Resident Evil: Revelations was released on May 20 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U and PC after previously being on the 3DS. Here’s what the critics thought of it.

Resident Evil is simultaneously the most successful zombie game series and video game film series, and that’s no combination to sneeze at. Though technically after Resident Evil 3, Capcom said it wasn’t about zombies any more. Resident Evil: Revelations is mostly about bringing back everything you liked about the earlier games and combining it with that of the later titles.

This game features the story of Jill Valentine before she vanished in Resident Evil 5, bringing back the claustrophobic corridors and misdirection the early games were known for. It slows down the gameplay from the action-heavy direction the series was taking and brings back the backtracking from the maze-like mansions, putting it all on a cruise ship. Resident Evil: Revelations keeps the general inventory system from RE5 and 6, and yet it works better here. Everything is instantly assigned to a button to eliminate the need for micromanagement in the heat of battle, and you can only carry so much ammo.

Resident Evil: Revelations is basically the 3DS game brought to bigger consoles with an HD treatment, and yes, it may be one of those games that make the Wii U worth owning. The game plays in short bursts, making it perfect for gaming on the go, or if you’re the type who can’t play for hours straight. If you have a family, you don’t have a lot of time to play video games, making the perforated gameplay of Resident Evil: Revelations quite a plus.

The story in Resident Evil: Revelations doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’s entertaining with its over-the-top dialogue, absurd political conspiracy theories, and flashbacks to moments that rarely feel more than tacked on. There is still the noticeable lack of enemy variety and NPC allies whose aim is on par with a stormtrooper from Star Wars, but if you can look past the minor issues, the game is still fun.

What do you think of Resident Evil: Revelations?

‘Resident Evil: Revelations’ Review Roundup is a post from: The Inquisitr

Xbox One got one thing right at the reveal yesterday. The Kinect is awesome.

At Microsoft’s reveal event yesterday, one feature of the Xbox One gained an almost universally positive response. The Kinect, although mandatory for the Xbox One, is amazing.

Kinect used to be just some gimmick that Microsoft made for the Xbox 360 for motion controlled games, and it didn’t do very well in general. Most of the games that used it were terrible, and nobody really saw the need to own one because it usually just sat there reminding us of the money we wasted on a game peripheral we never used.

When the Kinect was integrated into the controls for the Xbox One, it had everyone’s attention. It isn’t just for certain games any more. Remember using your remote control Xbox 360 controller to turn the system on and off and navigate Xbox Live? Now you can do all of that just using the Xbox One Kinect.

The new Xbox One Kinect recognizes portions of your skeleton to give you more control than ever before. It can even paint a 3D monochrome version of you on the screen as you move around. It detects everything in front of it, so even a simple hand gesture can do more than ever before. The lag from the old model is all but gone, and it even detects your heart rate.

Of course on the heart rate thing, it’s a little hard to believe.

The Xbox One Kinect also responds to voice commands, so technically you may not have to lift a finger to surf the net with it. If anything, the voice recognition capabilities should give mobile phone companies something to strive for, so we won’t have to scream into our phones to tell some automated system what we want any more just because someone in our home won’t shut up or turn the TV down.

Now just imagine the gaming implications of all of this and the Kinect alone might sell the Xbox One. Quite a reversal for the device since the last outing, wouldn’t you say?

What do you think of the Xbox One Kinect? Is it worth buying the console for?

Xbox One Kinect Is Awesome is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mortal Kombat is coming to PC this summer in all its gory glory.

Mortal Kombat was one of the first fighting game series to ever make it big. As clunky and weird as the game looked with its stop-motion characters filmed just for the game, it created a dark and apocalyptic mood rarely seen in fighting games and launched it to a status that rivaled that of Street Fighter 2.

Then Mortal Kombat 2 came out and it looked better, and the gameplay was sped up as well. The characters, though still captured on film for realism, looked cleaner and gave returning models Richard Divizio and Daniel Pesina another paycheck. It even gave us the sillier finishing moves such as the Friendship and the Babality.

Mortal Kombat 3 was a bit of a letdown, recycling the graphics we saw from MK2 and just adding more characters to the roster, like Stryker, who is considered one of the worst fighting game characters ever created. Mortal Kombat Trilogy was a console exclusive that gave MK fans everything they wanted, giving new moves to everyone and adding Chamelion (or Khameleon, depending on which console you owned).

Mortal Kombat 4 tried to take the series into 3D, but it looked so ridiculously terrible that the series needed a comeback.

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Deception were technically the same game, but they offered enough new content and graphical improvements that Mortal Kombat fans were pleased, if not overjoyed.

Mortal Kombat: Armageddon met with a mixed reaction. It threw out the character specific fatalities and once again included every character in the series thus far, with a few minor exceptions.

It was time for a reboot, and as the first MK title to hit Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Mortal Kombat was indeed reborn with all the gore and fatalities that the series had been known for. As an added bonus, it was eventually released as the Komplete Edition with A Nightmare on Elm Street alumni Freddy Krueger as an extra character. This version also included DLC of Rain and Kenshi, and retro skins and old-school fatalities from Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile.

Now Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition is coming to PC, and you’ll finally be able to “finish him” with the latest hit title in the franchise without a console. The digital release will hit July 3, with a retail copy available August 6.

Are you excited about the release of Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition for PC?

‘Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition’ Hits PC This Summer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Xbox One won’t need to be “always online,” but it will require an internet connection to work. Now everybody’s confused again.

Now being dubbed the “Xbone” over the poor decisions Microsoft has made regarding their next generation console, the Xbox One is once again in the middle of a huge amount of controversy and outrage. At least the PlayStation 4 didn’t make gamers want to jump ship and buy something else over reveal announcements.

Not such a long time ago in this very galaxy, there was an online rumor that the Xbox One (then known only as Xbox 720) would require an internet connection to function, thus calling forth the “always online” rumor. This rumor was practically made fact when (now) ex-Microsoft creative director Adam Orth took to Twitter with the statement, “Sorry, I don’t get the drama around having an ‘always on’ console. Every device now is ‘always on’. That’s the world we live in. #dealwithit.”

Adam Orth continued to push the topic about the Xbox One needing to be “always online” by poking fun at consumers who had a problem with it. On Twitter, he added, “Sometimes the electricity goes out. I will not purchase a vacuum cleaner.“ and “The mobile reception in the area I live in is spotty and unreliable. I will not buy a mobile phone.” He also suggested everyone move to big cities where the internet is less questionable, and considering he was working in Seattle, it really got on everybody’s nerves.

Microsoft had officially apologized for his tirade, though their statement doesn’t even come close to addressing anything about the “always-online” rumors that instigated it.

Later, an internal memo at Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One would not need an internet connection to function as a Blu-Ray player, a TV streaming device, or to play single-player games.

Yesterday at the big reveal, Microsoft’s Phil Harrison said you would need to connect your Xbox One to the internet at least once a day for it to function. This spawned a hailstorm of confusion as we had just been told we wouldn’t have an online requirement if we’re not planning to play online. He clarified the connection timing as “I believe it’s 24 hours. There have been reports of a specific time period — those were discussions of potential scenarios, but we have not confirmed any details today, nor will we be.”

So we’re right back to “you’re going to require your Xbox One to have an always online connection, deal with it” all over again.

Again we refer to the new fan-given moniker, the Xbone.

Do you think having the Xbox One online to function is a major issue? Will an always online requirement keep you from buying Microsoft’s latest console?

Xbox One ‘Always Online’ Statement Confusing To Say The Least is a post from: The Inquisitr

Electronic Arts is developing games for the Wii U after all.

After EA senior software engineer and architect Bob Summerwill told the press that the Wii U is crap, it was understood that the game developer wouldn’t make games for Nintendo’s failing console. Just to recap, he said on Twitter before deleting it all, “The Wii U is crap. Less powerful than an Xbox 360. Poor online/store. Weird tablet. Nintendo are walking dead at this point. Sony, MS, Apple, Google all following the same playbook. Standard, powerful, hardware, with focus on software and services.”

Bob Summerwill also added that Nintendo is still operating like it’s still 1990, indicating how archaic the Wii U seems to be in his opinion.

Some would call it irony that the worst company of the year is bashing the worst-selling console at the time. And there is more irony coming after all that.

Electronic Arts has announced that they are developing games for Wii U not even a week later.

There is a saying that if you live in a glass house, you shouldn’t throw stones, and obviously EA hasn’t heard that one. The pot has officially called the kettle black.

EA’s chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen said today:

“You know, I think Nintendo’s business was more [an] extension of their last console. We are building titles for the Nintendo console, but not anywhere near as many as we are for PS or Xbox. I think what the consumer will find is a lot more powerful gameplay with the new boxes that are coming out, and a lot of excitement, but it’ll remain to be seen as to the services associated with those as to how consumers decide which direction they might want to go.”

Way to backpedal, EA. We’ll see what happens after the worst company of the year launches games for Nintendo’s failing console after insulting the Wii U like it did.

What do you think? Is Electronic Arts simply continuing on the path that earned them their reputation? Do you think EA can help save the Wii U?

Electronic Arts Is Developing For Wii U After All is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Xbox One is being called the Xbone already and personally I’m not surprised.

I was betting the Xbox One was to be called the Xbox Fusion with the assumption that the Xbox Mini / TV rumors were true. I understand how they’re trying to make the Xbox an all-in-one device, but seriously it sounds like Microsoft is trying to channel Neo if anything else.

Some users calling the Xbox One the Xbone are claiming Microsoft dropped the ball in other ways besides the name. The one tidbit getting Xbox gamers the most irritated is activating games tied to your Xbox One accounts. The Xbox One provides a market for used games, but Microsoft charges a fee for the install.

Now I can understand the Xbox One used games decision to a certain extent. Developing games since the Xbox 360 have been getting more and more expensive due to the increased detail levels demanded by gamers. The Xbox One and Playstation 4 will only raise the bar. Developers and publishers don’t profit from used games unless they have in-game purchases or alternative purchase models. Although, many gamers use the money from used games to buy new games, so it’s not a perfect excuse for the Xbox One used games business model. GameStop even claims used games sales generate $1.8 billion a year for the rest of the video game industry.

Still, the Xbox One can be called the Xbone for other reasons. The most obvious is the Xbox One’s backward compatibility with Xbox 360 games. Now there supposedly will be a second event for the Xbox One, so it’s possible there Xbox Mini will still be announced. Xbox One Mini rumors say this device provides a Xbox 360 SoC, hooks into the Xbox One, and provides backwards compatibility.

Microsoft isn’t allowing indie games to be self-published on Xbox One. All I can say is, I hear Wii U needs games. Dropping indies seemed needless. Although it’s possible their indie games section on Xbox Live haven’t been profitable. But I’d say that’s due to marketing since there’s many good indie games out there.

The Xbox One always online rumors are another deal breaker. Microsoft’s Phil Harrison said the Xbox One would need to connect online at least every 24 hours, or at least once every day. However, Microsoft spokespeople later said, “There have been reports of a specific time period — those were discussions of potential scenarios, but we have not confirmed any details today, nor will we be.”

The short of it is that even if you own the physical disc for a game if the game purchase is not tied to your Xbox One account then you cannot play it. The Xbox One console needs an internet connection, but it doesn’t need to be connected all of the time to allow for internet interruptions. So if you take a game disc to a friend’s house they’ll need online access and you’ll have to log in using your own account.

Gamasutra was the first to start the Xbone trend on Twitter:

Okay… I guess Xbone makes sense with @collarduty i.qkme.me/3uinfw.jpg

— Alexa Ray Corriea (@AlexaRayC) May 22, 2013

http://twitter.com/sinisterdesign/status/337203151390248960

Finally put my finger on what the Xbone reminds me of, appearance-wise officeworks.com.au/retail/product…

— Yahtzee Croshaw (@YahtzeeCroshaw) May 22, 2013

So, considering Microsoft’s actions: Xbox One or Xbone?

Xbox One Called Xbone, Probably A Less Terrible Name is a post from: The Inquisitr

Microsoft won’t allow self-publishing of indie titles on the Xbox One.

Yesterday’s reveal of the Xbox One not only laid naming rumors to rest, but also opened a new gateway to controversy involving what we now know. One of the rumors confirmed was the lack of backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games, as well as Microsoft charging a fee to reinstall games to the hard drive. This will allow used games to be played, but if you get a new hard drive, you’ll pay for your entire library all over again.

Apparently Microsoft doesn’t want anyone having the freedom they enjoyed with games on their previous consoles. They have even made it so you have to go through them in order to develop games on the Xbox One.

This could be bad news for gamers who want to see something fresh and new, since it means that developers who haven’t already had a successful track record may turn to developing for other consoles and leaving the Xbox One in the dust. We hear Wii U needs games, in that case.

Xbox Live Arcade had previously allowed indie developers to publish on the Xbox 360, and it was a convenient way for new games to reach the public without any extra steps, and the ease of programming drew the masses. On the Xbox One, the indie channel is gone, meaning indie developers will now need to make a deal with outside publishers just to work on Xbox Live Arcade titles for the next generation console.

Microsoft general manager Matt Booty has stated:

“As of right now, yes. We intend to continue to court developers in the ways that we have. I would also expect that for this new generation, that we’re going to continue to explore new business models and new ways of surfacing content. But Microsoft Studios is a publisher that works with a wide range of partners, as do a lot of other people, to bring digital content to the box.”

This iron fisted policy Microsoft is using with games in general for the Xbox One just can’t bode well for the future of gaming. No backwards compatibility, no indie publishing to Xbox Live Arcade, no free use of pre-owned games … Microsoft, we’re seeing too many negatives in your plans for your next console.

Microsoft may need to lighten up on their plans or risk seeing the last console they ever make.

Do you think Microsoft’s new restrictions for indie titles on Xbox One are a bad idea? Is it enough to make you say “no” to the next generation?

Xbox One: Microsoft Won’t Allow Self-Published Indie Titles is a post from: The Inquisitr

Electronic Arts has teased a new Star Wars: Battlefront game in the works.

Today during a technology conference, CFO Blake Jorgensen hinted that one of their new Star Wars games would be a Battlefront title. He said, “The opportunity to do a new Battlefront, for example, which is one of the very popular Star Wars games, or some of the other traditional games that were made, is very exciting.”

Previously Star Wars: Battlefront was released alongside the original Star Wars Trilogy DVD set and earned praise all around. Battlefront 2 continued the legacy of giving us scenarios across the film locales. One of the highlights of the game was the fact that an original hero or villain would fight alongside you depending on which side you chose to play as. The idea was to maintain control of the map, and gamers loved it.

After the fall of LucasArts, the Star Wars franchise slipped from the hands of Activision to Electronic Arts, neither of which reportedly has had a great year thus far.

Blake Jorgensen has added, “These aren’t movie games, per se, these are standalone games. But obviously they would come out near the movies and be able to tailgate off of some of the buzz that will be created around the new Star Wars movies.”

Once again, rather than mess with the canon laid down theatrically, Electronic Arts is instead basing the game on its own storyline independent of the films. They are planning to use the popularity surrounding the upcoming Star Wars films to help generate interest in the new game and it will not be based specifically on any of the films.

In the history of movie-based games, we have seen over and over that even the best intentions can turn out to be complete failures. Look at the recently released Star Trek video game, and you’ll see what happens when a developer depends too much on a film to sell a game.

Star Wars: Battlefront has proven itself before, but not in the hands of Electronic Arts. Do you think they can pull it off?

‘Star Wars: Battlefront’ Teased By Electronic Arts is a post from: The Inquisitr

Call of Duty: Ghosts was officially revealed for the Xbox One at today’s reveal event.

The uber-popular World War II simulator Call of Duty is officially getting a next generation upgrade on the upcoming Xbox One. Call of Duty: Ghosts has been teased up to this point, and the name has been guessed at by fans everywhere, but now it is known that Call of Duty: Ghosts is the official name of this year’s title.

It has been known that a new Call of Duty title usually hits every year since its inception on the Xbox 360, and its absence thus far this year makes much more sense. Activision was simply waiting for the reveal of the Xbox One to show their hand.

The graphics for this entry in the Call of Duty franchise are remarkable. Finer details will be shown off alongside realistically animated creatures. Environments will be composed of dynamic mapping, meaning that when you set off a land mine this time, there will actually be a crater and a noticeable dip in the ground as you walk over it.

This time around, you’ll also get a dog helping you along in the game, which might add a whole new dynamic to the gameplay and story elements. You might be able to play fetch while you wait for allies to catch up with you, or use the dog to fetch ammunition from fallen enemies. The dog might even warn you of enemies trying to sneak up on you while you sit with your face plastered against the sight of an assault rifle.  It will be able to sniff out explosives and protect the team.

New moves added to the game include wall jumping, where your character instinctively leaps over obstacles as he runs at them. You will also be able to lean more cautiously, possibly reducing your enemy’s headshot count. There will also be a slide move that will let you more effectively move behind cover.

Call of Duty: Ghosts will also let you customize your character, possibly making the camouflage a waste of time as you dress all in bling. We don’t know much about that yet.

What do you think of the reveal trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts at the Xbox One event?

‘Call Of Duty: Ghosts’ Lands New Trailer At Xbox One Reveal [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Xbox 720 is about ready to be revealed, and this is your live update on the event.

Rumors have flown around for nearly a year now about Microsoft’s next generation console, and never as ferociously as they have since the reveal of the PlayStation 4 in February. Today is the big day that Microsoft’s next Xbox gets revealed!

First off, let’s run down the rumors surrounding the Xbox 720.

One of the biggest rumors surrounding the Xbox 720 was the one about the console having an “always online” connection and requiring it to even work. Despite the controversy started from Twitter by an ex-creative director from Microsoft, an internal email later dispelled the concept by saying the system needs to work whether it’s online or not, especially during playback of Blu-Ray movies, TV viewing and single-player games.

Another rumor that has yet to be proven is that the Xbox 720 will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games. Supposedly you may need to buy the separate Xbox Mini to allow this.

Rumor has it that the Xbox Mini will be a sort of cable box for Microsoft’s next generation console, allowing you to watch streaming TV and play older games.

There is also talk of the graphic processor being an improvement on the one in the PlayStation 4, an x86 system. For some reason we won’t go into, the 86-bit processor is actually lower technology than the new 64-bit that most newer PCs run and the Xbox 720 is rumored to have, meaning the Xbox 720 might actually look better this time around than the PlayStation 4.

The controller for the Xbox 720 could imitate the one used by Nintendo’s failing Wii U, with the HD screen display surrounded by the familiar buttons.

Illumiroom could turn your entire living room into a part of the gaming experience by the use of hologram technology.

Kinect 2.0 will have motion tracking technology which could adjust the screen depending on where you are in the room.

The price could be the same as the last Xbox, at $300, and possibly include a cheaper model with a monthly subscription fee.

Finally, the name could be the Xbox Fusion, the Xbox Infinity, Durango, or just the Xbox 720.

We will update you as soon as we know more. In the meantime the Xbox 720 event is expected to start on Xbox Live at 10am Pacific Time.

[Updates thanks to Tayla Holman]

The new name for the Xbox 720 will now officially be the Xbox One.  This is an interesting name for the third generation of Xbox, to say the least.

The controller is said to be a lot like the black Xbox 360 version, and the console itself appears to be very boxy with a sort of checkerboard black and gray appearance.

The Xbox One will be voice activated, meaning you can simply speak and it will change the channel for you, among other things.

Grab, Pan and Swipe Up are some of the gestures used by the new Kinect 2.0.

The new TV style control will feature voice control, as mentioned above, as well as favorites and trending.  Apparently your “pins” will now be “favorites”, and you’ll always know what’s popular at the moment.

Unlike the Xbox 360, the Xbox One will now come with a Blu-Ray drive and faster USB 3.0 control ports.

The Kinect 2.0 will now be able to read your heartbeat while you exercise, making it the spiritual successor to the Wii Remote.

Xbox One will have a dedicated DVR to record your achievements.

The head of EA Sports says they’re launching FIFA, UFC, Madden and NBA Live in the next 12 months.

New 3D crowds, dynamic sidelines, and a daily stream of content will impact the game as you play.

Forza 5 will be available at the launch of the Xbox One.

TV using the Xbox One will now be social.  Speaking of TV, Steven Spielberg has announced a new live-action Halo TV series.

There is a new game-changing partnership with the NFL, integrating live sports and fantasy football teams.  You can use Skype to taunt your friends in real time!

The Xbox One will apparently be in stores by the end of 2013.

Call of Duty: Ghosts (and yes, that’s the game’s official name now) will use dynamic mapping to allow the gamer to interact like never before.

[Update]

Smart Match will set you up with players around your skill level.

New TV controls add Snap, which lets you see extra info about the show in the sidebar.

The Xbox One will not need to be online to work.  The internet is only necessary for the same things the Xbox 360 uses it for, and TV streaming uses separate provider signals.

The Xbox One will not be backwards compatible.  The reason is a difference in gaming architecture.  It’s like upgrading from a bicycle to a Porsche, technically speaking.

And that’s all we know until E3 2013.

What did you like or dislike about the Xbox 720 (Now Xbox One) reveal event?

Xbox 720 Event Live Update is a post from: The Inquisitr

The classic PC first-person shooter Shadow Warrior is getting a reboot.

If you weren’t playing video games back in 1997, then you may have missed 3D Realms’ bloody adventure starring the katana-wielding hero Lo Wang. Nearly 16 years after the game’s original release for DOS and Mac, fans are getting a reboot designed specifically for PC and next-generation systems.

The folks at Devolver Digital and Flying Wild Hog are spearheading the project, which is expected to arrive at some point this fall. Although Shadow Warrior has been announced for PC and PS4, there’s a strong possibility it will be released for the new Xbox machine as well.

As far as gameplay is concerned, Lo Wang’s first-person adventure didn’t differ too greatly from the likes of Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Serious Sam. Armed with an array of weapons, the player is charged with wiping out bad guys tucked away in a handful of levels.

Much like Duke Nukem, Lo Wang had a pretty sick sense of humor. In addition to dropping one-liners with reckless abandon, Shadow Warrior was packed with a fair amount of grisly violence. Judging from the trailer, it would appear that the reboot isn’t straying too far from the original.

Here’s how the official press release describes the upcoming adventure:

“Follow the offbeat tale of Zilla Enterprise’s corporate shogun, Lo Wang, who is ordered by his employer to track down and acquire a legendary blade known as the Nobitsura Kage. Forced into a timeless battle, Lo Wang learns of the blade’s connection to ancient gods from another realm, pushing our world to the brink of destruction. Aided by Hoji, a banished spirit from this mysterious world, Lo Wang must use a masterful combination of gun, blade, magic and wit to discover the truth behind the demonic invasion.”

If you’re curious to check out the original, then you should swing by Apple’s App Store. The game was released back in February for both iPhone and iPad. Old-school gaming fanatics should find plenty to love about the title.

Are you a fan of the original Shadow Warrior? Do you plan to check out the reboot when it’s released later this year?

‘Shadow Warrior’ Reboot Gets A Teaser Trailer [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Xbox 720 Event is almost upon us, so here’s a little fun you can have with it if you’re 21 years or older.

Rumors and speculation have been flying everywhere around the Xbox 720 since its announcement almost a year ago, with allegiances forming on both sides. Everybody’s hanging on every rumor like it’s gold, and today, Microsoft is about to put most of those rumors to rest as they reveal the long-awaited Xbox 720.

Yesterday, Sony pulled their jab at the Xbox 720 by releasing a blurry image on their console with highlights the day before the Xbox 720 event. Sony doesn’t want us forgetting about the PlayStation 4 in the meantime.

Anyway, while you’re waiting for the Xbox 720 event to start, here is IGN‘s unofficial Xbox 720 event drinking game!

Take a sip if a Microsoft representative says:

• Cutting edge technology
• Subscription model
• Home entertainment system
• This holiday season
• Games centric
• A unique experience
• Innovation
• Third party support
• The price

Do a shot if they mention the following games:

• Halo 5
• Forza 5
• New Gears of War
• Fable MMO
• Kinectimals
• Killer Instinct 3
• Alan Wake 2
• Respawn’s Titan Project

Chug your drink of any of these tech specs are mentioned:

• Blu-Ray Drive
• Kinect 2.0
• eight GB RAM
• TiVo Functionality
• Always Connected
• Two GPUs

Drink two fingers if these are mentioned:

• Always Online
• Illumiroom
• Digital TV Hub
• Backwards Compatibility
• Multi-Tasking
• Smartglass Integration

Just go nuts, jump around and throw your drinks all over everyone in the room if Steve Ballmer appears on stage.

There you go. Tune in to the Xbox 720 event on Xbox Live and have fun. Remember to drink responsibly and don’t drive drunk. We at The Inquisitr are not responsible for any alcohol related shenanigans you might get into.

Are you ready for the drinking game for the Xbox 720 event?

Xbox 720 Event Drinking Game, For Fans Over 21 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Kevin Conroy won’t be voicing Batman in Arkham Origins after all.

Apparently the voice of Batman from the animated series and the last two Arkham games won’t be the same in Batman: Arkham Origins. Sorry about the confusion.

When Kevin Conroy took to Twitter and said “Confusion in Dallas! I am in new ARKHAM GAME coming soon, NOT ARKHAM ORIGINS coming this fall,” he may have let the bat out of the bag about future game plans. He said they (he and the developers) have been working on something for months and he wasn’t allowed to say anything. He may have been referring to another Arkham game on the horizon after Batman: Arkham Origins.

According to Warner Bros., the Twitter account used was Kevin Conroy’s official one.

At the Dallas Comic Con Kevin Conroy had said, “I can talk about it now, we’ve been working for about 9-10 months on the next Arkham.” Thus the confusion began. We had assumed he was talking about Arkham Origins, but apparently there is another Batman game he has signed up for after that.

Instead the voice of Batman in Arkham Origins is going to be Robert Craig Smith, possibly reflecting a younger and less experienced Bruce Wayne, considering it is a prequel to the series that began with Batman: Arkham Asylum.

In Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman meets a lot of the major villains for the first time. If you look into Batman canon on villains, you’ll notice that most of them wouldn’t exist if it hadn’t been for Batman, so technically, the Dark Knight needed to exist in full form before all of the criminal life in Gotham City decided to get all vengeant.

For some reason, as Batman hardens and becomes the hero of Gotham City full time, his voice changes. We’re reminded of Christian Bale’s sudden need to growl in The Dark Knight.

So there you go. The voice of Batman in Batman: Arkham Origins is the guy who voiced Ezio Auditore da Firenze in Assassin’s Creed 2, Robert Craig Smith. And Kevin Conroy is supposedly returning as the caped crusader in an Arkham game after this one.

How do you feel about Batman’s voice being changed in Batman: Arkham Origins?

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Won’t Have Kevin Conroy After All … Holy Confusion, Batman! is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sony is teasing blurry images of the PlayStation 4 the day before the Xbox 720 event.

It was bound to happen. The day before Microsoft reveals the Xbox 720, Sony is out to remind us that their console is still on its way. The images may be blurry, but the photographer claims it’s because he was taking the pictures with a PlayStation Vita. That isn’t a very comforting thing to admit during the reveal of the next generation console: that it’s possible to take bad pictures with the same company’s product.

The reveal of the PlayStation 4 shows us that, much like its predecessors with numbers, it’s black and boxy in design. Of course, system war veterans will undoubtedly remind us all that it’s not what the system looks like or what its technical capabilities are that sells a console; it’s the games you can play on it.

Anyway, now Microsoft will be under even more pressure to reveal their console design shortly after the Xbox 720 event, if not during. The fans will be skeptical if they don’t at least show a preliminary design tomorrow.

The images of the PlayStation 4 may be blurry, but close-ups show buttons, the logo, vents, and the like indicating pieces of what we’ll see in its full glory at E3 2013. Speculation states that the PlayStation 4 will be much smaller than the PlayStation 3, and easy to fit in any entertainment center. Considering the hulk of a machine that the first Xbox was, this could be a major reversal in the trend of consoles to date. We can’t be sure of the actual size without at least the controller to compare it to, but the ensuing rumor is that Sony’s next generation machine may be similar in size to the Dreamcast and GameCube.

The video doesn’t tell us much, other than that the console is finished and ready to reveal at June’s E3 2013.

What do you think of Sony’s teaser of what the PlayStation 4 actually looks like?

PlayStation 4: Sony Teases Blurry System Pics The Day Before Xbox 720 Event [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Xbox 720 event is happening tomorrow, and Machinima has made a parody video about how it might unfold.

Rumors and speculation have been running rampant over the Xbox 720 for nearly a year now, and after Sony revealed the PlayStation 4, the rumors have never been more fiercely fought over. Seriously, one Twitter post was all it took to make potential Xbox 720 owners pledge allegiance to Sony’s upcoming machine.

Oddly enough, nobody knows yet what the PlayStation 4 even looks like, other than the people at Sony. All we’ve seen is the controller, and tomorrow that may be all we really see of the Xbox 720.

The video begins with words on the screen, “The Macroshaft Presscon Friends Will Begin Shortly,” along with some classical music. Then a couple of guys just start yelling over each other and end up yelling at the same time, “Xbooooooooox!”

One takes over in the already established Billy Mays style, “You all saw the Sony conference, we’re here to blow ‘em away! They had a ridiculous stage, we got a platform like this!” The background shows footage of the PlayStation 4 event and a plethora of monitors, and then just the guy in front of a green screen.  And the jokes and parodies begin.

The two guys keep yelling, “Sony showed no console!” “Zerooooooo!” One of them adds in a normal pitch, “That’s what we’re showing too.” The other one says, “We shoved a VHS player in the back of mine!”

Then a bunch of weird schematics run in the background as one of them says, “Three! Count! Three symmetrical cores running at 3.2 gigahertz, times two.” The text flies by with an obvious misspelling, “3.2 gigahearts.” The other guy adds, “300 magmahertz processor!” “Ten megabytes of embedded RAM.”

One of the guys laughs, “Ten megabytes…” The other one cuts him off, “That’s 500 million triangles per nanosecond! How many triangles is that?”

The rest of the video is above.

How do you think the Xbox 720 event might happen?

Xbox 720 Event: How It Might Unfold [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Batman: Arkham Origins just landed a trailer and new images to whet your appetite.

After all the talk and rumors surrounding the epic follow-up to Batman: Arkham City, we now have a video showing us more of the game Batman fans will probably be playing for months. The trailer below is basically an extension of the scene that we saw in the teaser trailer, but it puts a story behind it and explains the plot of the game itself.

The Black Mask, a notorious criminal contractor, puts a price on Batman’s head after his crime-fighting skills prove too effective for his own good. Deathstroke, a master assassin, comes along and attempts to claim the price, but he’s interrupted when other hit men also try to claim it in the middle of his attempt. The boss eventually comes along and tells Deathstroke that this is just the beginning.

The trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins begins with a cityscape of Gotham City and scrolls down to the side, revealing a car racing to a stop in a deserted street covered in snow. Three armed men in ski masks race to get a heavy box of something into a building. The last of the three closes the back of the car and yells, “Go! Move it out!”

The car drives away and the third man leads the two carrying the box as he tells them to drop it there. The third man turns out to be the Black Mask, as he tosses his mask on a table. One of the others turns on some Christmas lights, two of which instantly break. He turns to his partner, “Frank, check the breaker.”

Frank takes a flashlight to check the breaker, and gets his face bashed into the box. This all eventually leads to a big setup where Deathstroke used the whole scenario to trap Batman.  Here’s hoping these criminals have some great medical insurance, after that face bashing.

What do you think of the trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins?

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Trailer Hits With New Images [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pokemon X and Y have been hit with another round of rumors.

We already know that the game will be released for 3DS and use the technology to give us a 3D world. We’ve seen the new Pokemon Fletchling, Helioptile, Pancham and Gogoat, the latest of which will be one you can ride to get to more places. We also know now that the new 3D world is based on France, including a major structure that resembles the Eiffel Tower. The new Pokedex is broken up into three parts, each based on a different part of the world map.

Now for another round of Pokemon rumors surrounding Pokemon X and Y, some of which may be true or well-founded.

The new character in Pokemon X and Y that most people are instantly attracted to is Pancham, the fighting type panda (You know, like Kung Fu Panda), so it makes sense that one of the new rumors surrounds it. Pancham apparently has an evolution from called Pangoro, who happens to be a fighting/dark type Pokemon. The rumor is that in order to evolve it into that form, you have to have a dark type Pokemon in your party.

Another Pokemon called Inkay will evolve into Malimar, and it is rumored that while you level it up, you have to hold the 3DS upside down to trigger the new form. Another rumored evolution involves Espurr evolving into Meowstick, keeping with the tradition of cat-based updates, as every Pokemon game released to date has always had a cat-based update.

New moves are reported to be “Belch” and “Draining Kiss,” which sound pretty disgusting together. “Belch” is supposedly a poison attack with a base power of 120, and it’s rumored that certain Pokemon will need to be holding a berry to use it. “Draining Kiss” is supposedly a fairy type move that works like most of the health-stealing attacks.

Pokemon X and Y will also feature new rivals. One will be an ally while the other is an enemy. It is rumored that after you beat the game, your ally will give you his or her fully evolved Pokemon to help fill out your Pokedex.

What do you think of this round of rumors for Pokemon X and Y?

‘Pokemon X’ and ‘Y’: Rumors Swirl Again is a post from: The Inquisitr

Guilty Gear now has a trailer promising a new entry in the series.

One of those fighting games that may have been forgotten in the midst of other series, Guilty Gear Xrd is the next title in this one. Guilty Gear is one of those fighting games that has stayed in 2D art style in spite of the technology, as Atlus must have known that fighting games just don’t work very well in 3D.

Look at what happened with Street Fighter EX and Mortal Kombat 4, and you’ll see how 3D fighting can go wrong. It wasn’t until the franchises decided to keep the 2D gameplay that people started enjoying them again. Obscure Japanese style games like Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown thrived much like Guilty Gear, relying on 2D art instead of 3D rendering to get the graphical job done.

Guilty Gear Xrd takes the idea of 2D art and adapts it to 3D space to give us what Street Fighter 4 did, but keeps the cartoon-like appearance throughout. Arc System Works may also have decided to stick to English subtitles instead of re-dubbing the words. After all, how much of fighting game character stories do we really pay attention to?

The trailer begins with a relatively simple burning parchment style animation of credits as the voice-overs speak on in Japanese with English subtitles.

“Get out of my way…”

“You’re not going alone. Wait for back-up.”

“Heh, if I don’t win then the world’s screwed anyway, right?”

“Which is exactly… why we need to wait and assess the situation.”

“Who cares what that punk really is[?] Look, I’m a bounty hunter – I go wherever [there are] bounties. Simple, right?”

Then we finally see the Guilty Gear fighters, both dressed in over the top Japanese styles, and the blond one says, “I suppose we’re beyond reason at this point?”

The rest of the trailer is above, and the visuals get pretty crazy along with some Japanese heavy metal.

What do you think of the trailer for Guilty Gear Xrd?

‘Guilty Gear Xrd’ Trailer Continues Series [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Batman is getting his voice back in Batman: Arkham Origins.

The voice of Batman in the animated series as well as Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Akham City is staying the same after all. Kevin Conroy said he just wasn’t allowed to talk about it until now, due to the studio not releasing any information until they deem it necessary.

After the announcement for Batman: Arkham Origins, it was rumored the Kevin Conroy might not reprise his role as the title character. Rest assured, Dark Knight fans, your favorite superhero isn’t getting his voice changed after all.

Kevin Conroy said:

“I can talk about it now. We’ve been working for about nine or ten months on the next Arkham game. We all signed contracts so we weren’t allowed to talk about it. The studio likes to completely control the rollout of any product, so they don’t like us to talk about anything, but it’s now been announced. It’s an unbelievable game, I still can’t say anything about it, and you don’t want me to anyway because it will ruin it for you, but it’s amazing. It’s a huge, huge cast, and a big story. It took almost a year of writing to put it together. They’ve been working on it a long time.”

Long story short, Kevin Conroy can officially say once again, “I’m Batman.”

The story of Batman: Arkham Origins begins with the title character getting a hit put out on him by the Black Mask on Christmas Eve, which might explain the heavy news surrounding Deathstroke. Batman hasn’t been hardened like he was previously, and hasn’t met most of the villains who have been through Arkham Asylum almost as often as certain fast food franchises go through employees.

Rocksteady Studios has given the game over to Warner Bros. Games Montreal under the supervision of the guy behind Prototype. Thus we can expect a much broader world and more gameplay depth than we’ve seen in previous Batman titles.

Are you excited that Kevin Conroy is playing Batman once more in Batman: Arkham Origins?

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’: Batman’s Voice Is Returning is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Last of Us may have gotten its ending spoiled by Gametrailers‘ Geoff Keighley.

Naughty Dog’s upcoming zombie survival horror game The Last of Us may have gotten its ending spoiled for many a fan when a major gaming site interviewed the developers in the video below.

The interview video is called “Enter the Apocalypse,” where Gametrailers‘ own Geoff Keighley talks to developers Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley. In this video, they discuss all the cool things you can do in the zombie game featuring a man and a girl who are among the last of the human race not infected by a virus that turned everybody else into the walking undead.

In the game, Joel is a grizzled fighter who has thrown his morals out the window because he believes that is the only way to survive. Ellie is a teenage girl who accompanies him on his journey to escape the harsh US military regime and reach a resistance group.

As with most zombie survival horror titles, it doesn’t need much of a story because with the endless undead lining your path, there is little reason for it. The Last of Us may just be the next big zombie game on the market.

If you don’t want to read a potential spoiler, you should stop reading here and avoid the video. If you don’t care and are interested in what was said, here it goes.

In the interview about The Last of Us, Geoff Keighley asked the developers what part of the game he has just played, and they told him it was toward the one-third mark. Then he asks, “Before Joel’s been ‘turned’ right?”. This is then met with awkward silence before he follows up with “Just kidding.” Being turned usually means becoming one of the infected, and this may have been an inadvertent plot point in the game, hence the awkward silence followed by an equally awkward laugh.

Are you eager to play The Last of Us in spite of now possibly knowing a major plot point?

‘The Last Of Us’: Did Gametrailers’ Geoff Keighley Spoil The Ending? [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Thief is getting a next generation remake for PlayStation 4, and here’s a rundown of what to expect.

Eidos’ stealth title Thief is the fourth in the series and a total reboot, taking queues from Assassins’ Creed and Metal Gear in its gameplay. The title character is Garrett, who must steal from the rich while avoiding detection, or risk getting hunted down in the name of the law.

In Thief, the city is on the verge of an unwilling industrial revolution, and master thief Garrett is out to ensure the wealth gets redistributed to his own pockets. This isn’t your typical hero at all. He pilfers caravans and pickpockets the people, knowing that those in power are doing the same, just more openly and behind a mask composed mostly of red tape.

Garrett’s tools are not the high-tech gadgets that you’re used to in Rainbow Six, or the genius-crafted wrist blades of Assassin’s Creed. His tools are simple. A bow, special arrows, and a claw device are basically the full arsenal here. The arrows are an odd mix with different and specific purposes. Water-tipped arrows are used to douse torches and candles, while blunt-tipped arrows simply make a distracting noise that draws guards away so you can play. There is a jagged-edged arrow whose use is not quite known yet, although it could be a simple attack weapon. Other than that, you basically dive in and out of shadows and scale walls to keep from being seen.

Focus is another special ability being used in the next generation remake of Thief, which basically slows time and gives you more control over your actions in a small amount of virtual time. Yup, bullet time from The Matrix is still making its rounds. It’s been featured in different kinds of games such as the Tony Hawk series and keeps finding its way back.

Thief will tempt you in every direction, as even though you may only be in someone’s home to take one thing, there are plenty of other opportunities to steal items of value and stashes of wealth.

Producer Stephane Roy says:

“The whole environment for us is a big playground. We have some hiding spots where Garrett can go into the shadows, but you’re never fully safe. We create some stress, some anticipation. But we also want to give a lot of opportunities to flee, to save your ass, catch your breath. There’s always an impact to your choice, but we try to give a lot of tools and places to hide, for Garrett to manage those situations.”

Are you excited about the next generation remake of Thief?

‘Thief’: Next Generation Remake Broken Down is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Nvidia Shield was suppose to open up for pre-orders in three days; instead, the company launched the pre-order option ahead of schedule for anxious customers.

Consumers interested in purchasing the handheld gaming system can purchase the device via the Nvidia website and through several retailers that include  Newegg, Gamestop, and Canada Computer.

The Tegra 4-powered Android gaming system features a quad-core processor alongside 2GB of RAM. The Nvidia Shield also provides users with a five-inch multi-touch flip-up display that outputs 1280 x 720 pixels of resolution.

The handheld system also provides gamers with a 16GB hard drive that can be expanded with a microSD card slot.

Connectivity options include Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, and Wi-Fi with 2×2 Mimo support.

Unlike most gaming systems which integrate a display next to a set of controls that wrap around the screen, the Nvidia Shield provides dual analog joysticks, a directional pad, analog triggers, shoulder bumpers, and various other game-related buttons.

Thanks to Nvidia’s know-how with graphical interfaces, the Shield also features the ability to wirelessly stream game footage from a computer.

The handheld console can relay back button presses and inputs from its microUSB 2.0 port to the computer. The device can also relay footage to a standard TV via a built-in mini HDMI output connector.

The Nvidia Shield is expected to ship by the end of June and comes with a price tag of $349. Customers will receive two full games at no charge. Other games can be purchased directly from the device.

Will you be picking up the Nvidia Shield on pre-order or when it arrives at retail locations?

Nvidia Shield Opens Up For Pre-Orders Ahead Of Schedule, Costs $349 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nintendo is laying claim to YouTube videos.

In a new effort to cash in wherever they can, Nintendo is claiming the copyrights on all YouTube videos containing their intellectual property. This means that all of those “Let’s Play” videos featuring their games will redirect the revenue to Nintendo instead of the channel owners.

YouTube channel owner Zack Scott says that Nintendo has already laid claim to several of his “Let’s Play” videos, but, instead of blocking them like most copyright owners do, Nintendo is collecting the revenue for themselves. Zack Scott is outraged by this move, as he believes that gamers watch his videos to see how he plays the games and to hear the commentary, not because it’s Nintendo property. He is a long-time Nintendo fan, but he says that, if Nintendo doesn’t set things right soon, he is planning to stop making videos featuring their games if he’s not earning the revenue from it.

No doubt other YouTube channel owners feel the same way, that Nintendo is jeopardizing their status as YouTube partners by copyright claiming their videos. And how far will they push this new claim policy? Will Smosh and others with live action parodies on their games eventually have those claimed as well?

Apparently Nintendo is just that hard up for money, and they have created a YouTube channel and become a partner just so they can claim copyrights on all videos using their content.

Nintendo has made the following statement concerning this new move:

“As part of our on-going push to ensure Nintendo content is shared across social media channels in an appropriate and safe way, we became a YouTube partner and as such in February 2013 we registered our copyright content in the YouTube database. For most fan videos this will not result in any changes, however, for those videos featuring Nintendo-owned content, such as images or audio of a certain length, adverts will now appear at the beginning, next to or at the end of the clips. We continually want our fans to enjoy sharing Nintendo content on YouTube, and that is why, unlike other entertainment companies, we have chosen not to block people using our intellectual property.”

So basically, they’re saying, “We’re here for our money, be thankful we didn’t just block you.” Alongside the report by The Inquisitr that Nintendo banned gay marriage in their games, this isn’t looking so good for Nintendo’s public image.

What do you think of Nintendo’s move to claim ownership on YouTube videos?

Nintendo Claims Ownership On YouTube Videos is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dark just landed a new trailer showing off vampire skills.

The new game about a vampire that almost nobody knows about just landed another trailer. Eric Bane is a blood sucker whose appearance almost reeks of being too similar to Alex Mercer of Prototype and pretty much all of Desmond Miles’ ancestors from Assassin’s Creed. Yup, another hooded antihero is on the horizon.

In Dark‘s defense, it is trying something we’ve never seen before. How many vampire games have you played which required stealth and used super powers? Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, they say. The game also seems to have adopted a new cell-shaded look, giving it a more interesting ambiance.

The new trailer for Dark begins with the title of the video, “Dark skills trailer [number] 2.”

The first skill shown is Obfuscation. Eric Bane sneaks around in a squatting position as the text reads, “Stalk your prey invisibly.” The screen appears to waver like light is being bent all around him. We then see the skills wheel menu before Eric Bane uses the skill and fails to sneak up on a guard, who yells, “He’s here!”

Text at the bottom of the screen says, “Your foes’ blood heals you,” as the text at the top says “Regeneration.” The guard shoots Eric Bane as the vampire makes his way behind a crate. The guard continues shooting as Eric waits for him to close in. Our hero teleports behind the guard and attacks.

We then see the Dark skill wheel menu again and this time “Domination” is selected. Our hero teleports behind another guard and attacks, and this time the text on the bottom reads, “Hypnotize your target.” He then sneaks right by the guard without the guard even seeming to notice as he hangs his head in a daze.

We then see a series of attacks as Eric Bane shows a few people who’s boss.

The rest of the trailer is above. Dark hits Xbox 360 this summer.

What do you think of the new vampire skills trailer for Dark?

‘Dark’ Trailer Shows Off Vampire Skills [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Nintendo’s gay marriage stance apparently became quite clear when a “glitch” was fixed in a popular video game, taking away the ability to have same sex marriages.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, even before the gay marriage controversy Nintendo saw its Wii U console continuing to struggle. Although, some say the Xbox 720 and Playstation 4 may suffer like the Wii U.

The Nintendo gay marriage controversy started when it was discovered that Tomodachi Collection: New Life for the 3DS has a bug which apparently enables male Miis the ability to marry other male Miis in a gay marriage.

In a recent Tomodachi Collection patch Nintendo explained what was fixed. Most of the changes were normal, like “the inability to boot up the game,” “error messages,” and “the inability to save.”

What raised some eyebrows when Nintendo’s gay marriage stance became inadvertently clear based upon one of the patch notes, which, when translated from Japaense, roughly reads, “Human relations become strange.”

While Nintendo’s gay marriage bug apparently affects both male and female characters, Nintendo has not made it clear whether the patch will remove just same sex male relationships, or if female, or lesbian, relationships will be removed as well.

Meanwhile, homosexual Tomodachi Collection: New Life owners are busy posting photos of their virtual gay marriages. The images portray male Mii characters asking each other to go steady, proposing marriage, going on Honeymoons, bathing together, and raising children.

What do you think about Nintendo saying gay marriage is “human relations becom[ing] strange”?

Nintendo Stops Gay Marriage In Game, Condemns ‘Human Relations That Become Strange’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wii U will be a major subject in tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct webcast.

As you well know, Wii U hasn’t done well at all since its launch last year, consistently facing sales that fall significantly short of Nintendo’s expectations. Nintendo blames their dismal outlook on the lack of major games and the failure of its advertising to convince gamers that the Wii U is a worthy addition to their collection of consoles.

In response to the lack of major titles for Nintendo’s Wii U, the Nintendo Direct webcast is where they plan to address new game launches. One webcast will cover the Summer releases, while the second will cover releases from Autumn forward. The first webcast is expected to begin around 3pm British time and will stream from the UK. The second Nintendo Direct webcast is being planned for E3 2013 in June.

Nintendo knows that the reason its Nintendo 64 did as well as it had is because of its first party titles. Aside from Goldeneye 64 and Perfect Dark, there was very little of any quality titles for the system. Wii U is now facing the same problem. In spite of its innovative design and approach to gaming, a hallmark of Nintendo if you think about it, the Wii U just isn’t doing well.

Among the new games being planned for the failing Nintendo console are a new 3D Mario title, Pikmin 3, and Wonderful 101, as well as a new Mario Kart.  But will it be enough?

Shelly Pearce, the PR director at Nintendo UK stated:

“From July onwards we will launch a succession of Wii U titles and we will promote these extensively until the end of the year. Marketing activity will include TV, print, online and PR as well as comprehensive experiential and social media campaigns. We have a strong line up planned for Wii U in the second half of 2013 including the likes of Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Wii U. We are looking forward to launching these in the UK and for the opportunity to showcase the full potential of Wii U.”

If Nintendo’s new tactics work, and the Nintendo Direct webcasts gather the kind of interest they are hoping for, Wii U may just survive in this period of transition as the next generation consoles hover on the horizon.

Do you think Nintendo’s webcasts will be enough to save the Wii U?

Nintendo Direct Webcast Tomorrow Will Cover The Future Of Wii U is a post from: The Inquisitr

Batman: Arkham Origins has just landed a teaser trailer, where Batman faces down Deathstroke.

The Batman series for the consoles is one of the most successful video game franchises based on a superhero, probably ever. So it makes sense that there would be a third Batman title in the series that started with Batman: Akham Asylum. This time, however, it’s being developed by someone else.

This time around, Batman is being developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal, who is going back to when Batman hadn’t met most of the villains yet. Batman: Arkham Origins is also under the supervision of one of the people behind Prototype, which could indicate that gamers may actually continue to play this title even after everything is done.

Deathstroke was introduced in the comics toward the end of the Silver Age, as a new era of ultra-violence reared its head in DC Comics. Needless to say, he could be one of Batman’s most ferocious villains yet, skipping over the dramatic and the riddles and just going straight for the jugular.

The trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins begins with a closeup of Deathstroke in the snow, followed by the same from Batman, who scowls in anticipation. The two start fighting immediately as sword meets bat armor in a well-choreographed battle of skills. The logo for Batman: Arkham Origins appears after a few flashes of this battle.

The words on the screen tell us that Batman: Arkham Origins is due for release worldwide on October 25, 2013. Then it tells us the full trailer is coming May 20.

Warner Bros. Games Montreal knows this game is expected to be huge after the success of Batman: Arkham Asylum and its followup, Arkham City. Games that haven’t been proven usually don’t get teasers advertising a trailer for the sequel.

Batman: Arkham Origins is obviously promising to make it feel like Christmas Eve in real life like it is in the game, for fans of the Dark Knight.

What do you think of the teaser trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins?

‘Batman: Arkham Origins’ Shows Batman Facing Down Deathstroke [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag has landed a gameplay trailer.

After much hype and speculation, we finally have a gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, showing off the naval warfare and pirate action we’ve all been waiting patiently for.

The water effects are everywhere, as rain pours endlessly throughout the trailer. Cannonballs fly as ship-to-ship battles wage, waves lap at hulls, and sharks navigate the abyss below waiting for their next snack. The sun reflects almost blindingly across the water, and mountains promise new lands on the horizon. It all makes for a very convincing sea-based adventure, and makes the story of a British pirate more convincing.

The story of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag follows Connor’s grandfather Edward Kenway as he attempts to make things right for his crew and his family. He has turned his back on his previous masters, men of wealth and affluence, and now uses the blades and firearms of the pirates to accomplish his not-so-dirty deeds.

Edward Kenway narrates through the gameplay trailer:

“I once sailed for a king. I obeyed men of privilege and wealth. Now, I bend my knee to no man. My only oath is to my crew and together we will take back what is rightfully ours. With blood and steel we shall stand up to the powerful. Captains will curse our flag and kings will fear it. As long as empires generate wealth and riches, we will be there to bleed them dry.”

At the end of the trailer we see a slogan like a flag, saying “defy order.” Considering the history of the franchise we can only assume that this means the Templar Order. The trailer for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag features our hero assassinating a range of people as well as sharks. Among them are Red Coats, tying the story in ever closer to Connor from Assassin’s Creed 3.

What do you think of the gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag?

‘Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag’ Gameplay Trailer Hits [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Microsoft may be planning to ditch the Points system, possibly around the launch of the Xbox 720.

For quite a while now, Microsoft Points were the way the Windows company was managing download costs and gift cards, and, for some skeptics, it didn’t make much sense. Why would you convert your money into a number of points just to buy something online?

Apparently Microsoft may be putting an end to the system, ditching the Points altogether in favor of taking the route Sony has been going with. In other words, Microsoft may be planning to simply start using regular cash values instead of Microsoft Points.

You might want to cash in your Microsoft Points gift card soon in that case.

Microsoft has not commented on the rumor, and there doesn’t seem to be any plans to announce it May 21 at the Xbox 720 reveal event. They may be waiting until E3 2013 in June to make the official announcement if there is any basis to it.

Rumors have surrounded Microsoft for months now. Some have proven to be bogus, some like the “always online” aspect of the Xbox 720 shot down possibly after myriads of fan backlash and a certain ex-creative director’s Twitter comments. There was even the cleverly suggested hoax about renaming the system the Xbox Infinity (so clever, in fact, that we ran a couple stories supporting it).

In place of the Microsoft Points system, it is said a new system will seamlessly integrate using regular credit cards and gift cards. The new system could unify purchases across Windows Store, Xbox Live, and Windows Phone and could make the whole purchase system less confusing.

In the meantime, it would only make sense if Microsoft offered credit to gamers still in possession of thousands of Microsoft Points and waiting for new games or DLC they consider worthy of purchase. In that case, might we suggest the Borderlands 2 DLC character Krieg the Psycho, or perhaps Lobo for Injustice: Gods Among Us?

What do you think of Microsoft finally eliminating its Points system? Do you think it will happen with the launch of the Xbox 720?

Xbox 720: Microsoft Planning To Ditch Points System [Rumor] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Borderlands 2 is getting Tiny Tina DLC, and an official release date.

The latest DLC for Borderlands 2 has just landed, and new DLC is already in the works. Krieg the Psycho was released just today, giving gamers a chance to play as a “good guy” version of the melee-heavy enemies you face in the game. However, alongside the new character released today, Tiny Tina has been announced as a followup, making yet another addition to the roster.

Tiny Tina doesn’t come alone, though. She comes alongside a new mission called Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. Regarding the tendency of Borderlands 2 to rely on internet memes to get a laugh, Tiny Tina isn’t just a new character, but the ultimate walking meme. The image the announcement was released with is a picture of a schoolgirl covered in steampunk clothes and a band-aid on her nose as she looks longingly back at you. The caption on the image states her name and the words, “Playtime’s over.”

So now not only do Borderlands 2 fans have a new character to look forward to, but also a whole new map and mission, if you can call it that. Dragon Keep is basically a stage where you play a table game parody of Dungeons and Dragons, with Tiny Tina playing the role of dungeon master, rolling the dice, changing names and character attributes on the fly.  This is the fourth campaign in Borderlands 2 and quite unexpected for a title that’s about running around and killing Psychos and such.  Here’s hoping the humor keeps it interesting.

Borderlands 2 is expected to get the new Tiny Tina DLC before you know it on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. In case you haven’t peeked below already, the release date for Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is set for June 25. There is no set price yet, but you can expect to grab it for around $10 to $15.

Are you excited about the release of the Tiny Tina DLC for Borderlands 2?

‘Borderlands 2′ Tiny Tina DLC Gets Release Date is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wolfenstein: The New Order dropped some new gameplay images, sparking rumors galore.

Back before first-person shooters were mainstream, there was a little game called Wolfenstein. It caused tons of controversy and a huge cult fan base over being among, if not the first of, the first-person shooters. The game had you shooting Nazis in a maze, and the final boss was Hitler. These days that’s no big deal, but back then it was big news. It struck such a nerve that some versions of Wolfenstein were censored to take out the Nazis.

Now what may be the oldest first-person shooter ever made is getting an HD update with Wolfenstein: The New Order. New images have been revealed this week showing gameplay and sparking some rumors about what the game might have in store.

Wolfenstein: The New Order takes the idea of Nazis winning World War II and adds a spin straight out of Hellboy, with Nazis dabbling in paranormal sciences. You once again play the role of William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, a veteran of World War II defending America from the Third Reich. Nazi war machines, which are actual killer robots, roam the streets and you’re the one assigned to undermine the New Order. The images the following speculation is based on can be seen here.

Some of said war machines appear to be dogs, which may be programmed to attack anything not wearing the swastika. Technology has advanced quite a bit further in the 1960s, as guns appear to be much more high-tech and planning rooms seem to be lined with floating pathways.

Blazkowicz appears to have a love interest who aids him on the other end of a head-mounted phone system. There seems to be an old woman with a pistol who isn’t the least bit afraid of what’s going on as she aims it at you. There might be driving scenes where you ride shotgun and snipe Nazis on the go.

What do you think of the rumors surrounding Wolfenstein: The New Order?

‘Wolfenstein: The New Order’ Images Spark New Rumors is a post from: The Inquisitr

Vice President Joe Biden wants all violent video games and movies to be taxed.

Every single time violence in real life becomes a major or nationally relevant topic, the US government keeps trying to blame it on violent media. Violent video games usually get most of the blame because no other kind of media gives you the chance to gun down people and humanoids with realistic weapons ranging from high-powered rifles to crowbars.

Unfortunately, they repeatedly do this because they don’t want to tell parents of violent kids to take responsibility for the actions of their offspring. We can legally regulate guns and games, but we can’t do anything about the real life causes of violence in real life.

Vice President Joe Biden held a closed-door gun legislation meeting with religious representatives from around the US, to discuss the issue of violence in real life. He feels that if we put a tax on makers of violent video games such as Call of Duty, as well as violent movies, we can put the money toward helping the victims of real life violence.

In a way, it makes sense.

However, it will raise the price on such games, and newcomers to the gaming development world won’t want to develop much of anything more violent than Mario. It takes recreational indoor activity away from kids with violent tempers, and they are more likely to commit real life violence out of sheer boredom. Taxing violent video games and movies could potentially make the problem worse, but seeing as it’s more money in government pockets, we doubt Vice President Joe Biden would have a problem with that.

There have been victims of violence who have been either flat out denied benefits, or given so much red tape as to make the process of acquiring the funds feel like a waste of time. So who is keeping the government in check as they take money away from developers of violent video games and movies? Or in the words of a popular movie, who watches the watchmen?

Do you think Vice President Joe Biden is on to something by taxing violent video games and movies? Or do you think it will only make the problem worse?

Violent Video Games And Movies: Vice President Joe Biden Wants To Tax Them All is a post from: The Inquisitr

Wii U is still struggling for sales, and the pending price cut may not be enough to help.

Nintendo’s sales of its latest console are not doing well at all. In spite of all of Nintendo’s efforts, Wii U continues to undershoot expected sales. April’s sales report showed no improvement, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter.

In April, Wii U sold 55,000 units, which is 19 percent lower than the sales from March.

Shigeru Miyamoto has told us to just give the Wii U time to gain momentum in sales, but unfortunately you can’t pay the bills and your staff with hopes and dreams. 3DS is still everyone’s game system of choice, and you can’t argue with sales numbers. If the projections are off, it’s time to either lower them or change tactics. A price drop may not be enough if you can’t convince gamers there is anything worth playing on it.

Nintendo has attributed the platform’s slow adoption rate to a lack of major titles and marketing failing to communicate the novelty of the system, indicating that perhaps it’s time to either start releasing more major titles or just cut your losses like Sega did with the Dreamcast. Thus far it looks like most of the better games have been released for the 3DS, and Wii U is getting stuck with the hand-me-downs.

It’s not the system that sells units in the end, it’s the games, and Nintendo would do well to keep that in mind. Sony is doing well with the PlayStation Vita, so obviously they’re doing something Nintendo isn’t.

It does look like Wii U is getting some major games by the end of 2013, indicating that Nintendo is aware of the drought that keeps gamers from moving forward from the Wii and 3DS. Pikmin 3 is being planned alongside a few other big names, and some third party developers are starting to jump on board with big names like Need for Speed, Resident Evil, and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.

There may yet be hope for Nintendo’s failing console, but will it be in time?

What do you think about the future of the Wii U? Could the pending price cut be enough, or is it too little, too late?

Wii U Continues To Struggle, Price Cut May Not Help is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rayman Legends landed a demo showing off the Ocean World and new gameplay mechanics.

Rayman, our favorite video game hero whose hands and feet just kind of work in spite of his lack of arms and legs, has a new game on the way in the form of Rayman Legends.

In previous installments, Rayman featured minigames starring rabbids, and they practically stole the show. Their rabbit-like appearance and reliance on plungers, combined with their psychotic tendency to freak out over pretty much anything, made them quite an entertaining presence. The rabbids appear to be absent this time, replaced by potato-like things that shoot sparks from big guns. The humor still appears to be there, so Rayman fans have nothing to fear.

As our hero swims along, we see a new reliance on what appears to be stealth involving light and darkness. This could add a new twist on the whole game. Underwater levels are usually the worst part of any game, so this could be an indication that Ubisoft found a way to make it fun in Rayman Legends.

The demo, using the subtitle “20,000 lums under the sea,” begins with Rayman and two pals on an island that looks like a giant rubber mushroom with bulging trees growing from either end and metal loops all around the edge. One of his buddies looks like a fat blue JarJar Binks with a large mouth and no ears, and the other looks like a female Simpsons character wearing a black helmet with antennae, and flowing hair. The three leap into the ocean, with Rayman last.

This could indicate multiplayer co-op with various characters, as after they dive in, they head in different directions.

Then the demo cuts to the three navigating underwater caves, swimming around mines, and avoiding a rotating wheel of light.

The full demo is above.  Rayman Legends will be available August 30 in the UK for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U, and early pre-orders through GAME will get free access to DLC including extra character outfits.

What do you think of the new Ocean World demo for Rayman Legends?

‘Rayman Legends’ Demo Shows Off Ocean World And New Gameplay Mechanics [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pokemon X and Y have landed a trailer.

The Pokemon world is chock full of rumors and updates lately, the latest of which includes the introduction of four new Pokemon, one of which may indicate a variety of mounts. Elikiteru, Yayakoma, Yancham, and Gogoat are the new additions (in the Japanese version) aside from the now 3D look and a world layout similar to France.

The new region in Pokemon X and Y is called Kalos Region, and its major city is known as Lumiose City. Updates have also concluded other renames for the new Pokemon. Only Gogoat’s name wasn’t changed, but the other three are now Helioptile (the electric lizard), Fletchling (the robin), and Pancham (the panda).

Helioptile is a shy electric-type and normal-type Pokemon with an area attack. It’s attack restores HP based on half of the damage inflicted.

Fletchling is a normal and flying-type Pokemon with a fire attack. Its speed increases with every successful round.

Pancham always has a leaf in its mouth and a barely effective look of intimidation. It is a fighting-type Pokemon which can switch itself out for another one in the trainer’s party during battle.

Gogoat is a grass-type Pokemon and a reliable mount that lets you access areas you can’t get to ordinarily. Its Horn Leech attack works much like Heliophile’s area attack, absorbing HP equal to half of the damage dealt.

The Pokedex is now broken up into three parts, each based on different regions of the world.

As for other updates, Gamefreak is likely waiting until E3 to reveal more of the juicy details you crave. However, as they have traditionally avoided E3, they may just rely on regular controlled leaks to feed your need to catch ‘em all. In the meantime, keep checking back with The Inquisitr for whatever Pokemon updates we can get our grubby paws on.

What do you think of the latest details and trailer for Pokemon X and Y?

‘Pokemon X’ And ‘Y’ Land Trailer [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Metro: Last Light will be released May 14 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U, and is rumored for release on PlayStation 4. Some critics got an early peak at it and here’s what they said.

It’s the year 2034, and most of Moscow is living underground after the nuclear apocalypse made surface living impossible without serious health issues. Those who do live on the surface aren’t really living, as they have become ravenous mutants ready to kill whoever ventures above the ground. Living below ground isn’t so easy either, as society is basically imploding over the lack of food and water. A war has begun over control of a war-ending device that could doom every living person remaining.

Metro: Last Light is the sequel to Metro 2033, a first-person shooter where ammunition was like money and the apocalypse hadn’t happened yet.

Metro: Last Light paints a vivid picture of a post-apocalyptic setting where things aren’t looking good for mankind in general. Everybody you meet has an agenda that may lead to your demise, and everything living above the surface wants you for dinner. People sob out loud in underground tunnels where they are forced to eat pasty mushroom soup every day to survive.

You are Artyom, a member of the Rangers, Metro’s militarized protectors. It’s your job to be sent on missions where you will face the worst of the worst Metro life has to offer and keep the peace. You carry a flashlight which needs to be recharged regularly with a small handheld generator, and it is the only thing that wards off the mutants which wander into the tunnels of Metro.

The random violence makes the dull monotony feel more like a somewhat oppressed moment of peace. As small as these skirmishes are, they feel important in your journey.

Metro: Last Light fixes most of its predecessor’s flaws so you can focus more on the deep if depressing story. In the end, your ultimate mission is to find a Dark One, a supernatural being capable of surviving on the surface.

While the mood can be oppressive and dark, the game delivers a believable story and feels ultimately satisfying. It’s worth a try.

What do you think of Metro: Last Light?

‘Metro: Last Light’ Review Roundup is a post from: The Inquisitr

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Dual Destinies is coming to the 3DS eShop this fall.

Capcom’s most unusual hero is set to get a new game later this year, and no, it’s not the wolf with the magic powers. Phoenix Wright was an unusual concept for a video game character, no doubt. Who would expect a lawyer to also be a video game hero? Yet somehow, Capcom managed to make it happen, and it was a success.

The strangeness doesn’t stop there, either, as Phoenix Wright has also made the most unlikely of video game appearances. He was a playable character in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. He looked and felt out of place, but once again, Capcom made it work. It there anything Capcom can’t do in a video game?

Okay, Bionic Commando in 2009 was a total disaster. Once again, Capcom made it possible for a lawyer to be more fun than a commando with a bionic arm.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney was a virtual novel/adventure game where players take the role of a defense attorney in a fictional courtroom. The player sought to find their clients “not guilty” using investigation, evidence, and cross-examination to prove their case. After three games, the series kept the title, but introduced a new protagonist in Apollo Justice. Yes, four games based on the Japanese legal system, and one more on the way. Capcom, how do you pull these things off?

In Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Dual Destinies, the original courtroom has been destroyed, and it’s up to Phoenix Wright to take on the younger brother of Winston Payne from the previous titles, and discover who was behind the destruction.

Dual Destinies ramps up the 3D gameplay, with players needing to change views and zoom-in on areas to uncover any hidden evidence or clues. You will also be able to use a Matrix-style mood detection system to uncover possible perjury and such using his associate attorney Athena Cykes’ unique psychic prowess.

Are you excited about the announcement of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney — Dual Destinies for 3DS?

‘Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies’ Hits 3DS This Fall is a post from: The Inquisitr

Pokemon X and Pokemon Y are set in France, almost.

There have been rumors surrounding Pokemon X and Y for some time now, including it being the end of the franchise vs simply referring to dimensional axes, and different existing Pokemon getting new evolutions and pre-evolutions.

New stories surrounding Pokemon X and Y revolve around images released, which have given us glimpses of the new Pokemon we will be seeing in the upcoming 3DS releases. The four we know of include; Elikiteru, a droopy-eared electric lizard, Yayakoma, a small bird like a robin, Yancham, a mischevious panda, and Gogoat, the goat-esque creature that the player character is shown riding. Nothing yet is confirmed about other pre-existing Pokemon, though it has been noticed that some have changed evolutions from game to game for better or worse.

The world that our plucky Pokemon collector is said to be traveling in is now rendered in 3D, which may be familiar to fans of Pokemon Snap, the camera-based adventure for the Nintendo 64 and virtual console. The world it takes place in, according to the layout shown in Japan’s CoroCoro magazine, is called Miare, which appears very similar to France.

Could this mean Emma Watson, born in Paris, is a Pokemon? She certainly evolved well. We kid.

Miare may simply be the Japanese localization of the name for our hero’s new stomping grounds, but its similarity to France is uncanny, right down to the placement of something very similar to the Eiffel Tower.

As mentioned above, a new addition to the gameplay in Pokemon X and Pokemon Y is mounts. Gogoat may be one of many available in the game, or may simply be your mount throughout the game. Either way, this raises questions as to what the mount’s purpose may serve. Mounts in other games are usually useful for traversing areas you can’t normally walk on, jumping to different heights like a goat, or simply moving faster than you could on foot.

What do you think of the new updates on Pokemon X and Y, and its setting in a version of France?

‘Pokemon X’ And ‘Pokemon Y’ Go To France, Sort Of is a post from: The Inquisitr

BioShock developer and designer Ken Levine is currently writing a new game.

Ken Levine’s underwater horror story was an epic success, spawning two successful sequels (prequels?) each gaining its own heap of praise. BioShock scared us with its creepy atmosphere and seemingly out of place music, not to mention its psychotic inhabitants. BioShock 2 let us play the role of one of the first Big Daddies (also known as Rosie) and enhanced the combat system, and introduced us to the Big Sisters. BioShock Infinite took to the skies in a story about alternate realities and a woman named Elizabeth who seemed to be able to cross between them at will.

It seems Ken Levine is now taking a break from BioShock and attempting something different. On Twitter today, Ken Levine announced, “Game writing today. This is something else.”

When asked what inspires him to write games, Ken Levine cited the period drama Mad Men, as well as the work of film directors Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood), the Coen brothers (No Country for Old Men), Stanley Kubrick (Full Metal Jacket), and Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s 11). He also claims inspiration from British playwright Tom Stoppard (Brazil)

One could go into much speculation based on these varied sources of media and come up with a lot of different ideas what Ken Levine’s next game is going to be about. We do know he loves to go for the mind-bending concepts and a very pseudo-science based form of magic, such as we’ve seen in Bioshock.

Before the release of BioShock Infinite, Ken Levine admitted he didn’t know what was next for Irrational Games. At the time he said, “I don’t have a thought for our next game, so it’s kind of hard to even think about that.”

We do know that whatever Ken Levine comes up with next, gamers will more than likely be waiting to snap it up.

What do you think BioShock creator Ken Levine is planning as his next game?

‘BioShock’ Creator Ken Levine Writing New Game is a post from: The Inquisitr

Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine has cut a couple of multiplayer modes.

The notoriously skeleton graphics stealth puzzle game Monaco was in development for around three years, meaning a lot of work and ideas were obviously put into the game. With all games, good and bad, some things inevitably get left on the cutting room floor. Who knows, these multiplayer modes may get added again later as DLC.

The multiplayer modes that were cut are the Thief vs Thief, and Cops and Robbers competitive modes. The two multiplayer modes were in a playable state, but they were cut for balancing issues and incompatibility with the existing maps.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine is one of those games that challenges your need for high resolution graphics in a gaming world where everyone seems obsessed with next generation capabilities. You play as one of four types of criminal, each with unique abilities that significantly change the way you play the game, and your goal is to navigate the game’s maps to get your crew out of prison to freedom. You don’t have lives; you just switch to another crew member and try again. Cooperative multiplayer would make more sense than most competitive modes.

Monaco creator Andy Schatz said that Thief vs Thief as a multiplayer mode didn’t have enough interaction between the players, as it was just a contest to see who could grab the coins faster, and the current maps wouldn’t allow it without serious alteration and that would get old rather quickly for the player. However, Cops and Robbers showed some potential, as it allowed players to control constables. When it worked, it was reportedly extremely fun.

Andy Schatz stated, “We were going to have to build entirely new content tailored to them in order to make them feel at the same level of quality. There are some [interesting] challenges with both that we never fully figured out.”

If they can get Cops and Robbers to a more consistent level of enjoyment and playability, it may be offered later as DLC.

What do you think of Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine getting some of its multiplayer modes cut?

‘Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine’ Cuts Some Multiplayer Modes is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Xbox Infinity hoax fooled many even though the author of the fake logo made it quite clear it was not officially from Microsoft.

Most tech sites reporting the Xbox 720 rumor named Microsoft’s next generation console as either the Xbox Fusion or Xbox Infinity.

The fake Xbox Infinity logo was created by Reddit user C-Ron and was quickly picked up by many credible gaming websites. C-Ron noticed how his Xbox Infinity logo took on a life of its own:

“Discovered that everyone thinks a fake Xbox Infinity logo I made in Photoshop is the real deal. I didn’t react when I saw smaller websites using it, but when I saw Ars Technica and GameSpot use it, I facepalm’d.”

Still, some other Reddit users are claiming C-Ron is a Microsoft employee and that this “fake” Xbox Infinity logo might be a marketing ploy. Who knows. It’s the internet. Besides, what would Microsoft call the next-next generation console…the Xbox Infinity Plus One?

Both of the Xbox 720 name rumors still have some validity to them. The Xbox Infinity hoax began when C-Ron looked at the fact that Microsoft was registering Xbox 8 websites a while back. The fake Xbox Infinity logo interprets the number eight laying on its side as referring to the mathematical symbol for infinity. It’s also possible the Xbox 8 domain registrations might have something to do with the Xbox 720 rumor that has the console’s operating system supporting the Windows RT framework used to create Windows 8 apps.

The Xbox Fusion name seems more credible since Microsoft is buying up Xbox Fusion domain names. The Xbox Fusion name makes the most sense because of the Xbox Mini rumors which have two separate devices “fusing” functionality. The Xbox Mini supposedly operates like a Xbox TV, contains a miniaturized Xbox 360 SoC, and would connect to the Xbox Infinity, Fusion, 720, or whatever to provide backwards compatibility and other functionality.

Despite the Xbox Infinity hoax, Microsoft has announced it will have the official Xbox unveiling on May 21. For all we know, they’ll call it the Durango…

Xbox Infinity Fake Logo Hoax Fools Many, Xbox Fusion Or 720 Still Possible Names is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dishonored designer Seth Shane explains to his mom what he does in a video released today.

Bethesda is the developer behind Dishonored, a first-person game in which you kill your targets in creative ways using time control and telekinesis in a steampunk setting. A recent DLC expansion allows you to play through the game again as the villain, giving virtual bad boys something extra to do.

The video below shows a designer behind the game talking to his mom, who doesn’t understand how he never has time to talk. She knows he makes video games, but it doesn’t stop her from going full guilt trip.

The video starts with the on screen text, “Hey Mom! I make video games,” as Seth starts in, “Just so everyone out there knows what the hell is going on, who are you and how do you know me?”

His mom replies, “I’m Joanne Davis, mother of Seth, an unexpected son, actually, and I’m the mother. I have to say I actually have three sons. One of them, not mentioning any names…” She elbows Dishonored designer Seth Shane, and they have one of those familiar exchanges.

Seth Shane asks his mom, “So what do I do for a living?”

His mom says, “Um, well clearly I don’t have any idea what you do, but I know you love what you do, and I’ve seen the product of what you do. When you get into your office, I know that I cannot call you, I know that you will not take my calls. I know that your answers if I get in are very short and fresh.”

Seth seems to start backpedaling, but he doesn’t get anywhere with it.

His mom continues, “And I know now that if I call you at work twice, it means somebody died. And I get yelled at for it…”

The rest of the video is above.

What do you think of the video of Dishonored designer Seth Shane explaining to his mom what he does on the job?

‘Dishonored’ Designer Explains His Job To His Mom [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Xbox Infinity now has 18 games confirmed to be in the works. Yes, the Xbox 720 has an official name.

The Xbox 720 has officially been renamed the Xbox Infinity, and as of today there are 18 games we can safely say are confirmed for the next generation console. This is an update to what was previously reported by The Inquisitr.

Human Element is a zombie survival horror game created by an ex-Activision employee’s startup company Robotoki.

Rainbow 6: Patriots is the latest followup to the stealth action video game series based on the Tom Clancy novels.

Watch Dogs is an open world cyber thriller where you hack into everything around you to find and hunt targets.

Destiny is still mostly a mystery. All we know thus far is that Bungie, the creator of Halo, says it looks fantastic. This game will not be an Xbox Infinity exclusive.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is being touted as a “Zelda clone”, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Dragon Age 3: Inquisition is Bioware’s epic fantasy title. You could say that everybody’s expecting this inquisition.

Cyberpunk 2077 is a game where the populace is enthralled with technology that lets you read the thoughts of everyone around you.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an epic RPG where the hero has his memories back and is now searching for loved ones.

Thief is the reboot to the classic stealth action video game about the titular miscreant Garrett.

Battlefield 4 is basically urban warfare at its finest in a first-person shooter.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is Desmond Miles’ latest escapade into his growing list of killer ancestors. This time you play a British pirate.

Halo 5 is the Master Chief’s latest first-person shooter adventure, ready to rock your Xbox 720, er Xbox Infinity.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is most likely named football outside the US.

Sniper Elite 3 will have you living vicariously through a set of crosshairs.

Lords of the Fallen is expected to be an RPG that breaks the genre rules and possibly introduces a fighting game style of combat.

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes is the latest in Hideo Kojima’s stealth action series.

Call of Duty: Ghosts is basically Call of Duty with masks. We don’t know much beyond that.

Wolfenstein: The New Order is the next generation update on what is probably the first of the first-person shooters in existence.

What do you think of the list of confirmed titles for Xbox 720, now Xbox Infinity?

Xbox Infinity: 18 Games Confirmed To Date is a post from: The Inquisitr

Moms in video games can be some of the worst, but here are seven we can all be happy they aren’t real.

Moms are usually the women we find comfort in, the ones who taught us what we needed to know about manners, hygiene and the like. They also let us cry without making us feel awkward.

Of course, they aren’t all like that, and video game makers are aware of it. They have even made some of the worst mothers we have ever seen in the digital format.

In Bully, Rockstar’s 2006 entry on the PlayStation 2 that let us play the role of that kid we all hated in school, Billy’s mom was just horrible. The garish eye shadow and manner of dress could be forgiven, but not the way she paid little to no attention to her son. She dumped him at Bullworth Academy for a year just so she could take an extended honeymoon. Talk about a cold heart.

The Binding of Isaac includes a mom who is terrible for very obvious reasons. She’s the final boss who tries to kill her son. Enough said.

F.E.A.R. had the infamous Alma Wade. She was one of the types who blamed her rough childhood for her bad behavior. She had been taken as a child and experimented on due to her psychic abilities. She was made to have children with the same powers, but if there is anything you can bet on, it’s that a mother who wants to see the Earth in ashes will not make the best mom.

Dragon Age plays host to another terrible video game mom. Flemeth is a shape shifting witch (really, she uses magic) who regularly turns into a dragon. That in itself doesn’t make her a bad mom, nor does her habit of cross-dressing. What makes her a bad mom is the fact that she had a daughter for the sole purpose of possessing her and avoiding death. Using your kids to maintain immortality is just sick.

Mass Effect hosts another bad mom. Matriarch Benezia says she was brainwashed. She was such a nice person, so her daughter admits, until the Reaper indoctrination turned her evil. Being a major villain with plans to commit genocide is enough to make her a terrible mom.

BioShock plays host to a terrible mom. Brigid Tenenbaum was a German scientist who put her love of science ahead of her own children. Of course, every surviving grownup but the protagonist was that way in BioShock. However, this bad mom’s kids, even if they were adopted, are seen throughout the game. Say hello to the mother of the Little Sisters.

Silent Hill contains a mom who would make anybody cringe. Dahlia Gillespie used her own unborn daughter as a vessel to carry the essence of her dark god. Silent Hill 3 starred her daughter Heather, whose hallucinations were more than just an annoyance. Yup, this mom is just terrible.  A video of her is above.

Do you know of any other bad moms in video games?

Video Game Moms: The Despicable Seven is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move was released May 9 for the 3DS.

A Nintendo eShop exclusive, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a puzzle game where the “minis” are miniature Mario character robots that cross the game board. It’s your job to place blocks on the checkered board and make a path for the robots to their goals. Each block has different path markings on it. Fans of BioShock should be somewhat familiar with the concept, as it resembles the “hacking” minigame.

There is also a custom level challenge, giving the player the chance to make a level that will stump other players.

Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is a spinoff of sorts from the Mario vs Donkey Kong series that began in 2004, dropping the “vs” and giving us a top-down perspective. You never control the robots directly as you use building block marked with pathways to create a path from start to finish. You’re technically changing the stage around them.

This is a hardcore puzzle game, demanding that you build a path for the windup robots in the midst of difficulties such as Shy Guys and spike pits. Along the way, you have to collect whatever keys are necessary, and the occasional coin whenever possible. Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move throws regular challenges at you, so that just when you think you have it down, it gives you something else to figure out. This is the classic puzzle game formula at its most beloved, with a dash of platforming to keep it fresh.

Sometimes it may feel like Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move is technically a time trial, forcing you to finish the level within a given amount of time. The challenge will have you wrestling with your sanity, but the end goal always feels like an accomplishment. The added 3D look of the game really doesn’t change the dynamic of the way it plays, and that’s usually a good thing.

Nintendo’s latest entry in the Mario vs Donkey Kong games is addictive, challenging fun.

What do you think of Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move?

‘Mario And Donkey Kong: Minis On The Move’ Review Roundup is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new Kickstarter campaign is aiming to help make first-person shooters feel more natural.

There is no denying the draw of first-person shooters in the gaming world. Halo is pretty much an event every time it gets a sequel, Call of Duty will sate your appetite for World War II scenarios, and even Dead Island mostly takes the guns out of the first-person shooter concept. In a world where guns are getting more and more legislated, video games are the only place a gun aficionado can get their fix without hassle.

The Delta Six is a controller that could make police very nervous in the wake of the shootings around the transition between 2012 and 2013. The controller looks much like an assault rifle, potentially giving gamers a more natural feel in first-person shooters. Holding an actual gun could definitely add some realism to the game, provided they make it light-weight enough.

The controller being funded through Kickstarter will have you moving, reloading, zooming in and out, and obviously firing as you make your way through enemy territory.

As previously stated, the Delta Six will likely come under fire if politicians get a wind of it, as what originally required something that barely looked like a weapon (unless you’re Batman) can now be controlled by the use of something that actually looks like a gun. Some scenarios could be considered terrorist training in the wrong context. Imagine a game like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, where you’re literally gunning down airport security with an assault rifle. The real thing wouldn’t be that much different, aside from actual people being shot.

Kickstarter‘s funding page for the Delta Six comes with a video showing how it works, as a woman suits up and then grabs what looks like a real assault rifle, loading a clip into it and aiming at the camera.

What do you think? Is the Delta Six controller from the Kickstarter campaign pushing the first-person shooter controller too far?

Kickstarter Campaign Aims To Make First-Person Shooters Feel More Natural is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Last of Us has landed a second TV spot.

The Last of Us is one of the latest additions to the “zombie game” genre, featuring the undead-killing adventures of Joel and Ellie. The two are among the last uninfected people in the US, ringing a bit of Zombieland. The player controls Joel, while Ellie is an NPC who tags along, possibly as backup or simply support.

Slated for June 14 as a PlayStation 3 exclusive, The Last of Us is Naughty Dog’s take on zombie games, incorporating a new concept called “dynamic stealth” and enemies that may take cover when they see the player. Basically, the zombies may be a bit smarter than you’re used to in other games.

A second TV spot debuted last night for The Last of Us. It begins with the city ruins as the protagonists make their way along the wreckage. Ellie (voiced by Ashley Johnson) narrates, “The world’s been hard on us. Hard on him.”

We see Joel up close, a grizzled man with a full complement of facial hair. Then we see him with a hand axe facing what appears to be a log cabin, as Ellie continues, “Joel’s done some terrible things. Tells me that on this journey, you either hang on to your morals and die, or do whatever it takes to survive.”

We see Joel and Ellie hiding behind a door as another man with a shotgun checks the area out and then moves on. Then Joel attacks a man supposedly bitten but not yet showing signs of infection. Music kicks in as the words “From the creators of Uncharted” precede a montage of action scenes.

A freakish denizen of The Last of Us gets up close and personal with Joel, Ellie aims a bow and arrow in the woods, Joel drives a truck with Ellie as a passenger through a back alley, and we see a screen bragging about The Last of Us being “Best in Show,” according to game critics at E3 2012.

The rest of the TV spot is above.

What do you think of the TV spot for The Last of Us?

‘The Last Of Us’ Lands Second TV Spot [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Xbox Infinity is the new name for Microsoft’s next generation console, supplanting several rumored names including the Xbox 720 and Xbox Fusion.

The next Xbox has actually had a ton of different names since it was first rumored back in July of last year and it now seems that one of the domain names might have been a very early hint after all.

If the reports can be believed that Microsoft has officially landed on the new name, then it appears that back when it was registering Xbox 8 websites, it was attempting to tell us all what the new console would be call.

Xbox Infinity’s new logo has also been floated online and of course part of the logo is the sign for the word, which is an eight laying on its side.

Whether this was intentional by Microsoft or just a weird coincidence will probably never bee known. With all the different names that have been floated out there, it is natural to be suspicious.

There are plenty of reasons to doubt any reports, especially since there has also been claims that the next generation console will simply be named the Xbox.

Those claims have apparently been refuted to be false. It would be a bit strange for the company to return to a name it has already used before.

You might remember that Microsoft’s original gaming console carried that moniker and was replaced by the 360.

Whatever the name for the newest entry into the next generation console wars, we will learn what is officially called in just 11 short days.

The company has announced it will have the official unveiling on May 21 and that details will be coming in dribs and drabs after that.

E3 is expected to be one place where we will get a ton of info about the device.

If Xbox Infinity is indeed the new name, do you like it more than the other titles it has supposedly carried?

Xbox 720 No More: Xbox Infinity New Next Gen Name is a post from: The Inquisitr

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag developer Ubisoft has released a video explaining what’s new in the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

Seeing as the Assassin’s Creed titles have always had a relatively similar look that gave everything a realistic and gritty edge, the idea that the fourth game will push the limits of the title doesn’t give us a lot of faith in the supposed graphic upgrade from current to the next generation consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720. Desmond Miles and his ancestors have always had a great depth of detail.

What really needed help in the first one was the combat system, which thankfully Assassin’s Creed 2 improved by adding the ability to use two wrist blades in one attack.

Assassin’s Creed 3 added more micromanagement and greenery, with a tie into American history.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag actually goes back a couple generations to the grandfather of the hero of AC3.

The video about Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag has the developers telling us about the game right from the start. Associate producer Sylvain Trottier says, “The first thing that’s gonna change drastically is the graphics, because we think that visually, with the stronger GPU, stronger CPU with a lot of RAM, we’re gonna be able to exploit a lot [of] this console and push the bar visually. It’s a lot more intuitive for our engineers, it’s a lot more … that we add and put on the PS4.”

Again, we are having a hard time believing how far he claims they’re pushing the visuals already.

Sylvain Trottier continues,”And all these new techs we are pushing are natively fitting in the PS4. All the little details that we cannot right now put on the current generation of consoles because … it’s running at 100 percent right now. So you cannot add all these little details that are gonna make the game even more beautiful, even more immersive.”

The rest of the video is above.

What do you think should be improved on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 versions of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag?

‘Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag’: What’s New For PlayStation 4 [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Next generation consoles may end up like the Wii U, says Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.

We have mentioned it before that the next generation consoles just don’t have what it takes to compete with what we already have, and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick agrees on the most part. He says the Xbox 720 and the PlayStation 4 are doomed to be ignored just like Nintendo’s failing Wii U.

In the past, there was always a boom of “day one” consumers who had to own the new console when it was launched, and then discovered the selection of games was pretty weak. It usually takes a year or two to build up a library of titles that will attract gamers who usually hold on to their old systems.

This time around, Nintendo has discovered that system specs mean nothing in the long run. You have to have games we want to play or you just won’t sell the console as well as you want to.

You have to keep in mind that Activision is also dealing with a significant drop in World of Warcraft subscribers, and it may be reflecting on their opinion.

With the letdowns we have seen from the next generation consoles before they are even released, it looks like Sony and Microsoft are going to have a hard time convincing gamers to upgrade this time around. The economy has been hard as well, forcing us to forfeit the more expensive options and learn to be happy with what we have.

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has said, “There are still many unknown factors, such as pricing, launch dates and quantities, the level of first-party support and, importantly, consumer purchase intent in a world where consoles are no longer just competing with each other, but also with new platforms, such as smartphones and tablets.”

This would explain why Nintendo’s 3DS seems to be the more profitable console they have on the market, as gamers are starting to go mobile. Mobile games are less expensive on the most part and you can take them with you, leading to an evolving state of gamers.

If the signs are saying what Activision’s CEO claims, the next generation could suffer.

What do you think about the next generation consoles? Will you buy an Xbox 720 or a PlayStation 4, or just sit out the console wars entirely this time?

Next Generation Consoles May Suffer Like Wii U, Says Activision CEO is a post from: The Inquisitr