Wednesday, May 18, 2016

The latest News from GameSpot News On 05/19/2016

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In the 05/19/2016 edition:

Watch Suicide Squad's Margot Robbie Spoof American Psycho

By Eddie Makuch on May 19, 2016 12:05 am

Suicide Squad actress Margot Robbie has spoofed the character Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. In a video from Vogue, Robbie recreates the scene from the 2000 movie, but with a silly, Australian twist.

It's a pretty excellent take on the memorable American Psycho scene, faithfully capturing the spirit of the actual movie. But this time there is more placenta cream and Vegemite. Take a look:

The video was directed by Catfish directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost to promote a new issue of Vogue that features Robbie on the cover. For a comparison, check out American Psycho's "intro to Patrick Bateman" scene here on YouTube.

Robbie plays Harley Quinn in this August's Suicide Squad. She is also apparently going to reprise that role in an unannounced film that will feature a number of other female superheroes and villains.

She also plays Jane in this summer's The Legend of Tarzan alongside Alexander Skarsgård as Tarzan.


World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor Expansion Now Free With Base Game

By Mat Paget on May 19, 2016 12:00 am

World of Warcraft's first five expansions are now all included with the base game. The latest expansion, Warlords of Draenor, recently disappeared from the Battle.net store and a Blizzard customer support representative confirmed on Reddit that it's because the expansion is now free.

Warlords of Draenor saw a price change to $10 in April. Paying for the expansion got you a character boost to level 90. It's not completely clear if the boost is now included with the base game, as we're hearing conflicting reports. However, World of Warcraft's shop page on Battle.net does not mention the character boost. We've contacted Blizzard for clarification and will update this article as we learn more.

Warlords of Draenor released in 2014 and introduced higher quality visuals and animations. It also allowed players to construct bases that could house armories, workshops, and more. It received a score of 8 in GameSpot's review, which said, "Warlords of Draenor has revitalized World of Warcraft with a huge amount of new content and refinement of the basic gameplay. Unlike the debacle of the New Game Enhancement of Star Wars Galaxies, Blizzard has not taken away anything with the stat changes, but instead finally fixed the "stat inflation" that had built with each expansion."

The Draenor expansion becoming free is in part to get ready for World of Warcraft's next expansion, Legion. It releases August 30 and introduces the Demon Hunter class, raises the level cap to 110, and features new dungeons and raids. It also includes a character boost to level 100.

World of Warcraft costs $20 and comes with a month's subscription. After that, a month costs $15 but can be discounted if multiple months are bought at once.

If you want to get caught up, you can check out GameSpot's gallery titled, "A History of World of Warcraft So Far." It details everything that's happened from the base game's launch in 2004 leading up to the release of Legion.

There's also a Warcraft movie coming to theaters on June 10. It stars Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Toby Kebbell, and Robert Kazinsky. You can watch trailers that focus on some of the movie's characters through the links below.

Additionally, you can check out more of GameSpot's Warcraft-themed coverage at the following links.


Assassin's Creed Identity Comes to Android as New Big Update Released

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 10:19 pm

Big news today for Assassin's Creed Identity, as Ubisoft has launched the game on Android and released a big update. Identity was released for iOS devices in February; it costs $5 on both iOS and Android.

One thing to note about the Android version is that it requires the Jelly Bean 4.1 update or newer.

As for the update, it's called Forlì, and introduces a new campaign called A Crimson Sunset. Here is the official description for the update:

"Players can explore a map from Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed Brotherhood in two different settings, Dusk and Siege. Additionally, four brand-new story missions are included in the update as well as a completely new type of contract mission, Crow Hunt."

What's more, Ubisoft says the update improves Identity's daily challenges and adds more item packs and outfits. It also adds Weibo and Uplay support, which allows you to play across devices.

The Forlì update costs $2. Check out the video above to see it in action.

Identity, which soft-launched back in September 2014, is billed by Ubisoft as the first Assassin's Creed action-RPG for mobile devices (but not the first Assassin's Creed mobile game). You create and customize Assassin characters (classes include Berserker, Shadow Blade, Trickster, and Thief) and then send them to battle in Renaissance Italy, the setting of Assassin's Creed II.

You can control the Assassin characters either with virtual analogue sticks or tap-to-move instructions. Additionally, Identity supports gamepads.

Go to iTunes or Google Play to pick up Identity.

As for the mainline Assassin's Creed series, there won't be a new game this year. However, fans of the franchise can see the Michael Fassbender-staring Assassin's Creed movie in December.


How to Play Paragon Free on PS4 and PC Next Week

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 09:32 pm

Epic Games today announced a free beta weekend event for its upcoming MOBA Paragon. From May 26-30, anyone on PlayStation 4 and PC can jump in and play. The only catch is that you need to register by Wednesday, May 25, to secure a spot in the beta event. You can register right here on Paragon's website.

Epic has also put out a new trailer to promote the beta weekend; check it out:

Right now, Paragon is playable through a paid early access period. A free open beta is scheduled for this summer before the game's full release.

You can check out more Paragon heroes in action through the links below:


Square Enix Outlines E3 2016 Plans, Teases "Exciting Tomb Raider News"

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 09:14 pm

With E3 2016 just around the corner, Square Enix today announced some of its plans for the show and teased some "exciting Tomb Raider news."

In a blog post, Square Enix listed off some of the games that will be playable at its booth on the show floor. These include Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Hitman (the third episode), Just Cause 3 (the Land Mech Assault DLC), Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, and I Am Setsuna.

Also playable at Square Enix's E3 booth will be some of the crowdfunded games from the company's Square Enix Collective program, including The Turing Test and Black the Fall.

Additionally, Square Enix will again host a "Square Enix Presents" live show, during which it will make announcements, while developers will also appear on the broadcast to talk about their games.

No mention was made regarding if Square Enix will hold an official E3 briefing like it did last year.

Whatever the case, Square Enix still has more announcements to make about its E3 plans. A blog post to come in the future will include details on "other exciting demos" for Square Enix's booth, while the company also told fans to stay tuned for some "exciting Tomb Raider news." Also to come are "details on a few new games that our team has been hard at work on."

We'll report back with more information as it becomes available.

The next Active Time Report broadcast, which is expected to bring more news about Square Enix's long-awaited Final Fantasy XV, is also scheduled to take place during E3.

What are you hoping to see from Square Enix at E3 this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


EA Creative Chief Leaves After More than 30 Years

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 09:09 pm

[UPDATE] EA has confirmed that Hilleman has left the company. In a statement to GameSpot, EA called Hilleman a "pioneer," and wished him well for whatever comes next.

"Rich Hilleman is a pioneer--a creative mind whose work influenced many games at EA and beyond. We are thankful to Rich for his contribution over more than 30 years with the company, and we look forward to seeing what he pursues next," an EA representative told GameSpot.

The original story is below.

One of the most senior and veteran employees at Electronic Arts has left the company, according to a report from Polygon. Richard Hilleman, who was instrumental in designing the early Madden games and eventually became EA's chief creative director, has parted ways with the gaming giant, sources said.

EA has not responded to requests for comment at publication time.

Hilleman began his career at EA in 1983 as a support specialist, according to his LinkedIn page. He rose to the role of VP of production, and apparently left EA in 2002 before coming back in 2004. He was named chief creative director in 2008, a position he held until leaving EA earlier this month, two sources told Polygon.

Hilleman's LinkedIn page also mentions that his career at EA ended this month.

There is no word yet on why Hilleman left EA, what he plans to do next, or who will replace him. We'll report back with new details as they become available.

Hilleman made headlines recently for saying EA's games are "too hard to learn." He also defended Battlefield 4's rocky launch, saying the game got extra attention in part because "the more customers you have, the more noise becomes available."


New Final Fantasy 15 Trailer Shows Off Gorgeous Environments

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 09:03 pm

During the Final Fantasy XV Uncovered event in March, Square Enix premiered a "World of Wonder" trailer for the game that showed off its towns, cities, caves, buildings, and other environments. Now, that video has been published online and in full quality. Check it out below.

In other news about Final Fantasy XV, Square Enix has confirmed that it will produce more Collector's Edition copies of the game, though it cannot guarantee they will be available by launch.

Final Fantasy XV launches on September 30. A new playable demo was released in March; you can read more about how the two versions compare here and what Square Enix has to say about some of the technical complaints here. An anime prequel is also on the way, as is a feature film.

Square Enix will hold the next Active Time Report broadcast in June during E3 where more information about Final Fantasy XV may be divulged.

What do you make of this latest trailer? Let us know in the comments below.


Battlefield 1 Xbox One Branding Doesn't Turn Off PS4 Gamers, EA Says

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 09:01 pm

Sony's PlayStation 4 is leading the current-generation sales race, but one of this year's biggest shooters, Battlefield 1, has aligned with Microsoft's Xbox One for a co-marketing deal. During EA's Investor Day briefing this week, EA was asked if it had any fears about this arrangement impacting sales.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson said PlayStation gamers won't be turned off by the fact that the game carries Xbox branding. Chief marketing officer Chris Bruzzo agreed.

"This is a game for PlayStation as much as it is for Xbox as much as it is for PC," he said. "I don't seem any limiters to our ability reach a really broad audience of gamers across the whole shooter spectrum."

These kinds of arrangements are commonplace in games. Sony has co-marketing deals in place for Star Wars: Battlefront, the Call of Duty franchise, and Destiny, while Microsoft and Bethesda partnered to promote Fallout 4.

Wilson said when a game has some kind of arrangement in place for a console you might not own, it can in fact raise awareness for the game in question across the board.

"Our console partners want to stand right next to the biggest and best games in the industry," Wilson said. "Typically, what we see is that just aids awareness. It aids awareness whether you're a PC gamer or an Xbox gamer or a PlayStation gamer."

Microsoft and Sony secure these co-marketing deals because they believe it will drive "disproportionate awareness around the game as it relates to their particular console," Wilson said. However, this may not actually be the case.

"But what we have seen--and we've seen the analytics against it--is if you're a PlayStation gamer, you do not reject it because it is brought to you by a potential console partner. You understand deeply that it's also available on your console. And what we get is just a multiplier effect of greater awareness in the marketplace."

Battlefield 1 launches on October 21, though people with an EA/Origin Access membership or those who pick up the deluxe edition can get in on October 18. Additionally, a beta will be held sometime before launch.

For more on EA's Investor Day briefing, check out the stories below:


Here's Exactly When Fallout 4 Far Harbor Expansion Launches

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 08:25 pm

In addition to releasing a new trailer for Fallout 4's Far Harbor expansion today, Bethesda announced exactly when the content will arrive on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

In a blog post, Bethesda said the content will become available starting at midnight local time. You can check out the full release schedule below to find out when Far Harbor will be available where you live.

Far Harbor launches on May 19 for all platforms. It's included with Fallout 4's $50 DLC pass or can be purchased by itself for $25.

The expansion is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Maine's Bar Harbor. It represents the largest landmass that Bethesda has ever created for a piece of add-on content. Players can expect new quests, weapons, creatures, and more. Check out some concept art in the galley above.

"Far Harbor will take you on a journey that's a far cry from the Commonwealth," Bethesda said.

"There's still a ton we haven't even talked about yet," designer William Shen added. "There are definitely some very cool surprises as you progress through Far Harbor."

Looking ahead, Fallout 4 mods are coming to Xbox One this month, while PS4 players will get them in June. Additionally, Bethesda has told fans to "stay tuned" for more information about further add-ons coming later this year.

Far Harbor Release Schedule:

PlayStation 4/Xbox One

  • North America – 12:01 am (ET) on 5/19
  • UK – 12:01 am (BST) on 5/19
  • France/Germany/Italy/Spain – 12:01 am (CET) on 5/19
  • Australia/New Zealand – 12:01 am (AEST) on 5/19
  • Japan/South Korea/Rest of Asia – TBA
  • Rest of World – 12:01 am (BST) on 5/19

Steam

  • North America – 12:01 am (ET) on 5/19
  • UK – 12:01 am (BST) on 5/19
  • France/Germany/Italy/Spain – 01:01 am (CET) on 5/19
  • Australia/New Zealand – 12:01 am (AEST) on 5/19
  • Japan/South Korea/Rest of Asia – 12:01 am (Japan) on 5/19
  • Rest of World – 12:01 am (BST) on 5/19

Fallout 4 Far Harbor Making Of Video Showcases New Area, Teases Story

By Tamoor Hussain on May 18, 2016 08:04 pm

Bethesda has released a new making of video for Far Harbor, the Fallout 4 DLC which will be available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC tomorrow (May 19). The video features developers discussing what players can look forward to in the expansion.

According to lead designer Will Shen, Far Harbor will take Fallout 4 players to somewhere with "new stories and new experiences."

"Far Harbor is the largest landmass we've ever made for an add-on," he continued. "It's a high-level area full of mystery, danger, and a new conflict between the townspeople, The Children of Atom, and the Synths."

Along with Shen, lead designer Matt Carofano appears to discuss extending the New England feel of the game to a terrain that's more rugged and harsher. Finally, lead producer Phil Nelson teases the DLC's story. See it all in the video above.

"In Far Harbor, a new case from Valentine's Detective Agency leads you on a search for a young woman and a secret colony of synths," reads the official description.

"Travel off the coast of Maine to the mysterious island of Far Harbor, where higher levels of radiation have created a more feral world. Navigate through the growing conflict between the synths, the Children of Atom, and the local townspeople. Will you work towards bringing peace to Far Harbor, and at what cost?"

Far Harbor is a post-apocalyptic version of Maine's popular tourist destination, Bar Harbor. It will be available for $25 and is also included with the $50 Fallout 4 DLC pass. The first Fallout 4 add-on was Automatron, which came out in March. This was followed up by Wasteland Workshop in April.

Bethesda has also previously announced plans to increase the amount of Fallout 4 DLC content it is releasing and expand the scope of it. It teased that Fallout 4 fans should "stay tuned" for more information about more add-ons coming later this year. Those that purchased the Fallout 4 DLC pass will also receive those expansions at no extra cost whatever they turn out to be.

Although no further details on future DLC has been revealed, it may be that Bethesda will talk about them at its E3 2016 press conference, though this is not confirmed


PSA: 1 Million Xbox Gamertags Being Freed Up Today, Here's How to Get One

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 08:01 pm

Want a new gamertag? Today's your day, as nearly 1 million old Xbox gamertags are being made available today, May 18. At 11 AM PST / 2 PM EST, Microsoft will free up the gamertags. They will be available to any Xbox Live Gold member who has accrued a year's worth of Gold status since 2002.

These gamertags come from original Xbox accounts that were later abandoned, Microsoft explained earlier this week.

Microsoft is not releasing all of the gamertags at once, but instead over a period of 24 hours. This is being done "to give our fans in various countries an equal chance to get one."

You can pick up one of the new gamertags from Xbox.com, inside the Xbox App on Windows 10, or through an Xbox One. Access to the new gamertags will not be made available on the Xbox 360 console, but you can grab one from Xbox.com or Windows 10.

This is the Xbox.com page you will want to bookmark. You can change your gamertag once for free, but after that, there is a fee.

Microsoft is not going to publish the list of gamertags, but the company says there will be "many great" ones available in categories including:

  • Proper names
  • Pop-culture references (entertainment, sports, gaming)
  • Types of food
  • Geography and travel
  • Science and technology
  • Math and numbers
  • Animals
  • Some of the greatest inventions of all time

Good luck!


Ghostbusters Fight to Save New York in Latest Reboot Trailer

By Dan Auty on May 18, 2016 07:32 pm

The Ghostbusters are back. Bridesmaids director Paul Feig's reboot of the paranormal comedy classic hits cinemas in July, and a new trailer has been released. Check it out right here:

Ghostbusters stars Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. A number of actors from the original 1984 movie will also feature in cameos, including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Sigourney Weaver.

In a recent interview at CinemaCon 2016, McCarthy sought to assure fans of the original that the new movie would do the franchise justice. "I think everybody is going to love this story," she said, via JustJared. "We loved all the original stories and it's coming from a place of love. It's being updated with a great eye from Paul."

In March, it was reported that Sony are also developing an animated Ghostbusters movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, rising animator Fletcher Moules has signed on to direct the project. Moules is best known for the recent high-profile commercials for the Clash of the Clans game, as well as interstitial work for AMC. THR also notes that this is one of several Ghostbusters-related projects in the works at the studio.

Ghostbusters is released on July 17, 2016.


Pokemon Sun/Moon: Here's When Next Info Will Be Revealed

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 07:15 pm

After announcing Pokemon Sun and Moon's release date and revealing the starting creatures this month, The Pokemon Company has now confirmed when it will share even more information about the 3DS game.

Writing on Twitter (via Siliconera), the company said more details will be shared on June 2. There is no word yet on what will be divulged, but whatever the case, we'll bring you the news as it's announced.

The starting Pokemon for Sun and Moon are Rowlet, a flying grass type; Litten, a fire type; and Popplio, a water type. You can see them all in action in the video above.

As previously announced, Sun and Moon will offer traditional and simplified Chinese as language options, which is a first for the series. Both games will also come with Pokemon Bank support, allowing players to move Pokemon wirelessly from Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, as well as Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, X, and Y, to Sun and Moon.

Further details on how this works are available here.

February 27 was the 20th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise's debut in Japan in 1996. To celebrate, Nintendo hosted a 24-hour animation livestream event on Twitch, along with releasing classic Pokemon games Red, Blue, and Yellow for the 3DS eShop.

The last Pokemon games in the series for 3DS were Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which came out in November 2014. Pokemon Sun and Moon are scheduled to launch on November 18 in the US and on November 23 in Europe.


Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City PS4/Xbox One Remasters Confirmed

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 06:32 pm

After a string of leaks, Warner Bros. today officially announced that remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City are coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The games arrive on July 26 through the Batman: Return to Arkham bundle, which will cost $50/€50/£40.

The first trailer has also been released, showcasing the new graphics and more. Take a look:

The original games were powered by the Unreal Engine 3 (as was Batman: Arkham Knight), but the remasters were made using Unreal Engine 4, representing a first for the series.

Development duties were handed to Chinese company Virtuous, which also co-developed Heavy Rain's PS4 version and contributed to Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Additionally, the company created assets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

In addition to the base games, players receive all Game of the Year extras and downloadable content. Overall, Warner Bros. said players can expect "improved graphics" and "upgraded models, environments, lighting, effects, and shaders."

Remastered versions of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City have been rumored since March 2015. Today's official announcement comes after a series of retailer leaks.

As was suggested, 2013's Batman: Arkham Origins, which was developed by WB Games Montreal, is not included in the Return to Arkham package.

The first two Batman Arkham games gained near-unanimous praise from critics. GameSpot's Arkham Asylum review said:"everything about this game--the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat--feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that's both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material."

Arkham City was also rated highly: "From the speedy exhilaration of soaring high above the streets to the atmospheric thrill of discovering long-forgotten secrets in the tunnels below Gotham, this is an unforgettable adventure that will keep you coming back to the cape and cowl long after you've seen the credits roll."

The latest Batman console game was Batman: Arkham Knight, which came out in June 2015 and has reportedly sold 5 million copies. It was also developed by Rocksteady, and is apparently the last Batman game the UK studio plans to make for the foreseeable future.


Hideo Kojima to Answer Questions on Livestream Tomorrow

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 06:12 pm

Industry veteran Hideo Kojima, the creator of the Metal Gear Solid series, will appear on a livestream Q&A event tomorrow, May 19, it has been announced. The event is taking place at the Nordic Game conference in Malmo, Sweden. Kojima is already in town, as he recently visited with DICE and Mojang.

The Kojima Q&A will be moderated by Remedy Entertainment's Thomas Puha. There will apparently be a good deal of interaction between Kojima and the audience.

"The Q&A will be all about the give-and-take between Kojima on stage and the audience," reads a line from the announcement.

You can submit a question for Kojima here--there's no guarantee he's answer it, though. The Q&A will be livestreamed on the Nordic Game YouTube channel, starting at 10:00 AM CET on May 19. That comes out to 2 AM PST/ 5 AM EST. Get that coffee brewing, I guess.

Kojima officially left Konami in December 2015, which is also when he announced the formation of a new version of Kojima Productions.

Now an independent studio, the company announced a partnership with Sony for a new PlayStation 4 and PC game, which Kojima recently said aims to appeal to fans of Uncharted and The Division.

"When it is announced, you might think, 'That's not outstanding,' but you'll understand when you see it and play it. The genre is action," he said.

Kojima has also said he hopes the game can be expanded eventually into a series, while he also would like to see anime, manga, and toys based on it.

Recently, Kojima revealed that Kojima Productions' logo actually had a name and a full body.

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Mass Effect 4D Theme Park Ride Opens Today, See New Video and Images for It

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 06:09 pm

The Mass Effect 4D theme park ride, called New Earth, is scheduled to open today at California's Great America amusement park.

Some were invited to see the ride early, including the team at California Coaster Kings, which has a report up that shows off some new images and offers more details on the ride (via Eurogamer).

As announced previously, the attraction--which was produced in partnership with EA and BioWare--boasts the "world's largest and highest definition LED screen."

Here is what California Coaster Kings had to say about it:

"The visuals are both carefully constructed and brilliantly high definition. The LED technology accomplished a crispness pixels could never hope to. In addition, the fact that Electronic Arts and BioWare developed and animated every frame from the ground up makes it not only as authentic as the games, but also gives the Mass Effect universe a new entry and welcome expansion."

The site added that audio is also top-notch, with a surround sound system that features 70 speakers throughout the theater. The attraction also includes cameos from popular Mass Effect characters such as Garrus, Grunt, and Commander Shepard--and their voices were done by the original actors apparently.

As for the action itself, you sit in a seat (no restraint) and embark on a "holographic journey." There is also a live actor who provides details about what you're seeing and more.

"To have a real person interact with a digital effects makes them much more tangible," the site said. "To have a bridge between the two worlds really goes a long way as far as immersion."

For a closer look at New Earth, check out the video above. Additionally, you can read the full report at California Coaster Kings, which also includes a series of images.

California's Great America is located in Santa Clara, California. All the details about park hours and pricing can be found on the park's website.

Mass Effect isn't the only video game to get its own theme park ride. Plants vs. Zombies, another EA franchise, is getting its own "intra-active 3D game experience" at Carowinds theme park in Charlotte, North Carolina.


Watch Preacher TV Show's Shocking First Four Minutes

By Dan Auty on May 18, 2016 05:50 pm

The much-anticipated adaptation of the cult comic book Preacher finally premieres this weekend. We've had a series of imagery, clips, and trailers for the supernatural thriller over the past few weeks, and now AMC have put the first four minutes of episode one online. Check it out below:

The show stars Captain America's Dominic Cooper as a smalltown preacher who is possessed by a supernatural creature and controlled by opposing forces of both good and evil. It was developed by Seth Rogen and his regular filmmaking partner Evan Goldberg, and co-stars Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun.

It has also been reported that Amazon has signed the rights to show Preacher in several countries outside the US. According to THR, Amazon Prime Video will stream the show weekly in the UK, Austria, Germany, and Japan.

AMC has announced that a live discussion show called Talking Preacher will be broadcast after both the pilot episode and the season finale in July. The Talking Dead proved to be a highly popular weekly post-episode analysis for the channel's zombie smash The Walking Dead, and if Preacher is a success, season 2 could see Talking Preacher take a regular slot.

Preacher was created by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, and first published in 1995 by the DC imprint Vertigo to huge acclaim. It ran for a total of 75 issues, including several one-off specials and a limited series.


Microsoft Selling Low-End Nokia Phone Business for $350 Million

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 05:16 pm

Microsoft is selling its feature phone assets to Foxconn subsidiary FIH Mobile Ltd and HMD Global for $350 million, the company announced today. Additionally, FIH Mobile will buy out Microsoft Mobile Vietnam, a manufacturing facility for Hanoi and Vietnam, as part of the deal.

As part of the new arrangement, around 4,500 Microsoft employees are leaving Microsoft. They are transferring to, "or have the opportunity to join," FIH Mobile or HMD Global, Microsoft said.

This announcement does not affect Microsoft's existing Windows 10 mobile devices, including its Lumia range. What it means is that Microsoft will "transfer substantially all of its feature phone assets," which includes brands, software and service, and "critical supply agreements."

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2016.

One of the brands included in the sale is Nokia, according to GameSpot sister site CNET. When the deal closes, HMD will make Nokia-branded phones that run on Android

"We will be completely focused on creating a unified range of Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets, which we know will resonate with consumers," HMD CEO Arto Nummela said in a statement. "Branding has become a critical differentiator in mobile phones, which is why our business model is centered on the unique asset of the Nokia brand, and our extensive experience in sales and marketing."

In 2013, Microsoft bought Nokia's phone business for $7.2 billion. As CNET reports, the move did not exactly go to plan.

"Microsoft agreed to acquire Nokia's phone business in 2013 in an effort to become relevant in a phone market dominated by Apple's iPhone and companies such as Samsung that embraced Google's Android software. But the move failed to turn around the business," CNET's Stephen Shankland said.

Head to CNET to see a full breakdown of today's Microsoft phone announcements.


5 Developments From The Flash: Season 2, Episode 22 [SPOILERS]

By Mat Elfring on May 18, 2016 05:07 pm

Zoom has released an army of metahumans from Earth-2. Flash and the team from STAR Labs have to figure out a way to stop them. Meanwhile, a face from the past comes to Central City, and is more powerful than they could ever imagine.

Warning: Spoilers for the episode ahead.

Caitlin's Struggle

Last week, Zoom gave Caitlin the choice to leave or stay with him, before it was revealed that the villain brought his own gallery of rogues to Central City. Caitlin chose to go back to her friends, as any sane person would. However, Zoom may have done something to her. Caitlin begins to see images of her former captor and, at first, he's transparent. As the episode goes on, however, full images of Zoom start appearing and only Caitlin can see them. It's unclear as to whether this is psychological and all in her head, or if Zoom actually did something to her.

Cisco Vibes the Future

Throughout the season, Cisco's vibe power has gotten stronger and stronger. Throughout this week's episode, Cisco begins to vibe himself in a city, presumably Central City. He keeps seeing dead birds on the sidewalk. At the end of the episode, Cisco's vibe continues and he sees Earth-2's Central City being torn apart by the same rifts they use to travel between worlds. However, this isn't currently happening in Central City, that they know of, so Cisco believes that this vibe is coming from the future.

The Return of Laurel Lance

The villain of the week happened to someone from everyone's past. Laurel Lance makes her presence known in Central City by unleashing screams that can take down buildings. However, this isn't the Black Canary that everyone in Central City once knew. She's still dead. This Laurel Lance is from Earth-2, also known as Black Siren. She's working with Zoom to take over Earth-1, and she's more powerful than the Earth-1 Laurel Lance ever was. Taking her down was tough for the STAR Labs team as the majority of them had a connection with Laurel prior to her death.

Wally is Fighting Crime

Wally West takes one more step to becoming Kid Flash by hitting the streets of Central City to help take down the Earth-2 metahumans. He doesn't have his signature Speed Force powers (yet), but he has decided to take action by hunting down these Earth-2 villains. Joe finds out and isn't too happy. Eventually, Flash runs into Wally to have a talk with him about what he's doing. However, Wally says he's doing this because he lives in Central City too, and he wants to defend it.

Death of the Father0

Zoom escapes to Earth-2 after the other metahumans in the city have been taken down. Everything seems safe, and the STAR Labs crew shares a dinner together at the West household. However, they are not safe. Zoom runs in and kidnaps Henry Allen, the Flash's father. Flash runs after him and Zoom leads Barry to his childhood home, where his mother was killed. Zoom thinks Barry will be just like him if he kills Henry. Barry pleads with Zoom, but in the end, Zoom kills Henry Allen.

Will the death of Henry Allen break the Flash? Will he give into his rage and seek vengeance? We've already seen Barry pushed to the limit in the first season, after finding out the Reverse Flash killed his mother. Now that two different speedsters have killed one of his parents, all because Barry chose to be a hero, the Flash could be unhero-like next week in the season finale.

The supporting cast gets some further development as well, mainly Cisco, Caitlin, and Wally. We're not too sure where the developments with Caitlin are leading though. Could she turn into Killer Frost because of her dealings with Zoom? There's something going on, so expect something big from her in the season finale next week. In addition, Wally is finally becoming the character fans know and love from the comics. He's becoming a hero, but without the powers. He's sure to be an important part of the next season, as will Cisco, who is really honing his new powers. It's great to see not all the focus is on Barry this week.

The overall episode was exciting and quite a bit better than the last few episodes. The biggest complaint came from the fact that Central City is supposedly invaded with metahumans from Earth-2, yet the audience really didn't see more than three: Zoom, Laurel Lance, and the guy Wally helped take down in the opening of the episode. There were also a few shots of other villains being taken down briefly at the end of the episode. Because of that, the threat to the city the viewer was supposed to feel wasn't apparent. Regardless, it is nice to see everything slowly come to a close here, and there's a big enough hook with Henry Allen's death to bring viewers back next week.


NBA 2K16 Adding Spectator Mode, But Only for Esports Tournament Matches

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 04:57 pm

2K Sports has announced that its popular professional basketball game NBA 2K16 is adding a spectator mode, though it may not be as useful as you'd like. The mode, called 2K StreamCast, will go live this coming Saturday, May 21, and will be offered on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Players can use StreamCast to spectate in-progress games or replays when they're done. However, this spectator mode only supports games in this weekend's Road to the Finals tournament, according to Game Informer. This may come as a disappointment to those looking to spectate their friend's matches.

On May 21, 16 teams will face off in the single-elimination Road to the Finals tournament. The top two teams will then meet in the $250,000 championship held in June, timed to take place alongside the real-world NBA Finals.

Every Road to the Finals match will also be available to watch on-demand after they're finished, so if you can't watch live or want to see a replay, you will be able to do that. The tournament runs from 10 AM - 6 PM PST on May 21, and you can also check out the action on 2K's Twitch channel.

No mention was made of support for StreamCast on last-generation consoles.

For more, you can check out the trailer above to see what StreamCast looks like. As for the Road to the Finals tournament, here is the full bracket.


Super Mario Maker Reaches New Milestone

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 04:34 pm

Nintendo has shared some new numbers for its hit Wii U game Super Mario Maker. Writing on Twitter, Nintendo revealed players have now created 7.2 million courses, which have been played by the community 600 million times.

To put that into context, Nintendo writes, "If you played every level in Super Mario Maker for 1 minute each, it would take you nearly 14 years to play them all."

Super Mario Maker is one of the Wii U's biggest hits. It has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide to date, a figure that counts units included with the Super Mario Maker hardware bundle.

The game was released in September 2015, and Nintendo has regularly supported it with new items and more. Users have also created some imaginative courses, including one that doubles as a functioning calculator.

Super Mario Maker has also been supported by big-name companies, as Southwest Airlines, Facebook, and Mercedes-Benz have all created levels for the game.

GameSpot's Super Mario Maker review scored the game a 9/10.

"The game won't necessarily turn you into the next Shigeru Miyamoto, but you can almost feel a little bit of that magic rubbing off every time you upload a new creation," reviewer Justin Haywald said.


The Legend of Zelda Trading Cards Listed Online

By Tamoor Hussain on May 18, 2016 04:21 pm

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series looks set to receive a range of trading cards, an EB Games Australia listing has indicated. According to a product description on the retailer's website, the initial set will feature "images from 5 different games."

The games cards will be draw from include Twilight Princess, Majora's Mask, A Link Between Worlds, Ocarina of Time, and Skyward Sword. There will be approximately 85 cards in the base set, including 23 regular cards, eight gold foil cards, 12 decal stickers, and nine tattoos.

"The Legend of Zelda trading cards are here," reads the product description. "This brand is incredibly popular right now with best-selling games, books, and more! There are two major game releases this year, including the new HD version of The Twilight Princess in March and an all new game coming soon."

"This stunning set will include images from 5 different games! Look for your favorite characters and icons in high quality trading cards, foil cards, tattoos, decal stickers (Clear and foil-stamped), and tattoos."

It adds: "Each [base] pack contains four packs of six randomly inserted cards and one decal or tattoo, a poster, as well as one of three randomly inserted collector's pins."

The next entry in the Zelda series is scheduled to be released on the Wii U and Nintendo's next platform, codenamed the NX. The NX's official release date will be in March 2017.

Zelda Wii U and NX (an official title has not yet been revealed) was originally scheduled for 2016, but has been delayed into 2017. Nintendo has confirmed the Wii U version will be its only playable title at E3 2016 "in order to provide attendees a complete immersion."


Batman v Superman Failures Spur Creation of New Division to Guide DC's Superhero Universe

By Dan Auty on May 18, 2016 04:06 pm

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice might technically be a hit movie, but it was a critical failure and now looks unlikely to cross the expected $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. One criticism that Warner has faced is that, unlike rivals Marvel, it doesn't have anyone overseeing its ongoing cinematic universe. This is now changing, with the creation of a new DC movie division and the appointment of two executives to run it.

According the The Hollywood Reporter, the newly-formed DC Films will focus entirely on the films in the superhero universe. Jon Berg and Geoff Johns will oversee the production and creative direction, much as Kevin Feige does at Marvel. THR states that this is intended to focus the direction of the ongoing franchise, as well as add clarity to the "murky greenlight process."

This follows news that the negative reaction to Dawn of Justice and its dramatic second-week box office slump has led Warner to consider reducing the number of films that it makes. As THR noted, the studio may largely restrict its output to their key properties--DC, Lego, and Harry Potter--at the expense of new original projects.

The next movie in the DC universe will be Suicide Squad, which opens in August. Next year will see the release of Wonder Woman, which has now wrapped production, and Zack Snyder's Justice League Part One, which is currently shooting.

This week it was reported that Warner were considering a female superhero DC team-up centred around Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn. Robbie will play the character in Suicide Squad, alongside Will Smith and Jared Leto.


EA Access Will Be Free for 10 Days - Report

By Tamoor Hussain on May 18, 2016 03:38 pm

EA Access will be free for 10 days for all Xbox Live Gold subscribers, according to reputable video game deal site Cheap Ass Gamer, which has published a message from EA on Twitter.

"Want to share EA Access with a friend who couldn't make it to EA Play? All Xbox Live Gold members can check it out free from June 12-22, 2016. All they have to do is download the EA Access app on Xbox to get started," it reads.

From its wording, it seems the message was intended to be for those attending EA's pre-E3 event. As previously announced, EA won't have booths at E3 2016, and will instead host EA Play events in London and LA.

EA Play will include a press conference, gameplay demos for media, and the opportunity for the public to come and play its latest titles. The full schedule can be found here.

Tickets will need to be reserved in advance due to limited space, but they will be free. Those interested should sign up to the mailing list on the EA Play website to stay informed on when they're available.

Subscribers are being given the opportunity to reserve tickets early as part of the Early Bird promotion. This early access period will end on May 19, when signups will be open to the public. Emails with the necessary details are being sent out to eligible members.

EA has confirmed that Titanfall 2 will be at the event, but it is unclear whether it will be playable. A Titanfall 2 teaser was released on Aprill 11, and confirms the sequel will be released for Xbox One, PC, and PS4.

EA Access, meanwhile, is currently available on Xbox One. A PC version called Origin Access arrived earlier this year. You can sign up for $5/month or $30/year, and in return get access to a library of free games, as well as a discount on all EA digital content. EA also gives members the opportunity to play new games five days before they are released publicly.


Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2's Big New Update Detailed

By Tamoor Hussain on May 18, 2016 02:22 pm

EA has announced it will be releasing a free update for Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 called "Trouble in Zombopolis: Part One." The content pack will introduce two new characters, a map, and a customisation pack that has over 1,200 items.

"Trouble in Zombopolis: Part One has some incredible new content to play," the publisher said on the game's website. "Including the biggest zombie city we've ever created: Zombopolis. In the streets of Zombopolis, Dr. Zomboss and the zombies are plotting to build a Mega Zombot that, when charged, may put the fate of plant-kind in grave danger.

"We're also introducing two crazy new characters, Toxic Citron and Breakfast Brainz. Toxic Citron must emerge from the shadows of toxicity to save the plants from Dr. Zomboss, but before he does that, he must defeat the watchful bacon-caped crusader--Breakfast Brainz."

EA has said the update will be available "this summer." Take a look at the full list of new features, balance tweaks, and bug fixes below.

New Features

  • Added the new Herbal Assault Map and capital city for the zombies, Zombopolis – now featuring an all-new Mini-Boss Battle
  • Added two new characters to collect:
    • Breakfast Brainz: He smells as good as he fights!
    • Toxic Citron: Rolls into battle with his toxic toxicity!
  • Numerous tuning and balancing updates, including improving Sunflowers' damage output, damage reductions for Electro Brainz and more
  • Added a Zany Zombopolis Pack with over 1,200 all-new crazy customization items
  • Added Leaderboard improvements to keep track of your friends' accomplishments, as well as your own
  • Updates to the Boat Blast Mini-Game. Head to the docks in the Backyard Battleground to check out the updates, including the improved Boat Blast Leaderboards: Compete with friends for the highest score in Boat Blast
    • Note: you still need to qualify for the Mini-Game by completing the three initial Boat Blast quests
  • Added Legendary Background to Legendary Items in the Customization Menu
  • Added item rarity to borders in the sticker book
  • Story Quests no longer appear in the Players Quest Log when all Story Quests have been completed
    • Allows players to hold two extra Quests
  • Added some audio stingers during reloads for some Party Characters
  • AI now runs back to defend the flag if enemies are capturing it in Flag of Power Mode
  • Added wave number information to HUD between waves
  • Legendary Characters get some health back when triggering their Legendary Mode in low health
  • Added a bind key on PC for Drone Self Destruct
  • Added Aqua Center Quests to Quest Board

Critical Fixes

  • Numerous stability improvements
  • Fixed issue where players in game groups would occasionally not hear music upon joining Ops Mode
  • Fixed issue where Infinity Time Match would not start due to Privacy Settings
  • Fixed issue where players would lose functionality in Infinity Time looting area if time was destabilized by the Gnome King
  • Additional stability improvements to Infinity Time Mode
  • Fixed some latency conditions when players would enter the server
  • Fixed rare issue where Quest Board would sometimes leave players in a hang after accepting Quests
  • Fixed issue where players would sometimes lag in the Backyard Battleground when Gnome Cave would open
  • Fixed occasional crash when accessing Leaderboards

General Bug Fixes

  • Made some additional Hit Detection improvements
  • Made some minor performance improvements
  • Fixed issue where sometimes music wouldn't play between waves
  • Fixed timer issue when extra time was not being awarded when lowering bridge in Time Park Map
  • Added V/O for idle animations to all characters
  • Fixed camera going into an unwanted orientation when Kernel Corn uses Husk Hop from an elevated position
  • Fixed issue where Superhero bobble heads wouldn't make noise
  • Fixed issue where the default region would occasionally be set incorrectly
  • Fixed exploit when the drone could enter Crazy Targets when started by another user
  • Fixed Gnome Bomb issue where Gnome Bomb location would not be shown to the player that joined in-progress
  • Fixed issue where XP scoring would not properly trigger for players in Suburbination Mode, when multiple players capture a point simultaneously
  • Fixed several instances of audible popping while playing the game
  • Fixed bad frame when selecting Solo Play from the Backyard Battleground
  • Fixed issue where characters would sometimes play taunt after entering Pots and Bots UI
  • Fixed issue where sometimes the last Zombie would not spawn in the Retrieve the Chickens Bonus Challenge
  • Fixed issue where only the host would see the 'Game Over' message after losing the flag in Flag of Power Mode
  • Fixed issue with Air Horn audio not playing when a match is won during overtime
  • Fixed issue where difficulty would change when a player joins other players' Backyard Battleground
  • Fixed issue where Infinite-Ammo would not apply to some characters when using Crazy Settings
  • Shared vanquish now counts when assisting in the vanquish of Zen Sensei
  • Fixed incorrect character names showing in several instances when playing Solo-Ops
  • Fixed issue where revive audio would continue to play after player is vanquished mid-revive
  • Fixed some matchmaking enhancements to ensure players are matchmaking to closest region server
  • Fixed Break all Vases Bonus Challenge in Garden Ops on Boney Island where it sometimes wouldn't complete properly
  • Fixed objective UI not appearing during Turf Takeover sessions for players that join in-progress during that Mini-Game
  • Fixed UI issue where ability bar would flash every time an ally would spawn
  • Fixed issue where Flag of Power XP modifier would carry into Ops, if launched during an active Flag of Power Mode
  • Fixed some stat tracking issues with Healing category on Stats Board
  • Fixed issue where players who didn't open chests at end of Infinity Time would not be auto-granted their loot
  • Fixed multiple Boss Spawn sequences in Aqua Center Map
  • Fixed exploit where players would throw a chili or sombrero bean into the targets area - resetting Crazy Targets before exploding
  • Fixed issue where primary player in Split Screen had stars removed from their inventory, when the second player used the Star Fish to earn XP
  • Added more audio to countdown timer in Turf Takeover to signal to players the match is nearing its end
  • Fixed issue where music would stop playing in Infinity Time if one player gets vanquished
  • Fixed UI issue where secret note in Backyard Battleground would be shown to both players when in Split Screen
  • Fixed issue where Hidey could be destroyed by several abilities in Backyard Battleground
  • Fixed issue where player is no longer randomly teleported at end of a Boat Blast Mini-Game
  • Fixed matchmaking issue where a non-friend was able to join your HUB under certain conditions
  • Fixed issue where Pop Smarts no longer spawns on the ground for the legendary Pop Smarts Hat
  • Fixed a few instances where characters would fall off the end podiums in Herbal Assault Mode
  • Fixed UI when the trophy art wasn't being displayed when Plants would win Team Vanquish Mode
  • Fixed Legendary Orbital Cube Hat for Scientist where the red dot VFX appeared under the character
  • Fixed Sticker Shop UI staying on the screen when the host enters a match from Backyard Battleground
  • Fixed a few issues where AI wouldn't spawn in some Ops Bonus Challenges
  • Fixed issue where switching Citron to ball form in Customization menu before the model loaded would cause him to look crumpled
  • Fixed Leaderboard UI to correctly show friends' names in blue
  • Fixed some weapon switching issues with the Butter Hawk in Zero Bark Thirty Mission

Character Bug Fixes

  • Fix for several characters being unable to trigger impact VFX when shooting Pirate or Engineer on Turrets
  • Fixed a bug where electric arcs were sometimes being applied extra times
  • Scientist Energy Warp is no longer affected by Goatify, Time Snare, Spikeweed, and EMPeach
  • Fixed a bug where the Rock Pea would sometimes apply knockback to enemies
  • Fixed a bug where AC Perry was applying freezing buff twice on impact hits
  • Toxic Chomper no longer deals toxic damage while burrowed
  • Fixed a bug where Revive UI wasn't displaying while All-Star was shooting
  • Fixed a bug where the Scientist's heal beam wasn't dispelling while in Energy Warp
  • Fixed issue where some Party Characters were missing bullet-impact audio
  • Fixed VFX for Disco Zombie Ball
  • Fixed animation issue for Kernel Corn where Husk Hop animation would not play properly if used directly after Butter Barrage ability
  • Fixed issue where players could not use abilities for a few seconds after getting hit with Roadie-Z's primary weapon
  • Fixed animation issue where Junkasaurus would get stuck in running animation if wave ended while using Mega Blaster
  • Fixed issue where for Player Two Rose aimer would not turn red in Split Screen when targeting AI
  • Fixed issue where Vampire flower wouldn't damage Engineer if critically hitting him while he's on the Big Bolt Blaster
  • Fixed UI flashing for Party Pirate when using Cannon Rodeo
  • Imp will no longer deal damage when getting knocked back while using Impkata
  • Fixed issue where Imps were only taking primary weapon damage when calling in their Z-Mech
  • Fixed some instances where the critical hit backer wasn't being displayed
  • Fixed missing controller rumble when captured by Spikeweed/Spiky Spikeweed
  • Fixed issue where Chomp Thing spray wouldn't cause damage to destroyable objects
  • Added controller vibration to some characters that have charge up primary attacks
  • Fixed Heroic Kick and Sprint Tackle abilities not having impact to the soccer ball
  • Fixed issue where Rose was unable to deal damage to Lil' Drake's Flap Shield
  • Fixed issue when boom box VFX would play on Peashooter when Gatling Mode is active
  • Fixed the Cosmic Brainz charge attack not damaging reinforcement crates during Flag of Power
  • Fixed issue where Super Brainz Turbo Twister ability would slow burrowed Chompers
  • Fixed issue where Super Brainz Heroic Kick would not deal damage to boss AI
  • Fixed issue where AI in Solo Ops would not use some alternate abilities
  • Fixed issue where Sunflower was unaffected by Gravity Grenade when using Sunbeam ability
  • Fixed issue where Roadie-Z could not damage some walls
  • Fixed issue where plant AI heroes would not display health bar to Sunflower characters
  • Fixed issue where players were not awarded Mech Vanquish XP event for destroying Imp Mech
  • Fixed issue where Citron would not take damage when hit by All-Star Tackle if in mid-transformation
  • Fixed rare issue where the Potato Mine would not deal damage to Zombies
  • Fixed issue where Butter Barrage and Bigger Better Butter would have friendly fire if Kernel Corn was vanquished at a specific time in the sequence
  • Fixed issue where Impkata and Turbo Twister abilities continued to deal damage while character was getting chomped
  • Fixed issue where Husk Hop didn't display correctly after warping home in Backyard Battleground
  • Fixed issue where Mech deployment message was playing too frequently
  • Fixed exploit where some abilities could be used immediately again after using the Taunt button
  • Fixed issue with player being unable to use abilities for a few seconds after getting knocked back
  • Fixed issue where Vampire Flower VFX extended to the back of the character
  • Fixed issue where the Husk Hop ability would fire forward after passing through portal or teleporter
  • Fixed animation where Engineer's arm would clip into body when using jackhammer
  • Fixed issue where Super Brainz Turbo Twister caused too much damage to Super Bean Shield
  • Fixed some VFX issues with Electric Characters that have charge VFX
  • Fixed occasional issue where Iron Citron would block his own shots with shield deployed
  • Fixed issue where Soldier Zombie could reload instantly if using ZPG or Multi Rocket ability after emptying clip
  • Player can no longer be attacked by AI while playing Boat Blast Mini-Game
  • Fixed Chomper burrow transition camera
  • Fixed damage indicator not appearing for opponent when shooting them from behind as Rose
  • Fixed issue where Soldier Zombie AI would sometimes get stuck in ZPG priming animation
  • Fixed issue where Citron could occasionally use Ball Form abilities when in Assault Form

Tuning/Balance Notes

Mode Tuning

  • Super Boss Waves in Garden Ops and Graveyard Ops are now more likely to appear
  • Turf Takeover: Re-tuned the time it takes to capture each base, based off difficulty of capturing specific locations:
    • Great White North:
      • Mini-Game is slightly harder for attackers (Iceblock has six per cent more health)
      • Starting Base defender playable bounds moved further back to avoid spawn camping
    • Moon Base Z: Starting Base defender playable bounds moved further back to avoid spawn camping
    • Zomburbia:
      • Starting defender playable bounds now in-line with the wall to avoid spawn camping
      • Fixed issue with forward attacker spawns not moving attackers closer to the objective after a period of time
      • Fixed missing Rose Turret in objective 5
      • Made interactions during final Mini-Game longer to complete to make it harder for attacking team to win

Character Tuning

Citron Class:

All:

  • Made bone-collision changes to reduce size of Citron's critical hit area
  • Citron can now fire sooner after coming out of Ball Form
  • Removed movement speed penalty from transition into and out of Citron Ball Form Mode

Citron:

  • Increased close-range impact damage from 5 - 6
  • Increased explosion damage from 5 - 6
  • Reduced damage falloff start/end distance from 25/35 – 20/30
  • Reduced heat generated when firing so it now takes longer to overheat
  • Reduced reticle bloom

Ice Citron:

  • Increased long range damage from 5.5 – 6.5
  • Reduced heat generated when firing so it now takes longer to overheat
  • Reduced reticle bloom

Electro Citron:

  • Standard Shot: Increased close range/long range damage from 4.5/2.5 - 8/6
  • Mid-Charged Shot:
    • Reduced close range/long range impact damage from 25/15 - 20/10
    • Reduced falloff start/end distance from 30/60 - 20/50
  • Max-Charged Shot:
    • Reduced close range/long range impact damage from 35/25 - 30/20
    • Reduced falloff start/end distance from 40/80 - 30/60

Kernel Corn Class:

Kernel Corn:

  • Increased magazine capacity by 5
  • Reduced reticle bloom
  • Increased accuracy slightly

BBQ Corn:

  • Reduced magazine capacity by 5

Pops Corn:

  • Increased magazine capacity by 3

Mob Cob:

  • Increased damage by 0.5
  • Reduced reticle bloom
  • Increased accuracy slightly

Party Corn:

  • Increased magazine capacity by 5
  • Increased long range damage from 3.5 - 4.5
  • Increased damage falloff start distance from 10m to 20m
  • Reduced reticle bloom
  • Increased accuracy slightly

Rose Class:

All:

  • Increased maximum tracking angle by 5 degrees
  • Increased lock-on distance by 5m
  • Slightly increased reticle to target lock-on angle

Fire Rose:

  • Increased rate of fire
  • Reduced movement speed penalty while charging

Frost Rose:

  • Increased projectile movement speed
  • Increased damage of mid-charged shot from 20-25
  • Increased damage of max-charged shot from 35-40
  • Increased rate of fire

Imp Class:

All:

  • Increased server-side bone collision size to make the Imp slightly easier to hit while he's moving
  • Reduced initial and regular cooldown times for Mech deploys by 30s
  • Increased stamina for all Mechs by 20s

Z7 Imp/Mech:

  • Increased knockback for Omni Blade
  • Reduced reload time for Omni Blade by 5s
  • Increased homing effectiveness of biotic pull projectile
  • Increased Biotic Pull force so that enemies get pulled in faster
  • Increased blast radius of Biotic Pull projectile so that there's a better chance multiple enemies will get pulled at once
  • Reduced reload time for Biotic Pull by 5s

Super Brainz Class:

All:

  • Reduced damage absorption for Turbo Twister by 15%
  • Slightly increased Turbo Twister cool down
  • Slightly reduced Turbo Twister movement speed
  • Removed ability to cancel Super Brainz Turbo Twister

Electro Brainz:

  • Significantly decreased damage and range of electric arcs
  • Slightly decreased rate of fire for punches

Captain Deadbeard Class:

All:

  • Added the ability to cancel out of the barrel without lighting the fuse (ability still goes on cool down)

Captain Sharkbite:

  • Reduced explosion damage from 16 – 10

Captain Cannon:

  • Increased projectile movement speed
  • Increased inner blast radius for manual detonation
  • Removed falloff for impact damage

Peashooter Class:

Electro Pea:

  • Increased projectile movement speed
  • Increased manual detonation explosion damage

Chomper Class:

All:

  • Tuned Chomper camera to be closer to the camera in GW1
  • Improved all digestion time upgrade multipliers

Chomp Thing:

  • Chomp Thing now begins to regenerate health almost immediately after taking damage

Sunflower Class:

All:

  • Increased all of Sunflower's damage by 10-20%
  • Reduced cooldown time for heal and dark turrets by 10s

Mystic Flower:

  • Increased ammo depletion for charged shots

Stuffy Flower:

  • Increased health gained from sun drops from 5-8 per drop

Cactus Class:

Jade Cactus:

  • Reduced magazine capacity by 2
  • Reduced impact damage from 10 – 8.5

Foot Soldier Class:

Tank Commander:

  • Reduced impact damage by 5

Scientist Class:

Chemist:

  • Reduced damage from 40 – 36

Zoologist:

  • Reduced magazine capacity from 9-6
  • Reduced projectile distance by 0.5m

Marine Biologist:

  • Reduced damage from 30-25

GameSpot awarded PvZ: Garden Warfare 2 a score of 7/10. Reviewer Scott Butterworth said "with more generous pacing and worthwhile single-player content, Garden Warfare 2 would have been a truly outstanding game, but even without those things, it's a robust shooter with an astounding level of mechanical diversity that all but guarantees you'll encounter something new every round you play.


Resident Evil and More in New Pay-What-You-Want Capcom Bundle [UPDATE]

By Mat Paget on May 18, 2016 11:30 am

[UPDATE] More games have been added to the pay-more-than-the-average tier. Bionic Commando and the Virgil's Downfall DLC for DMC: Devil May Cry are now included in the bundle. The original story follows:

The latest Humble Bundle is here, and this time it's all about Capcom. The Resident Evil developer's pay-what-you-want bundle currently includes 10 PC games with more on the way and discounts on Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Deluxe and Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen.

As is normal with these types of bundles, all of the games can be acquired by paying the highest tier. Paying one dollar gets you Strider, Lost Planet 3 Complete Pack, Bionic Commando Rearmed, and the first episode of Resident Evil: Revelations 2. It also comes with the two aforementioned discounts.

Paying more than the average (which is $8.01 at the time of publishing) will get you Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil: Revelations, DMC: Devil May Cry, and Remember Me. We'll keep you updated as more games are added to this tier.

Finally, $15 will add Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition and Resident Evil 6 to your bundle. Whatever amount of money you decide to put forward, you can split it up and choose where it goes: the developer, Humble Bundle, or charity. This bundle supports Kumamoto Japan Earthquake Relief Fund via GlobalGiving.

Capcom has participated in a Humble Bundle last year, which featured some of the games mentioned above alongside Resident Evil 5 and Ultra Street Fighter IV.

You can check out the full list of included games below:

Pay $1 or more

  • Strider
  • Resident Evil Revelations 2 - Episode 1: Penal Colony
  • Lost Planet 3 Complete Pack
  • Bionic Commando: Rearmed
  • 40 percent off Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Deluxe
  • 30 percent off Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Pay more than the average ($8.01 at time of publishing)

  • Resident Evil: Revelations
  • DMC: Devil May Cry
  • DMC: Devil May Cry -- Vergil's Downfall DLC
  • Resident Evil 4
  • Remember Me
  • Bionic Commando

Pay $15 or more

  • Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
  • Resident Evil 6

7 Developments From Agents of SHIELD: Season 3, Episode 21 & 22 [SPOILERS]

By Tony Guerrero on May 18, 2016 08:30 am

It's the end of the season for Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ABC, as with past seasons, is running the final two episodes back to back. Hive has been putting his plan together to detonate a bomb to turn a large portion of humans into primitive Inhumans he'll be able to control. As per Daisy's vision from a few episodes back, stopping that plan will result in the death of someone on the team.

Warning: Spoilers for season 3, episode 21 and 22 of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., "Absolution" and "Ascension," will be discussed below.

Daisy's in Recovery

Daisy was completely under Hive's control. In withdrawal now, she's struggling with accepting all the horrible things she did under his control as well as the longing for feeling like she's part of something. She blames herself for those that were hurt. She attacked and almost killed Mack, betrayed Lincoln, and Lash died saving her life. She also has to figure out which member of S.H.I.E.L.D. is going to die, as seen in her vision.

The Cross Keeps Changing Hands

In Daisy's vision, there was a cross floating in the quinjet out in space. Seconds afterwards, the jet explodes. For viewers, it's been a giant guessing game once Yo-Yo gave her cross to Mack. Mack tried giving it back to her when she was included on the dangerous mission against Hive. Angry, she pointed out it wasn't a lucky rabbit's foot to be handed around. Mack accidentally drops it on a chair, and Fitz picks it up. Fitz put the cross in his jacket pocket. When May and Fitz stowed away on the Zephyr One that Hive hijacked, Daisy is given the jacket to stay warm in the thin atmosphere. She finds the cross and figures it's up to her to stop the plan and sacrifice her life.

Hive is Defeated...or Is He?

Surprisingly, Hive gets captured in Episode 21. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents manage to trap him in a gel matrix containment unit. He's brought back to the base while they figure out where to keep him stored. Things don't go quite as planned when a bomb, planted in a shipment of parts to fix the hydraulic door Daisy damaged, goes off. Some random S.H.I.E.L.D. agents nearby get doused with Radcliffe's gas and are transformed into primitive Inhumans. Hive is set free.

Radcliffe Helps Out S.H.I.E.L.D.

May came to Radcliffe's rescue before Hive was captured. While he seemed eager to work for Hive and try to change the human race, he was also extremely fearful for his life. Once on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s side, he does offer insight into Hive's plan and helps figure out a way to keep away from the primitives.

At the end of the episode, six months later, it's mentioned he's trying to get Fitz to work on a project with him. He feels bad for the agents having lost so many friends and has been working on an old S.H.I.E.L.D. project - LMDs. Comic fans know LMDs are Life Model Decoys. The season ends with Radcliffe ready to put his A.I. into a body.

Daisy vs. Hive

Episode 21 ended with Daisy begging the newly freed Hive to take her back. In agony and tears, Hive approaches her to turn her once again. To his dismay, he discovers he is unable to due to Lash cleansing her. Daisy then comes to her senses and starts attacking Hive. Using her powers and hand-to-hand skills, it's a brutal fight. Unfortunately it's a fight she can't win. Knocked out, Hive takes her on the Zephyr, knowing S.H.I.E.L.D wouldn't fire upon them while she's on board.

Lincoln's Decision

Daisy was ready to sacrifice herself to stop Hive's plans. Still feeling guilty over what she did under his influence, she moved the nuclear warhead with Radcliffe's gas on the quinjet Coulson and the others arrived on. Hive comes up behind her, and he tells her because Ward is still in him, he can override the manual control. They both discover that Lincoln snuck into the pilot's seat. He zaps Daisy, knocking her out the hangar door, and takes the jet, with Hive, out into space.

Lincoln tells Daisy he loves her. She tells him she can't handle losing him this way. The radio soon cuts out and the jet starts to drift as the timer on the bomb ticks away. Hive is at peace with the turn of events. He's curious about experiencing the one thing that's eluded him all these years--death. Daisy watches on the monitor as the jet explodes with Lincoln and Hive.

Six Months Later

Several newspaper clippings are pinned to a wall. The headlines read, "Who is Quake?" "Hero or Rogue?" "North Dakota Experiences First Earthquake in 40 Years," "Quake takes down Bank." Coulson and Mack are on a stakeout. Coulson is watching a little girl and her mother. The mother thanks someone off camera for the money given to them. Daisy is revealed with jet black hair and heavy makeup. She gives the wooden robin to the girl. Charlie, the Inhuman with the death visions, made it for her before he died. Coulson sees it's Daisy and orders everyone to get her. Daisy heads into an alley, crouches down, and uses her quake powers to launch herself onto the roof of a nearby building and gets away.

Thoughts

There were several edge-of-your-seat moments. It was surprising to see Hive captured in the second to last episode. Having it turn out to be another piece of the overall story to set him up within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s base was great, almost as if he planned it himself. His fight with Daisy was pretty intense. He did show how formidable an opponent he can be. Later, when confronting Coulson, he shed his Grant Ward guise to face his enemy with his true face. Hive's true face is pretty gruesome but was a little too CGI.

Having the cross go from agent to agent also kept the tension going. Knowing that any one of the characters could be up on the chopping block, it kept us invested in the overall story as well as the inevitable fate of a character. Lincoln's sacrifice did feel fitting. As with past characters that have been killed off, it does feel like a waste. Lincoln was shaping up to be a really good agent. His death does serve to push Daisy over the edge and into a new direction.

Yo-Yo took a bullet for Mack. Will we see the two hook up? Will Fitz and Simmons get their vacation time alone? What about Fitz killing Giyera? There are a lot of questions we'll have to wait to find out what's next. The six month jump makes you wonder how things are in S.H.I.E.L.D. after all this. Are they still working in the shadows? Is Radcliffe making LMDs for S.H.I.E.L.D. or the private sector? Finally, how come Coulson isn't the Director anymore? He mentioned calling the Director to Mack when they were in pursuit of Daisy.

The final question is, "Is Hive really dead?" Does this mean Brett Dalton is out of a job? It seems if Hive survived for so long, dying in an explosion in space could be avoided. We saw him blasted by a high-powered weapon, and he healed within seconds. Can he heal from a nuclear blast in space?

The show appears to be mixing things up, as it usually does at the end of a season. Daisy is on the run and using her powers as she sees fit. Coulson is no longer the Director. We don't know what the status of S.H.I.E.L.D. is and whether or not the other agents are still active. Will we see Radcliffe's A.I. "Aida" as a member of the team? She was voiced by Amanda Rea, but that doesn't mean she's officially cast for the next season. It's going to be a long wait for the next season.


Kingsman 2 Adds Elton John to Star-Studded Cast

By Mat Paget on May 18, 2016 05:20 am

Kingsman: The Golden Circle seems to have quite the star-studded cast with actors like Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, and Julianne Moore set to appear. Now it looks like we'll see classic rock singer Elton John in the upcoming spy movie as well.

John posted a picture on Instagram, which revealed his involvement in The Golden Circle. The picture reads "Wednesday night's alright for fighting," which is a reference to his song "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)." The line is accompanied by star-shaped glasses, colored red, white, and blue. The Golden Circle is rumored to take place at least partially in the States.

Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn originally wanted celebrities to make cameos in the first movie, though he canned it for a number of reasons including the suspension of disbelief one needs when a celebrity appears as themself while other famous actors play fictional roles. He told ABC News Radio that he had a special idea for John.

"I was umming and ahhing 'cause [Kingsman] had a whole fun subplot about celebrities being kidnapped," he said. "And I had an idea of, who's the worst celebrity you'd want to have locked in a cell? And I came up with Elton John and having Elton John throwing these huge tantrums. And then I wanted to do an action scene of Elton John kicking the living daylights out of people."

It's not confirmed, but with the "Wednesday night's alright for fighting" quote, it sounds like Vaughn might be realizing his original vision of John "kicking the living daylights out of people" on film. And with Vaughn's previous hesitance to cast celebrities in cameo roles, could we see John playing a character? We'll have to wait to find out, but GameSpot will keep you updated on Kingsman: The Golden Circle as more information is revealed.

The Kingsman sequel is set to open in theaters on June 16, 2017. It stars Taron Egerton as protagonist Eggsy and sees the return of Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, and Edward Holcroft. Colin Firth's return has been teased as well.


The Dark Tower: Stephen King Says Idris Elba Is "One of the Best Actors" Working Today

By Mat Paget on May 18, 2016 04:48 am

The Dark Tower movie is set for a 2017 release, and the author of the book series, Stephen King, has said that he thinks Idris Elba, who is set to play Roland the Gunslinger, is "one of the best actors" working today.

Stephen King sung the actor's praises in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The prestigious author talked about Elba and his co-star Matthew McConaughey and how he's looking forward to seeing the two go up against each other in The Dark Tower movie.

"I think [Elba's] a terrific actor, I think he's one of the best actors working in the business now," he said. "And Matthew McConaughey is a terffic actor. They're both great. And the idea of seeing the two of them in opposition of each other is very exciting to me."

The film's director and co-writer Nikolaj Arcel added to the praise, saying he's been a fan of Elba's since watching him in The Wire.

"I've been following his career for a long time and then when we started talking about him as Roland, for me it just clicked," Arcel said. "I met him, we spoke, we had some great conversations. For me, it was sort of, like, a no brainer.

"Any time I see Idris in anything, he's sort of this magnetic figure for me, I've always loved him," he added.

In the interview, King also confirmed when the movie will start in the books' timeline.

"The movie will start where the books start. The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed," King said. "I've been pretty insistent about that and I think everybody's on board with it."

King also mentioned that the movie won't adapt the first book's story, instead starting in the middle. What this means in relation to the previous quote isn't completely clear. GameSpot will keep you up to date on The Dark Tower film as more information is revealed.

For now, you can check out on-set images of Elba as the Gunslinger right here.


BioWare Could Be Working on an "Action" Game, EA Suggests

By Eddie Makuch on May 18, 2016 04:17 am

Today during EA's Investor Day briefing, the company offered a tease that Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare is expanding beyond role-playing games and could be at work on an "action" title.

A slide from the company's presentation lists BioWare as potentially contributing to EA's growth in the action category. CFO Blake Jorgensen reiterated previous comments, saying the action genre could be lucrative.

In addition to Mass Effect: Andromeda, BioWare is working on an unannounced new IP, which, if it's an action game, could explain the developer's inclusion on this slide. It could also be that Andromeda has expanded beyond the RPG genre and is now considered an action game, though this is not confirmed.

The other developer listed on the slide under the "action" category is Motive Studios, which is overseeing Dead Space developer Visceral's Star Wars game and making its own new IP. Motive is headed up by Assassin's Creed creator and former executive director Jade Raymond.

Additionally, Titanfall developer Respawn Entertainment is working on a third-person action adventure game set in the Star Wars universe.

Also during the briefing, Jorgensen suggested that a single successful action game could bring in as much as $400 million in incremental revenue, with more upside if/when multiple games come to market.

If EA is to make any announcements about its future games lineup, this could come during the company's E3 2016 briefing in June. We will bring you all the news from the show as it's announced.

In October last year, EA said it wanted to expand into the Grand Theft Auto, Assassin's Creed "gigantic action" game genre, a space that it doesn't have much of a presence in. In November of that year, Jorgensen shared a few more details on this project, confirming Raymond, the former Assassin's Creed producer, is heading up one of these games at Motive.

"We've never really operated in the largest genre of gaming, and that's the action genre," Jorgensen said at the time. "That's the Assassin's Creed-style games; more open-world, more single-play versus multiplayer. It's not been an area that we've operated in. We recently hired Jade Raymond, who was behind the Assassin's Creed franchise for Ubisoft, and she will be building an action genre for us through a studio we're building out in Montreal right now. So a lot of excitement around the action genre."

EA's Assassin's Creed-like action game might not come out for a long time, however.

For more on EA's Investor Day briefing, check out the stories below:


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