony's streaming service are the PS3 HD remastered releases. 90-day rentals of those games ordinarily cost $10 each.
Given the story of God of War III is a continuation of the first two games, it makes sense to have played them first--and these rentals seem like a decent way to do so, provided your Internet connection is capable of adequately streaming them.
Beyond that, this is an interesting new style of preorder bonus that Sony is uniquely equipped to offer, at least on consoles.
God of War III Remastered was announced back in March. It will release on July 14 for $40 and runs in 1080p at 60 frames per second. It also features a photo mode where you can control the camera and add various effects, allowing you to make the moody Kratos look even more brooding than usual, as in the screenshot above.
Thanks to its gamer-first stance on topics like DRM and DLC, Polish developer CD Projekt Red is often seen as one of the most well-liked studios in the business. So it's no real surprise, then, that studio included a special thank-you note in boxed copies of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but it's still nice to see.
Imgur user ChestPaddles unwrapped their copy of The Witcher 3 to find the note below. In it, CD Projekt Red thanks fans for their support, also reminding them that they can expect 16 free DLC packs.
The first two--the Beard & Hairstyle Set and the Termerian Armor Set--are available today, while the remaining add-ons will be released on a weekly basis.
In addition to the free content, CD Projekt Red will release two paid expansions for the game, the first of which--Hearts of Stone--is due out in October.
Today's the day. After weeks of video broadcasts showing off the new content coming to Destiny through the House of Wolves expansion, the add-on has finally arrived. It's available now across all platforms, introducing more multiplayer maps and modes, along with more weapons and gear to collect.
House of Wolves is Destiny's second major expansion, following December's The Dark Below. Now that House of Wolves has launched, The Dark Below's multiplayer maps have become available in the Crucible for everyone--even people who don't buy House of Wolves.
In a statement, Bungie COO Pete Parsons points out that House of Wolves represents the seventeenth Destiny update that's been released in the eight months since the game launched in September 2014.
New weapons, armor, and gear, including Legendary and Exotic items
Level increase to light level 34
New story missions and quests
New social space called The Reef
New Strike called The Shadow Thief
Four new competitive multiplayer maps: Black Shield, Thieves' Den, Widow's Court, and Timekeeper. This map is exclusive to PlayStation platforms through (at least) fall 2015.
Update: In lieu of a proper NHL 16 release on Xbox 360 and PS3, EA will offer something called NHL: Legacy Edition that sounds as if it will primarily serve as a way to play with updated rosters and schedules. "Legacy Edition brings together the most popular modes and award-winning gameplay features from nine years of NHL hockey," explains EA's website. "Featuring updated rosters and authentic schedules, it's the perfect experience for fans looking to get that complete hockey fix on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3."
Original Story: EA Sports has officially unveiled the current-gen-only NHL 16, as well as its various features and game modes, many of which should please fans who were unhappy with omissions in NHL 15.
In a blog post, EA Sports GM Dean Richards talked about turning to fans and asking them to be involved with the creation of this year's game. "We spent more time listening and working with them this year than ever before," he said. "Their most requested features and modes are in NHL 16 and include new experiences that make NHL bigger and better."
NHL 15
No video or screenshots from the game have been released yet, but its website offers some details on these promised additions, such as the inclusion of 6-versus-6 Online Team Play and online couch co-op play support, as well as enhanced EA Sports Hockey League, Be a GM, and Be a Pro modes.
EA Sports Hockey League is said to have been "reimagined," offering the chance to pick from "specialized player classes." Be a GM adds in new wrinkles to deal with, such as player personalities, trade demands, and relationships between players. Be a Pro, meanwhile, allows you to simulate the game in between your shifts, lets you move from playing in the CHL to the NHL (another key NHL 15 omission), and upgrades your attributes based on the way you play.
Elsewhere, improvements are being made to skating and puck pickups, a new training tool will help players improve their skills, and the presentation is being improved across the board. That comes in the form of more authentic arenas (with team-specific celebrations, chants, mascots, and so on), commentary with "more emotion" from Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, and Ray Ferraro, and playoff beards. NHL 16 promises to have "accurate representations of beard patterns, length, thickness" and, creepily enough, "growth rates."
We'll likely be learning more as we approach E3 next month, but in the meantime, EA has set up a new section of its website where fans can submit questions that will be answered by the game's development team.
A specific release date for NHL 16 has not yet been announced; we only know it's coming in September exclusively to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." - Kevin VanOrd [Full review]
IGN -- 9.3/10
"Though the straightforward and fetch-quest-heavy main story overstays its welcome, the option of joyfully adventuring through a rich, expansive open world was always there for me when I'd start to burn out. Even if the plot isn't terribly interesting, the many characters who play a part in it are, and along with the excellent combat and RPG gameplay, they elevate The Witcher 3 to a plane few other RPGs inhabit." - Vince Ingenito [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.75/10
"The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt encompasses what I hope is the future of RPGs. It stands out for its wonderful writing, variety of quests and things to do in the world, and how your choices have impact in interesting ways. Usually something is sacrificed when creating a world this ambitious, but everything felt right on cue. I still think about some of my choices and how intriguing they turned out--for better or worse." - Kimberley Wallace [Full review]
Kotaku -- "Should You Play This Game? Yes"
"Wild Hunt is a grand adventure that feels distinctly of its time. It manages to set new standards for video game technology while accentuating the fleeting nature of technological achievement as an end unto itself. It is a worthy exploration of friendship and family, mixing scenes of great sorrow with scenes of ridiculous lustiness, tempering its melancholy with bright splashes of joy and merry monster guts. Come for the epic showdown between good and evil; stay for the unicorn sex." - Kirk Hamilton [Full review]
Despite Microsoft removing Kinect from some Xbox One bundles, the company remains committed to the camera technology, according to executive Phil Spencer. He says in a new interview that Microsoft has no plans to abandon Kinect, explaining that it remains a "great part" of the overall Xbox ecosystem.
"It's not abandoned," Spencer told Edge (via Gamesradar).
Spencer pointed out that Microsoft just recently updated its Upload Studio movie-making app with virtual green screen support. He went to pledge even further investment in Kinect going forward.
"We'll continue to build functionality to make it a valuable part of the ecosystem," he explained.
As for why Microsoft decided to offer an Xbox One bundle without Kinect, he said it came down to Microsoft wanting to be more price- and option-conscious.
"Price point's really important for the console--we saw that over the holidays in the UK and US, where we did well when we dropped the price, which was great," Spencer said. "And I want to make sure consumers have choice on how much they value the functionality of Kinect when they buy a console. If you want to go buy a Kinect console [bundle], then they're still available. I think it's a great part of the ecosystem. And if you want just a console, and either add Kinect later, or Kinect's simply not something you're interested in, we give you that choice as well."
Kinect-free Xbox One bundles currently start at $350, compared to $500 for systems with the camera packed in. When the Xbox One was originally released in November 2013, gamers had only one option: a $500 Xbox One package that included a Kinect camera.
While the rival PlayStation 4 may still be the top-selling new-generation console, it appears Microsoft's pricing moves and various bundles have helped boost sales. In April, the Xbox One outsold the PS4 in the United States.
Looking to the future, Spencer said Microsoft's internal teams are continuing to experiment with new ways to use Kinect as a means to improve the overall Xbox experience. But don't expect to see a gesture-controlled Halo or Call of Duty game anytime soon, he said.
"There are genres where Kinect works really well, but if you're playing Halo or Call Of Duty, there's not really a scenario that says, 'Hey, I need a Kinect,'" Spencer stated.
Finally, Spencer teased that "there are still announcements to come" regarding new Kinect experiences, though he didn't share any more details. Microsoft's E3 2015 briefing is slated for Monday, June 15, starting at 9:30 AM PDT.
Sony Pictures on Tuesday released a new trailer for Adam Sandler's video game movie, Pixels, and it's just as over-the-top as the first one.
The movie sees a variety of iconic gaming characters, including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, attacking earth after misinterpreting arcade games as a declaration of war against them. It stars Sandler, Kevin James, Peter Dinklage, and Josh Gad as "Arcaders" tasked with saving the world.
Pixels, based on a popular short film, was previously expected to hit theaters in May, but is now due on July 24. Harry Potter and Home Alone's Chris Columbus is directing the movie.
Capcom has released a new Street Fighter V gameplay trailer, showing off the latest iteration of series villain M. Bison.
Fans of the series may notice a number of key changes to M. Bison in the video. From a visual design perspective, he now has grey hair, suggesting the character has aged significantly.
Street Fighter's Dictator also isn't sporting his usual flowing cape (similar to his Street Fighter IV iteration), and now has a slick new trench coat. Beyond his look, M. Bison also seems to have gained a few new abilities.
The first shown is a Psycho Power-imbued shockwave type attack that launches his opponent, Charlie, into the air. This is followed up with a grab and, interestingly, an ability that allows him to nullify incoming projectiles and fire them back.
His teleport returns but, in the video, seemingly has much less recovery time, allowing M. Bison to chain them quite close together. Enemies in the air can be caught with a Psycho Orb-like ability.
Although Capcom hasn't detailed the game's mechanics, it looks like Bison's activate puts him in a powered up state that gives him access to a bunch of new moves, including a teleport headstomp, and a knee-press with follow-up bicycle kicks.
Naturally, his ultra move is a new variation of the Psycho Crusher.
Street Fighter V was announced in December and is in development exclusively for PlayStation 4 and PC. Capcom has confirmed it will feature cross-platform play between both systems.
Recently, Capcom announced that it plans to run a public beta test that it claims will be the "largest and most ambitious online beta program in franchise history." A date for when it will begin hasn't been shared, but we do know you can guarantee yourself access by preordering the game.
The package is priced at $44.99 and, according to the product description, is a "limited time offer."
In GameSpot's Wolfenstein: The New Order review we said the game's "combat intensity and variety have granted the Wolfenstein series a breath of fresh air, whilst still managing to hit the nostalgic highs."
"[The New Order] is both a celebration of the Wolfenstein series and what feels like a fitting send-off for it. The New Order could be the last hurrah of William "BJ" Blazkowicz, an outing which, for all its excess and bombast, is far from mindless."
The Old Blood is a prequel that takes place in an alternate history 1964 prior to the events of The New Order. B.J. Blazkowicz and Richard Wesley are tasked with infiltrating Castle Wolfenstein and finding the location of General Wilhelm Strasse, also known as Deathshead.
Bethesda also recently released a teaser for its rebooted Doom, which indicated that we'll get to see more of the game at E3, likely also during its press conference.
The "Selfie Scavenger Hunt" is now underway. To participate, you'll need to find the location shown in an image featured on the contest page every week, take an in-game selfie of your character matching the picture, and then submit it to Blizzard.
What's in it for you?
Every week through June, Blizzard will choose participants at random to win Blizzard gear such as branded messenger bags and art books, as well as Battle.net codes and even an iPhone 6. The grand prize, however, is a trip for two to BlizzCon 2015 in November. This winner win also be randomly selected.
When Forza Horizon 2 was released last year, Microsoft offered four cars as a pre-order bonus to entice people to reserve their copy of the racing game. Now, those cars are available for everyone to buy.
Microsoft on Tuesday released the $4 Forza Horizon 2 Pre-Order Car Pack on Xbox One.
The four cars included with the Forza Horizon 2 Pre-Order Car Pack are listed below. For a closer look at them, check out the images in the gallery at the bottom of this post.
You may not have known this but the old lady hanging around in the background of Mortal Kombat X's Outworld Marketplace arena is called Blanche.
Blanche, who was probably only at the Outworld Marketplace on her weekly fruit run, has the unfortunate luck of having to witness gruesome one-on-one battles between all manner of terrifying combatants.
However, thanks to the latest Mortal Kombat X update, dear old Blanche can now get in on the action and throw down with some of Outworld's finest.
Once a player uses at least two stage interactables, picking up Blanche and throwing her at the opponent while holding the down button will result in the new Brutality.
During this Brutality Blanche, who is usually a sweet old lady that enjoys toffee flavoured hard candy (not cannon), embraces her inner monster and mounts the victim to deliver a series of devastating punches to the face.
Watch the video above to see it happen and, remember folks, respect the elderly.
In other Mortal Kombat X news, series co-creator and NetherRealm Studios creative director Ed Boon revealed a "number of additional costumes" are coming to the game, including a Brazil-themed pack.
Mortal Kombat X had a record-breaking launch when it released in April, reaching the top of NPD's chart for physical sales for the month.
GameSpot's Mortal Kombat X review praised NetherRealm's latest entry for its solid fighting mechanics and the challenges offered, but criticized for its monetization model.
Nintendo's competitive gaming World Championships event, which has been dormant for 25 years, will return this year at E3. Anyone can take part in the qualifying rounds, and now we know the eight Best Buy stores across the United States that will host these preliminary tournaments.
Qualifying events will be held May 30 at the Best Buy stores listed below from 10 AM to 7 PM local time. Registration begins at 9 AM local time, while each tournament will be capped at 750 contestants.
Competitors won't need to bring their 3DS or copy of Ultimate NES Remix, however, as Best Buy will have games and systems on-hand at each local tournament.
The person with the top score from each of the eight regional qualifiers will advance to the Nintendo World Championships in Los Angeles. There, they will go head-to-head in a multi-round competition featuring "a variety of Nintendo games," though these were not named outright.
Joining the eight regional winners at the final event will be an additional eight players chosen by Nintendo. The company says it will reveal these players in the near future.
Paradox Interactive has released the first major update for Cities: Skylines, the popular PC city-builder developed by Colossal Order, and it's available for free.
The update includes three new European-themed maps, over 50 European style buildings for these maps, and wall-to-wall buildings enabled for the buildings.
Tunnels, a much-requested feature from the community, have also been added, along with a number of new Asset Editor features, including the ability to import custom vehicles.
This is on top of "a multitude of smaller cosmetic additions" and bug fixes. The full patch notes are available to read here.
Brand manager Jakob Munthe also explained Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order's strategy for content updates going forward, saying it would continue to deliver free updates.
"Cities: Skylines will continue to follow the traditions set by other recent Paradox releases such as Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IVof paid expansions combined with large updates of free content ensuring that all players, whether they choose to purchase the expansions or not, will have plenty of new features to look forward to," said Munthe.
"One of the major differences, however, between those titles and Cities: Skylines will be that minor DLC updates will be uncommon. The majority of content updates will be significant upgrades and additions."
Continuing, Munthe said the game's creators will give away main features for free and improve modding tools, while selling bigger expansions that introduce new mechanics.
GameSpot's Cities: Skylines review was written by real-life mayor Brett Todd, who said "there is no better way to take a peek at life as a mayor without filing your papers to run for office in the real world."
Battlefield developer DICE's upcoming shooter Star Wars: Battlefront is aiming to run at 60fps across all versions. This was confirmed when the game was announced last month. But anything you've heard so far about the game's resolution is only a rumor, Electronic Arts now says.
"No one said anything about resolution," an Electronic Arts community manager said on Reddit in response to a fan who mentioned 720p and 900p in a post. "If you have heard anything otherwise, it's a rumor. We have only confirmed the game will run at 60fps."
Battlefront is in development for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. The game is not coming to last-generation consoles, while there has been no mention of a release for Wii U.
EA has kept busy answering questions about Battlefront on Reddit. Below are some of the company's other responses to hot topics. Battlefront launches November 17 across all platforms.
PC Requirements:
"With the Frostbite engine and the inclusion of full PBR, the game isn't just like Battlefield Hardline or Battlefield 4. Once the team has the game into its Beta phase, they can start testing the game on 100s if not thousands of PC systems and find the minimum spec required to run the game. It might end up being the same as Battlefield Hardline or even Battlefield 4. But until those tests can take place, we can't commit to specs / details. Being a fairly hardcore PC gamer, I want to know the specs as well. But... my PC is powerful, so not worried. But I know you guys are and want to get you that info as soon as we can." [Source]
"It's 12 multiplayer maps total and even more locations among the planets for Star Wars Battlefront Missions. We have not confirmed the precise count per planet. The maps will offer a nice mix of locations and environments. Stay tuned as we reveal new maps, modes, etc. in the months ahead." [Source]
"Fairly sure we never said 'three maps per planet.' I know we said 12 multiplayer maps with even more if you include Missions." [Source]
Indie developer Dean Edwards has announced his new game, and it's definitely different.
As he's been teasing on Twitter, Iron Fish is described as a "psychological deep sea thriller" where players must traverse the trenches of the ocean floor "where humans no longer have the upper hand."
You play as Cerys, a deep sea investigator for the British Navy. Leveraging their resources, Cerys uses state-of-the-art equipment to descend to the depths of the ocean, seven miles down, to an unexplored world full of danger and intrigue.
"Come face to face with creatures that have never seen the light and day, question what is science or myth, and solve the unanswered questions of Cerys's past," reads a line from the game's official description courtesy of marketer Beefjack, which serves as the title's co-developer and marketer.
The locations you'll explore are varied, including colorful coral reefs and dark, scary-sounding chasms. There you'll meet all manner of deep sea monsters and must use your flares, sonar, and other equipment to survive.
Iron Fish is in development using Unreal Engine 4, the latest iteration of Epic Games' popular game engine. It's due to launch later this year on PC, though a specific release date has not been announced.
"Horror games are easier to make when it's all: 'You're against something so nasty that, ooh, we don't even need to explain why it's okay to shoot it in the face,'" producer Lottie Bevan said. "Think Resident Evil's mutants, Wolfenstein's Nazis, or all the weird psychosexual stuff in Alien. But but I've never played a horror game that actually asked you to respect the things trying to kill you. Cerys doesn't even have a gun. It's a design challenge, but that's awesome.
"It's not like we give you a bazooka at the end and ask you to set everything on fire. For one, good luck doing that under 11,000 metres of water, but for another, it's much more interesting asking you to marvel at things beyond human conception which could--and probably are trying to--squash you like a bug. That's fun, right?"
Iron Fish is Edwards' first game. Working on the project alongside Edwards and Bevan is game director Shaun Leach (Sega, TT Games, PlayStation); lead programmer Peter Gartside (Psygnosis, Intelligent Games, Climax Brighton, FIFA); and art consultant Jack Oakman (APB: Reloaded).
For a closer look at Iron Fish, check out some screenshots in the gallery below.
Dormant for a decade, the PC strategy series Cossacks is making a comeback.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Game World on Tuesday announced that it's been working, in secret, for the past year-and-a-half on Cossacks 3. The game is described as a modern remake of the 2001 original.
Cossacks 3 is the first entry in the series since 2005's Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars. It promises "modern graphics" and realistic physics for bullets and cannonballs, along with five single-player campaigns and 12 playable nations.
GSC Game World also promises "grandiose" battles that support up to 10,000 units. As for the setting, Cossacks 3 takes place in Europe during the 17-18th centuries.
Cossacks 3 is scheduled to launch in the October-December quarter of this year for PC, Mac, and Linux.
Reported to be closed in 2011, GSC Game World announced late last year that the studio was back in business. Despite a dispute, GSC Game World claims that it still owns the rights to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, though no new games in the franchise have been announced.
The Borderlands franchise has now sold-in, i.e. shipped, nearly 25 million units. 2K Games parent publisher Take-Two Interactive announced the milestone as part of its latest earnings report.
Take-Two did not provide a game-by-game sales breakdown. However, the company said it shipped more than 8 million Borderlands games in its fiscal 2015.
In January 2015, Gearbox officially announced the next game in the Borderlands series, which studio president Randy Pitchford described as "the big one." Take-Two later clarified that this game is being developed "specifically for next-gen."
Gearbox hasn't said whether the new Borderlands game is Borderlands 3, but given the fact that Pitchford has called it the "big one," it seems likely. No release date, or even a projection of a release date, has been announced for the game yet.
Adult-oriented entertainment will not be prohibited from appearing on the Oculus Rift, according to Palmer Luckey, founder of the Facebook-owned VR company.
Variety reports Luckey appeared at the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Conference on Monday and responded to a question about Oculus' stance on the adult entertainment industry's potential adoption of VR devices such as the Rift.
"The Rift is an open platform," he responded. "We don't control what software can run on it ... and that's a big deal."
Luckey's contemporaries were less direct about adult content on VR devices, with Samsung's Nick DiCarlo reportedly shifting the focus on the traction the Gear VR has achieved and noting that the device will be available in major Best Buy stores by the end of the summer.
DiCarlo added that Samsung was planning to bring content from major media outlets to the Gear VR through its Milk VR content delivery service.
Clay Bavor, VP of product management at Google Cardboard, meanwhile, said his company's initiative to provide VR experiences through inexpensive means could help Samsung and Oculus by serving as an easy entry point.
"Cardboard is a good introduction," he said, before Sixense CEO Amir Rubin agreed, calling Google's device an "icebreaker."
Rubin went on to say that, of the 16,000 developers his company is working with, less than 20 percent are building traditonal games. Instead, many are using VR as an educational tool or for health applications.
Rubin added that affordable hardware will be key in driving the adoption of VR as a whole: "You will have hundreds of millions of VR-enabled phones in consumers' hands in the next two to three years."
The Oculus Rift consumer model launches in the first quarter of 2016, which places it as arriving before April. Although pricing has not been announced, Oculus has said fans can expect "more news" about the device in the lead-up to E3 2015.
Gamers eager to learn more about Borderlands creator Gearbox Software's new IP Battleborn, a console and PC shooter that features MOBA elements, don't have much longer to wait. Parent publisher Take-Two Interactive has announced it will share more information about the game in the lead-up to E3, followed by a significant showing at the event itself next month.
"Next month, Battleborn will be at E3 in a big way and we will have more news to share about the title prior to the show," Take-Two president Karl Slatoff said during the company's recent earnings call.
Slatoff also teased that Battleborn will feature an "accelerated character growth system," which will allow players to "fully experience" each of the game's unique heroes in single-player or multiplayer.
Battleborn, which is in development for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, was announced last summer. It is scheduled to launch during Take-Two's fiscal 2016, meaning it should arrive before April 2016.
Gearbox previously described Battleborn as the "most ambitious" game the studio has ever made. The Texas-based developer is perhaps best known for the Borderlands series, but it also created the Brothers in Arms franchise and has worked on various entries in the Halo, Half-Life, and Duke Nukem series.
For a closer look at Battleborn, check out some images in the gallery below.
The full list of discounted games and add-ons this week is listed below. All deals are good through May 25 and an Xbox Live Gold subscription is required to access these discounts.
Nintendo chief executive Satoru Iwata has said the company's strategy in the mobile games market is to "receive a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers."
Speaking with investors during a financial results briefing, Iwata said the company would not be able to achieve success in the market by being an imitator.
"I think many of you here already understand that while it was simple for many to earn revenue in the beginning just from creating a smart device application, the situation has been rapidly changing and now, with intense competition, generating revenue on smart devices is no longer easy," he explained. "I don't think we can realize what we aspire to by simply imitating a past success formula."
Nintendo is resistant to simply mixing current mobile game monetisation strategies with its intellectual properties and, instead, is aiming to "produce long-lasting results" over strategies that may provide short-term revenue.
Iwata also said that Nintendo would not use methods that have been proven to work in Japan, because it aspires to capture a worldwide audience.
"My understanding of how to succeed in the Japanese market now is to find a limited number of generous consumers who are willing to spend a lot and analyze what encourages them to spend," said Iwata.
"However, if we did that, I don't think that we would be able to entertain hundreds of millions of consumers all around the world or to produce large and long-lasting achievements."
Although Nintendo hasn't yet figured out exactly how to do it, the company is working on how it can pitch its mobile games to get a "small and wide" range of consumers, but also reach the performance levels of the narrow and large titles.
"The basis of our strategy will be how we can receive a small amount of money from a wide range of consumers. However, as people in general recognize that the narrow-and-large method has been outperforming the others, we are investigating where to change in order to surpass existing hurdles.
"We have had various discussions internally, I have challenged the developers with this issue and they have had many active discussions on the topic," he said. "We already have some specific ideas and will announce them in due course.
Footage of an earlier Doom 4 project has appeared online, offering a rare glimpse at what developer id Software was working on before rebooting the series for the upcoming Doom.
The video, which was posted on Doom World, shows a mixture of in-engine footage and parts of cinematics that was created by Blur Studio, the award-winning production company that has previously worked on Halo , Elder Scrolls Online, Batman: Arkham Knight, and more.
It seems the game was conceived as more military shooter with a hint of demon invasion but, ultimately, it didn't make the cut.
Doom 4 was first announced through a press release in May 2008, but officially scrapped in 2011, with Bethesda confirming it had been rebooted. According to vice president of marketing Pete Hines, id Software was really pushing itself for the game.
"I think what the guys at id are working on is…they're pushing the boundaries and challenging themselves. I don't want anybody to look at id's next project and have this reaction that it's still stuck in the '90s," he said.
"It wasn't one thing," he said. "It wasn't like the art was bad, or the programming was bad. Every game has a soul. Every game has a spirit. When you played Rage, you got the spirit. And [Doom 4] did not have the spirit, it did not have the soul, it didn't have a personality. It had a bit of schizophrenia, a little bit of an identity crisis. It didn't have the passion and soul of what an id game is."
"Everyone knows the feeling of Doom, but it's very hard to articulate," Willits added.
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3. Sweepstakes Period. The Sweepstakes begins on May 19, 2015 at 12:00 AM PT and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on May 25, 2015 (the "Sweepstakes Period").
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5. Prize (the "Prize"). The Sweepstakes will award one (1) Prize that consists of One (1) Xbox One and a copy of the video game, "The Witcher 3." The Prize has an approximate retail value of Five Hundred Dollars (US$500.00).
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23. Winner List/Official Rules. For the name of the Winner send a self-addressed stamped envelope for receipt by 6/15/2015 to "Winner's list, The Witcher 3 Giveaway" c/o CBS Interactive Inc., 1401 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. For Official Rules send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the above address marked "Official Rules: The Witcher 3 Giveaway" for receipt by 6/15/2015 (residents of VT may omit postage) The full name of the Winner may be posted and the Official Rules will be posted on GameSpot at: http://www.gamespot.com/witcher3giveaway/
The way Geralt uses Signs in The Witcher series has changed significantly from one game to the next, as have the skill trees assigned to each Sign. To help guide you towards a combat style that works for you, I have compiled footage of each Sign at each upgrade tier, so you have an idea of how Geralt's magical abilities behave from one level to the next. Don't forget: to use these Signs beyond their default effects, you not only need to spend skill points on them, but you must also slot them into the ability grid on the right of your Character screen. Slotting a mutagen of the same color in the same quadrant will then make that mutagen, and the Signs slotted into that quadrant, more effective. Happy hunting!
Aard
A directed blast of telekenetic energy that staggers opponents, leaving them open again for a subsequent attack.
Aard is helpful in a number of situations, though most useful when surrounded by a pack of creatures like nekkers, drowners, or wolves. You can also blast a flying enemy like a harpy out of the air with a well-timed Aard burst.
Level 2: Far-Reaching Aard
Tier 1: Increases Aard's range by 1 yard. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Aard's range by 2 yards. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Aard's range by 3 yards. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 3: Aard Sweep
Tier 1: Alternate Sign mode: Aard strikes all opponents in a certain radius. Knock-down chance is 21% lower. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Alternate Sign mode: Aard strikes all opponents in a certain radius. Knock-down chance is 17% lower. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Alternate Sign mode: Aard strikes all opponents in a certain radius. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 4: Aard Intensity
Tier 1: Increases Aard Sign intensity by 5%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Aard Sign intensity by 10%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Aard Sign intensity by 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases Aard Sign intensity by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases Aard Sign intensity by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 5: Shock Wave
Tier 1: Aard now deals 40 damage. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 80. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 120. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 160. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases the damage dealt by Aard to 200. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Yrden
Magic trap that slows enemies who enter its area of effect. Effect duration: 13 seconds.
Yrden is vital when facing certain ghostly foes, such as noonwraiths, because it turns them corporeal (and thus makes them prone to damage) when they enter the trap's area of influence. Its slowing capabilities also help when crowd control is a concern.
Level 2: Sustained Glyphs
Tier 1: Increases Sign duration by 5 seconds. Number of alternative mode charges: 2. Number of standard mode traps: 1. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Sign duration by 10 seconds. Number of alternative mode charges: 4. Number of standard mode traps: 2. Stamina regeneration in combat: 1 per second.
Level 3: Magic Trap
Tier 1: Alternate Sign mode: Damages and slows all enemies within a 10 yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Alternate sign mode: Damages and slows all enemies within a 12 yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area. Damage increased by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Alternate sign mode: Damages and slows all enemies within a 14 yard radius. Destroys projectiles passing through this area. Damage increased by 50%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 4: Yrden Intensity
Tier 1: Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 5%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 10%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases Yrden Sign intensity by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 5: Supercharged Glyphs
Tier 1: Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 10 points of vitality or essence per second. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 20 points of vitality or essence per second. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 30 points of vitality or essence per second. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 40 points of vitality or essence per second. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Enemies under the influence of Yrden lose 50 points of vitality or essence per second. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Quen
Protective shield that lasts until it has absorbed damage totaling 5% of maximum vitality.
Quen should be your first line of defense when facing bosses and other grand beasts, many of which can slash away a good portion of your vitality with a single blow.
Level 2: Exploding Shield
Tier 1: Quen shield pushes opponents back when it breaks. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Quen shield pushes opponents back and deals damage when it breaks. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per seconds.
Tier 3: Quen shield pushes opponents back and deals damage when it breaks, with a chance for knock-down. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 3: Active Shield
Tier 1: Alternate Sign mode: Creates an active shield. Maintaining it and blocking attacks drains stamina. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player vitality. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Alternate Sign mode: Maintaining an active shield now drains 50% less stamina. Stamina drain for blocked attacks unchanged. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player vitality. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Alternate Sign mode: Maintaining an active shield no longer drains stamina. Stamina drain for blocked attacks unchanged. Damage absorbed by the shield restores player vitality. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 4: Quen Intensity
Tier 1: Increases Quen Sign intensity by 5%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Quen Sign intensity by 10%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Quen Sign intensity by 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases Quen Sign intensity by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases Quen Sign intensity by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 5: Quen Discharge
Tier 1: Reflects 5% of absorbed damage back to the attacker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Reflects 10% of absorbed damage back to the attacker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Reflects 15% of absorbed damage back to the attacker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Reflects 20% of absorbed damage back to the attacker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Reflects 25% of absorbed damage back to the attacker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Axii
Charms an opponent's mind, temporarily eliminating him from combat. Effect duration: 7 seconds.
Axii's uses transcend combat. Not only does it allow you to stun bandits and turn them against each other, but it makes available certain conversation options when Geralt engages with other characters.
Level 2: Delusion
Tier 1: Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Also increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues. Stamina regeneration in combat:+0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Also increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues. Reduces Axii casting time. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Target does not move towards Geralt while he is casting Axii. Also increases the effectiveness of Axii in dialogues. Reduces Axii casting time. Failed Axii attempts stagger the target. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 3: Puppet
Tier 1: Alternate Sign mode: Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 20% more damage. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Alternate Sign mode: Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 40% more damage. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Alternate Sign mode: Targeted enemy briefly becomes an ally and deals 60% more damage. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 4: Axii Intensity
Tier 1: Increases Axii Sign intensity by 5%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Axii Sign intensity by 10%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Axii Sign intensity by 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases Axii Sign intensity by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases Axii Sign intensity by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 5: Domination
Tier 1: Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time. The effect is 50% weaker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time. The effect is 25% weaker. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Two opponents can be influenced by Axii at the same time. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Igni
A directed fiery blast that damages enemies. Damage scales with Sign intensity. Current damage: 128.
It's fire. (Igni needs little explanation.) Its secondary mode is great fun, admittedly: rather than producing a single flash of fire, it maintains a stream of flames.
Level 2: Melt Armor
Tier 1: Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 30%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 45%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 60%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Damage dealt by Igni also permanently weakens enemy armor. Effect scales with Sign intensity up to maximum of 75%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 3: Firestream
Tier 1: Alternate Sign mode: Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Alternate Sign mode: Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies. Stamina cost is reduced by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Alternate Sign mode: Emits a continuous stream of fire that damages enemies. Stamina cost is reduced by 50%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Level 4: Igni Intensity
Tier 1: Increases Igni Sign intensity by 5%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases Igni Sign intensity by 10%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases Igni Sign intensity by 15%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases Igni Sign intensity by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases Igni Sign intensity by 25%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Level 5: Pyromaniac
Tier 1: Increases the chance to apply burning by 20%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +0.5 per second.
Tier 2: Increases the chance to apply burning by 40%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1 per second.
Tier 3: Increases the chance to apply burning by 60%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +1.5 per second.
Tier 4: Increases the chance to apply burning by 80%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2 per second.
Tier 5: Increases the chance to apply burning by 100%. Stamina regeneration in combat: +2.5 per second.
Highly anticipated open-world role-playing game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now at GameStop stores in the United States as the retailer has broken street date. We called a local GameStop store to verify, and they confirmed, "You can come pick up the game right now."
[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, a Take-Two representative issued the following statement to GameSpot about Strauss Zelnick's comments today.
"Strauss misspoke during today's call, as over a year ago Rockstar Games had said that they were exploring story mode content for Grand Theft Auto V; however, no further information has been released since. As always, we leave it to Rockstar Games to share information about their games when they're ready."
The original story is below.
Grand Theft Auto V's story mode DLC has been called into question. During a Take-Two earnings call this afternoon, an analyst asked CEO Strauss Zelnick if the game's previously announced story mode add-on content was still on the way. His response probably isn't what fans want to hear.
Below is a transcript of the back-and-forth that transpired.
Analyst: "When you had originally launched GTA V, I believe that you had said that there was going to be some story-based DLC content shipping eventually. And obviously we're [now] over a year past the game's launch. Is that still something that you have planned? I'm sure you're not going to talk about timing, but is that something that's still in the pipeline for you guys?"
Zelnick: "No, we haven't discussed any story-based downloadable content. We did talk about the Heists and they've been released."
Analyst: "But I am correct in remembering that you had talked about that around the launch of the game?"
ZelnicK: "Uhh, we have different recollections."
So what's going on here? It's hard to say for sure. As recently as April 2014, Rockstar specifically mentioned "Story Mode DLC" for GTA V in a post on the Rockstar Newswire, the developer's official news channel. You can see the quote below, with emphasis added.
"Later this year, look for even more additions to both Grand Theft Auto Online and Grand Theft Auto V, including more holiday-themed updates, some very exciting Story Mode DLC and much more."
Rockstar has never formally announced this content, however. The company has said only that players can expect DLC that extends "Michael, Franklin, and Trevor's action, mayhem, and unexpected adventures in Southern San Andreas."
Again, this is something of a strange situation. It's possible Zelnick misspoke. Whatever the case, we've followed up with Rockstar, asking for more details. We'll update this post with anything we hear back.
Predecessor Grand Theft Auto IV welcomed two post-release expansions: The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
One thing is for sure: GTA V is a runaway success. As announced earlier today, GTA V has now shipped nearly 52 million copies across all platforms. Zelnick also said during the call today that Rockstar will continue to support GTA Online with additional content. This is no surprise, as revenue from the multiplayer mode's microtransactions was cited as being a key driver of Take-Two's digitally delivered revenue for the past year.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, for the second straight year, will not attend E3. Last year, he missed the show due to illness, but this year he's staying in Japan to focus on Nintendo's "other areas of business." A Nintendo representative confirmed the news to GameSpot in a statement today, also adding that Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto and other Nintendo developers will be in attendance at the event.
"Nintendo's focus for E3 this year will be showcasing the many games we have coming for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS," the Nintendo representative said. "Mr. Miyamoto and other members of our development team will be in Los Angeles to explain these games and the unique experiences that each offers."
"Mr. Iwata's focus in this period will be on other areas of our business that require his presence in Japan. While he remains in Japan, Mr. Miyamoto and our developers will lead the effort at E3 focusing on our games. Mr. Iwata will be in constant contact with the team in Los Angeles and will be monitoring the reaction to our product offerings from our partners at the show and by consumers publicly."
Some of Nintendo's "other areas of business" might include the company's upcoming entrance into the smartphone and theme park markets.
Nintendo's E3 2015 briefing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, starting at 9 AM PDT. This is Nintendo's normal time slot. But unlike Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo's briefing is a digital event.
Left 4 Dead developer Turtle Rock Studios' 4v1 monster-hunting game Evolve has shipped around 2.5 million copies since its release across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC back in February.
20 percent of all Evolve sales were digital, parent publisher Take-Two Interactive said during an earnings call this afternoon. CEO Strauss Zelnick also pointed out that demand for the game's extensive DLC offerings has been strong.
What's more, Zelnick explained that--based on the success of Evolve--the game has become a "key long-term franchise for 2K."
Also during the earnings call, Take-Two president Karl Slatoff said Turtle Rock will continue to support Evolve throughout the year with new characters, modes, and more.
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