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The iPhone 6 Plus won't fit Fallout 4's Pip-Boy (and I'm sad)
Thanks a lot, Bethesda. After the outfit's first E3 media briefing, I pre-ordered the Pip-Boy Edition of Fallout 4 because of course I want to put a real-life version of the game's stat-tracker and menu system on my forearm. All good, right? Well, I'm also in the market for a new phone and was eyeing an iPhone 6 Plus because it has a better camera and battery life compared to its smaller sibling, the iPhone 6. That's where the problems arise: Bethesda recently announced that the real-world Pip-Boy comes with foam inserts that fit the iPhone 4 and 4s, 5 and 5s and the 6 in addition to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5. The company also promises a customizable foam insert that'll accommodate "most other popular" handsets.
Timothy J. Seppala07.01.2015
YouTube still has a way to go before its ad-free tier launches
YouTube might have Music Key in its hat (sort of), but apparently it's having issues locking down deals for the proposed ad-free subscription service that'd cover the rest of its media. Google's video wing is having troubles getting content creators onboard with the service, according to The Information. As the site's sources tell it, YouTube has even threatened to set certain channels to private so the videos therein won't show up in searches. That's if the creators don't play ball, of course. YouTube tried strong-arming indie musicians in a similar way last year. The Information notes that where the biggest difficulties might lie would be with TV networks that have a presence on the video portal because plenty of them are already married to the likes of Hulu for subscription content. All in all, if you were holding out for ad-free YouTube -- at a nominal fee -- you're going to be waiting a bit longer.
Timothy J. Seppala06.26.2015
At E3, I saw the missing pieces of the VR puzzle
The excitement around virtual reality may have started when Sony unveiled Project Morpheus last year, but last week's E3 was its coming out party. The thing is, I've been around long enough to remember the hype and subsequent commercial flatline over gaming in stereoscopic 3D. So going into this year's grand gaming gala, I was skeptical -- I had that awkward tech history footnote in mind -- and to a point, I still am. But Oculus helped me get over that a bit. All it took was a game from a trusted developer -- Insomniac Games -- and an input solution that makes VR feel less isolating.
Timothy J. Seppala06.25.2015
Morpheus mech game 'Rigs' uses color to make VR less overwhelming
My most vivid takeaway from PlayStation 4's new Project Morpheus game Rigs wasn't what I expected. Sure, the first-person mech shooter handled like a dream at 60 frames per-second, and targeting my enemies simply by gazing at them was impressive. But how fluid the locomotion was and how aiming system performed were nothing compared to the game's use of fun, vibrant blocks of color to keep the mood light and subtly nudge me in the right direction. I spent a ton of time in virtual (and augmented) reality at E3 this year and it was Rigs that was perhaps the easiest game for me to pick up, play and not feel like I was floundering about. Sorry, EVE: Valkyrie. With smart color palette choices developer Guerrilla Cambridge, responsible for PS Vita's Killzone: Mercenary, was able to tell me exactly what to do and where to go without saying a word.
Timothy J. Seppala06.20.2015
E3's 'Into the Pixel' celebrates video games as art
I've been checking out Into the Pixel since my first E3. Seeing video game concept art in a gallery setting is an excellent way to unwind and get a minute or two of respite from the madness of the show floor. It's also a chance to appreciate the downright beautiful art in a format that isn't just a rote, diminutive art book that comes with the "special edition" of a video game. In the video below, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences president Martin Rae explains what Into the Pixel is and we take a bit of a tour through the space. The standout piece this year? It's from Far Cry 4 and right above this text.
Timothy J. Seppala06.19.2015
Microsoft: We won't skip 'Halo' betas from now on
When Halo: The Master Chief Collection launched last year, it was supposed to be ultimate fan service: four of the most renowned games in the series, all in one fancy package loaded with extras, all on Xbox One. The final product was... well, problematic. To this day it still isn't 100 percent functional all the time, with a rash of issues like game crashes still persisting. "It was our first game on a new platform, and it was essentially five engines [with] a wrapper," 343 Industries head Bonnie Ross explained to me this week. All that to say, because the game wasn't a native Xbox One game is why it had so many issues. Still that makes it incredibly difficult to get excited for this fall's Halo 5: Guardians. Will it be as heartbreaking on a technical level as MCC? I briefly spoke with Ross about how she and her teams are working to overcome and address that very valid concern.
Timothy J. Seppala06.18.2015
Windows 10 streams Xbox 360 games to Oculus, too
You read that headline correctly. With the Xbox 360 to Windows 10 game streaming out in the open, it stood to reason that you'd be able to play your collection of games from Microsoft's second Xbox on the Oculus Rift too. We asked the virtual reality company if that was indeed the case and a spokesperson confirmed that indeed it was. So, Mass Effect in VR? That's a definite. [Image credit: pabuk/Flickr]
Timothy J. Seppala06.17.2015
I got Holo-briefed on 'Halo 5'
Typically E3's vision of the future is pretty shortsighted. But this year when I stepped into a war room for a Halo 5: Guardians mission briefing, that's when I knew that the gaming trade show's look at what's ahead extended beyond just games that are months or sometimes years off. The space's middle was dominated by a hexagonal table roughly four feet across, and floating a scant few inches above its surface was a slowly rotating, azure hologram of a massive starship. It was familiar and I'd seen it somewhere before, but it took a moment for me to identify: It was the UNSC Infinity from the Halo universe, courtesy of Microsoft's HoloLens augmented reality headset sitting atop my skull. With the few moments I had alone in the room, I circled the dais. The hologram remained on its deliberate arc while I peered from every angle, looking for flaws that'd break the 3D illusion. Those came later, but not where I expected them. "This is ridiculous," another attendee said as I returned to my spot at the table. He was right.
Timothy J. Seppala06.17.2015
'Super Mario Maker' out September 11th, demo this week at Best Buy
After a year of teasing, Nintendo's finally revealed when we'll get to make side-scrolling Mario levels of our own in Super Mario Maker: September 11th, 2015. Can't wait that long? The gaming giant is partnering with Best Buy again, and tomorrow (June 17th) from 4PM to 9PM local time, select stores will have demo kiosks where you can kick the game's tires. As a reward for you enduring the crowds of kicking fans, you'll snag a 30th anniversary Mario button. Pretty cool, right? Supplies are limited, of course, and Nintendo's set up a website to help you locate where the nearest participating yellow-tag store is. Check here for everything happening at E3 2015!
Timothy J. Seppala06.16.2015
'Star Fox Zero' blasts to Wii U this year
Fox McCloud is coming for your Wii U later this year in Star Fox Zero. Nintendo announced as much during its E3 YouTube broadcast. It has the classic elements you remember (campy dialogue, barrel rolls) with a number of new ones. Namely, transforming vehicles and using the console's GamePad as your targeting screen. "By using two screens, you can see yourself flying on the TV while shooting enemies below you on the GamePad," Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto said during his company's video stream.
Timothy J. Seppala06.16.2015
'Uncharted 4' looks like a ghost from E3's past
Drake gets into some vehicular mayhem of his own, knocking out wooden supports from terraces that overlook alleys. The scale feels much bigger, however, based on the onstage demo tonight from Sony's media briefing. The whole time, Drake's accompanied by Sully, offering comic relief, moral support and hopefully a neckbrace to help prevent whiplash.
Timothy J. Seppala06.15.2015
'Fallout 4' special edition comes with a Pip-Boy for your phone
I don't know about you, but I've wanted a Pip-Boy of my own since I first played Fallout 3. With the Pip-Boy Edition of Fallout 4, I'll finally be able to make that happen with a real-life wrist-bound stat-tracker and menu system. The wearable (I use that term lightly) comes with a companion app that'll be available on Android and iOS, too. The mobile love doesn't stop there either, because tonight Bethesda is releasing Fallout Shelter, an app that lets you design your own shelter in the game, tonight on iOS. Are your bathroom breaks ready?
Timothy J. Seppala06.14.2015
'Dishonored 2' doesn't hit this year, but a remake of the first game does
We've barely begun E3 2015 and the award for "worst kept secret of the show" might go to Dishonored 2. Regardless, Bethesda and developer Arkane Studios made it internet official tonight at their media briefing and announced that there are two playable characters (including Corvo from the first game) and a few other bits. A release date wasn't announced, but a fancied-up version of the first Dishonored hits PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this August. You now, so you can get caught up on the story so far. For a peek at Dishonored 2, check out the trailer below.
Timothy J. Seppala06.14.2015
Next 'Doom' hits Spring 2016 with mod support across all platforms
Prepare to shoot plenty of demons in the face this spring on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One when Doom 4 hits. It's predictably gorgeous and based on the gameplay demo onstage at the historic Dolby Theater, its environments look a bit more open than we've previously seen. Of course there's a massive, powerful shotgun because what would Doom be without shotguns and chainsaws? And plenty of gore and crap-your-pants soundscape for that matter? It wouldn't be Doom.
Timothy J. Seppala06.14.2015
I want to love 'The Witcher 3,' but my Xbox One won't let me
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, a massive, open-world, role-playing game from Polish studio CD Projekt Red, has sold 4 million copies in two weeks across PlayStation 4, PC and Xbox One. Those aren't Grand Theft Auto V numbers, but it's a huge milestone for the developer, whose cult classic games have typically launched on PC first with console versions coming much later, if at all. The Witcher 3 has also been a critical success, too, with an aggregate review score of 93 on Metacritic ("universal acclaim" according to the site) for the PS4 version, 94 for PC and 91 on Xbox One. Since its May launch, the game has received four software patches on consoles and five on PC. These updates have ranged from minor things like adding lethal cows to address a money-generating exploit, to major issues like save-file corruption and endless saved-game loops on the Xbox One edition. While almost everyone I've talked to who's playing the very Game of Thrones-esque The Witcher 3 loves it and hasn't had any problems, I can't say the same for myself. Four software updates later, and the latest patch notes still list "fixes" 52 times.
Timothy J. Seppala06.12.2015
'Shadow Warrior 2' hits PC, PS4, Xbox One in 2016
The cult classic PC shooter/slasher Shadow Warrior got an over-the-top revamp not long ago and now a sequel is en route from the fine folks at Flying Wild Hog and Devolver Digital. Protagonist Lo Wang isn't alone again in Shadow Warrior 2 -- he's bringing four-player co-op with him to PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next year. Over on the PlayStation Blog, Devolver CFO Fork Parker says that the game's environments are procedurally generated (think Minecraft or No Man's Sky) and that five years after the first game's events, humans and demons are living side-by-side. That's a bit crazier than dogs and cats cohabitating, if you ask me.
Timothy J. Seppala06.12.2015
Explore 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' on August 11th
The middle of August is looking mighty fine if you're an indie game fan. Not only do we get the incredibly snazzy-looking Volume from Mike Bithell on the 18th, Everybody's Gone to Rapture exclusively hits PlayStation 4 the week prior on August 11th according to the PS Blog. What's more, the mysterious look at what happens after the world ends from the team behind Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs has a new website that'll be updated with fiction, music and more on the road to the game's release.
Timothy J. Seppala06.11.2015
Netflix raises the price of its basic HD plan (again) in the UK
Netflix is investing heavily in new TV originals, and maintaining the standard set by House of Cards, Orange is the New Black and Daredevil doesn't come cheap. With that in mind, it should come as little surprise to hear that Netflix is raising the price of its basic HD subscription from £6.99 to £7.49 per month in the UK. Subscribers are being notified via email, and it's worth noting that the increase only applies to new customers. When the rate was last changed in May 2014, Netflix promised a two-year price freeze for existing subscribers paying £5.99 per month. It's not yet clear, however, if those paying the £6.99 rate will be offered a similar deal. At least for now, it seems Netflix is keeping its cheapest plan (one device at a time, SD only) at £5.99 per month and its premium plan (four devices at a time, HD and 4K) at £8.99 per month. At face value the price rise is bad news, but maybe it'll give Netflix the money to hire Clarkson and friends for House of Cars.
Nick Summers06.11.2015
'Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' coming to PS4, Xbox One and mobile
At this point in the PlayStation 4's and Xbox One's lifecycle, they almost seem more like "in case you missed it" machines than those offering brand new experiences. That isn't always a bad thing though, and especially not where the excellent Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is concerned. Starbreeze Studio's heartbreaking indie hits Microsoft and Sony's latest consoles "this holiday season" according to a press release. Furthermore, IGN reports that it'll feature a few new additions as well, including a director's commentary track, a concept art gallery and a soundtrack. And if you've heard your console-owning pals raving about the game but don't own one (or a PC) yourself, Brothers will hit the App Store and Google Play later this year as well. Just make sure you're not playing in public toward the end -- trust us.
Timothy J. Seppala06.10.2015
PlayStation's Vue TV streaming app hits iPad in limited release
We've known that PlayStation Vue would hit iPad sooner or later and now Sony's TV streaming service finally has. PlayStation Vue Mobile's available in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia (the same cities the service launched in earlier this year) at the moment, and it's basically the same as what's on your PS4 in terms of functionality. So, video on demand, live TV and access to your favorite shows and channels as long as you're in one of the three aforementioned cities. You still need a PS4 to sign up, of course, and blackout restrictions can occasionally block streaming, just like we've seen with Sling TV. Usually, that means sporting events blacked out for various reasons, but it's worth keeping an eye on.
Timothy J. Seppala06.09.2015