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Pre-Order FIFA 14 & Get Gold

Matthew Kato — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:24:00 GMT

EA Sports has just announced the current-gen pre-order bonus for FIFA 14, and it will give you more than a leg up on your Ultimate Team in the game.

Pre-ordering a current-gen version of the game (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC) will get you 24 Ultimate Team gold packs doled out once a week for 24 weeks. The packs will consist of 12 cards each, and be the usual mix of players, contracts, a rare item, etc. In the Ultimate Team mode you collect cards for players and other items in order to build a team that you then play in the game against the AI or online.

No word as to what the pre-order bonus(es) for the next-gen versions of the game might be, although EA says you will be able to pre-order them soon. The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of the game will come out sometime in the next year, and the Xbox One edition features unspecified exclusive Ultimate Team content.

For a brief look at some behind-the-scenes footage of the next-gen versions using EA's Ignite engine (and Messi talking!), take a look at this trio of trailers. To find out about some of FIFA 14's features, here are the early details.

FIFA 14 for the current-gen platforms comes out on September 24.

New Kinect For Windows Coming In 2014

Joe Juba — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:16:00 GMT

A new version of Kinect is included with every Xbox One. Microsoft's other version of Kinect – the one focused on computing and business applications – is also in development. Kinect for Windows uses the same technological foundation as the Xbox One's Kinect, and is slated to release next year.

On the Kinect for Windows blog, Microsoft outlined some of the features of the PC-based version of Kinect. The highlights include a color camera, a noise-reducing microphone, improved skeletal tracking, and an infrared sensor that improves detection in less-than-ideal lighting. Of course, a lot of these features sound familiar to what gamers are getting, but with greater emphasis on real-world application.

For more on Microsoft's motion-sensing strategy, read about how the company is going all-in with Kinect for Xbox One.

[Source: Kinect for Windows Blog]

Get Your Name And Profile In Ubisoft's Watch Dogs

Mike Futter — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:31:00 GMT

Ubisoft is giving fans a chance to get their names and pertinent details in its upcoming open-world action title, Watch Dogs. You need accounts with both Facebook and Uplay to participate before you can get started.

Once you're in, all you need to is enter your name, birthdate, occupation, and three facts about yourself. This is your opportunity to be creative, so have fun.

Ubisoft will be choosing 30 participants at random from around the world to be included as pedestrians in the game. Find out if you've been chosen on November 19, 2013, when Watch Dogs arrives for PC, Wii U, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions are coming, also.

Enter for your chance to win here, and be sure to check out our recent preview.

Reader Discussion: What Makes A Great Special Edition?

Joe Juba — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:57:00 GMT

Today we got details on special editions for Grand Theft Auto V and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Both of them are full of bonuses, but getting consumers to pay extra money isn't easy. Over the years, publishers have included all kinds of extra content to entice people to spend a little more on special editions. Action figures, custom packaging, soundtracks, art books, day-one DLC, and exclusive in-game items have all been dangled in front of gamers in special editions.

Which, if any, of these bonuses can convince you to buy a special edition of a game? Is there anything you'd like to see included in special editions that hasn't been tried yet? Would you rather just see a single, definitive version of the game released without worrying about which edition you'll buy?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

4K Gaming Is Possible On Xbox One, SD Gaming Isn't

Joe Juba — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:28:00 GMT

According to the specs released by Microsoft, the Xbox One only supports ultra high resolution 4K video. However, that capability may extend to gaming at some point in the future.

In an interview with Forbes, corporate vice president of marketing and strategy Yusuf Mehdi clarified the point about 4K gaming on the Xbox One. “There’s no hardware restriction there at all,” says Mehdi. So, the question isn't necessarily whether the console can support 4K gaming, but whether developers will make games at that resolution.

On the other hand, the Xbox One doesn't support standard-definition in either gaming or video. According to the information released by Microsoft, the only device only has an HDMI output, which means that it won't connect to older televisions featuring only composite or component inputs. Technically, you could buy converters that make the connection possible, but if you're considering that, your money would probably be better spent on an HDTV.

[Source: Forbes]

Following Rumors, Square Enix Confirms Departure of CEO Mike Fischer

Mike Futter — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:06:00 GMT

Last month wasn't a terribly good one for Square Enix. Not only did the studio report significant operating losses, but also laid off staff in its Los Angeles and European operations.

We reported on rumors last month that Mike Fischer, CEO of Square Enix America, would be departing. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has taken a new position as vice president of digital music and video with Amazon Japan. Fischer follows Square Enix president and CEO Yoichi Wada who also stepped down recently.

Prior to his tenure at Square Enix, Fisher served as the general manager of marketing for Microsoft, the vice president of entertainment marketing for Sega, and the director of marketing for Namco. When asked for comment, Square Enix stated,

"We can confirm that Mike Fischer is no longer with Square Enix. We’d like to thank Mike for all of his efforts and contributions to the company and to its employees."

[Source: Polygon]

Preorder And CE Bonuses Announced For FF XIV: A Realm Reborn

Joe Juba — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:43:00 GMT

Final Fantasy XIV had some problems following release, and then it was shut down. Square Enix is preparing to re-launch the world of Eorzea on August 27, and the company is doling out bonus content for those who preorder and/or pick up the collector's edition.

The collector's edition is full of cool extras, like exclusive boxart, an art book, and a CD of music from the game. It also comes with in-game extras like a behemoth pet and a coeurl mount. For pre-ordering either edition, you get early access to the new version of the game, along with a Cait Sith pet and a moogle-themed hat.

Click the image below to see all of the CE goodies. For more about what to expect from A Realm Reborn, you can watch this 8-minute trailer focusing on the game's various locations.

Return To The 80s This June With The Iam8Bit Entertainment System Retro Art Show

Mike Futter — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:10:00 GMT

If you're planning on being in Los Angeles in June and have a penchant for game-inspired art, you might want to make time to visit the latest Iam8bit exhibit. Opening on June 7, 2013, the Iam8bit Entertainment System exhibit will be held at their gallery on Sunset Boulevard.

The show will feature a number of notable artists, including Olly Moss, Aled Lewis, and over 80 others. The featured works are inspired by games from the 1980s. The opening reception will be held on June 7 from 7 PM until 11 PM, and the exhibit will be available through June 30.

For more information, including gallery hours, visit Iam8bit's website and head to page two for the full press release.

Blog Herding: Community Edition 05/23/13

Saint — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

With Microsoft finally revealing its next-generation console called the Xbox One earlier in the week, there has been no shortage of official news and editorials responding to the announcement. If you're looking for something a little different, the community has once again provided a fine collection of blogs.

Blog Herding Stats:

Period Reviewed: May 13 – May 19, 2013
Number of User Blogs: 59
Number of User Bloggers: 43
Number of User Blogs Herded: 11

Community Blogs:

An Ode To The Gaming Television
Declining prices in consumer electronics means most homes contain multiple televisions. LetMeGetToACheckpoint reminisces on the importance of this vital component in his gaming system.

Top 5 Games We Morally Shouldn't Love, But Do
Long time Game Informer blogging extraordinaire, Hist analyzes a few video games testing the limitations of our moral compass with gameplay we shouldn't enjoy but often do.

The Top Ten Female Companions In Games
There have been a lot of discussions lately focused on the quantity and quality of women video game characters. Mr Turkey joins the talk with a list of his favorite female personalities.

6 Games That Are Better At Night
Jeremy Sturgill shares his thoughts on how playing some video games at night can result in a different experience while including a list of games that support his theory.

Top 10 Obscure DC Characters That Should Be In Injustice
How well do you know your comic book heroes and villains from the DC Universe? With NetherRealm Studios open to bringing new characters to Injustice, thegodofwine7 lists his picks he'd like to see.

If I Were The CEO Of Nintendo
With no new major Wii U titles and Nintendo still recovering from financial losses from previous years, criticism continues to grow about one of the biggest names in the industry. Apricot shares some solutions.

The Console Wars: Resisting Conformity
One of the most popular albeit somewhat controversial blogs of the week, The Destroyer opens with guns blazing before turning his sights on the big three consoles and his own personal preference.

Making The Arkham That Batman Deserves
With not one but two outstanding and widely popular Batman Arkham games, it's only natural for fans of the series to muse about news of the next title in the series, which is what Tim Gruver does in this blog.

The Meta-Horror Beneath Dark Souls
Many have suffered the brutally challenging difficulty level dispensed by Dark Souls. David Chandler pens a persuasive piece chronicling his personal reflections of such a hauntingly cruel game.

Surviving Metro 2033
Kyle Wadsworth continues his trend of providing exceptional blogs featuring lots of screen shots with his latest post highlighting his time playing Metro 2033 in preparation for the release of Metro: Last Light.

Top 10 Mummies In Gaming
The ongoing quest for random Top 10 lists continues as xl9's latest blog unearths his favorite video games featuring those once living beings who have been preserved in death that we call mummies.

Community Reviews:

Tomb Raider – Video Review
Craigaleg submits a beautiful analysis complete with a video review for Tomb Raider, arguably one of the best games of 2013 and featuring Lara Croft with a fresh new look.

It May Be Shattered, But It's Far From Broken
Paradigmthefallen offers a solid review for the Wii version of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a game he claims is one of the most compelling in his collection before awarding it an impressive 9.5 out of 10.

Vigil Games' Death Was Not In Vain
Review scores for Darksiders II appear to be scattered across the board with some enjoying the game and others not so much. DrJoeystein praises Vigil Games for their final title before closing up shop.

No More Heroes 2 Review
Reviews for the Wii are somewhat rare but seb100172 shares his thoughts on No More Heroes 2, an action hack and slash video game where you take on the role of an assassin named Travis Touchdown.

One Of The Craziest First-Person Shooters On PS3
Dust 514, the long-awaited Massively Multiplayer First Person Shooter (MMOFPS) released exclusively for PlayStation 3, is finally available and jenifferhomes has a thorough review for it.

Don't forget to send your feedback, recommendations, and community events in to my personal Game Informer account located here to ensure this feature continues to provide the content you're eager to read.

Happy Blogging!

Your friendly neighborhood blogging community (05/13/13 – 05/19/13):
Aless Ale; Andrew Ryan; Andrew SiNiSTER; Apricot; AshaMan3000; BlackHeartedWolf; brainraider1 (3); bunnyking (2); chanceisshane; David Chandler; Drym Shyuan; Edward Roivas; FinalFantasy1026; footthumb; Fry0127 (2); General Mills44; Gorow The Maverick (2); Hist (2); Jack Treese; Jeremy Sturgill; John Wrek (4); Jon Gregory aka JMan240; Josh Straub; Juanolo (2); Kayla Herrera; Kflame210; Kyle Wadsworth; LetMeGetToACheckpoint; Luis E. Morales Falcon; Mike Mahardy; Mr Turkey; N64LIVE; Paradigmthefallen; Ran88; rekoin; Rich; The Destroyer (4); thegodofwine7 (2); Tim Gruver; warlord5531; wayoverdue; xl9 (2); and XTrooper (2).

Video Game Archives – Quote of the Week:
"There's a craftsmanship and art form to creating games." – Ralph Baer

Epic Mickey 2 Hits Vita June 18

Joe Juba — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:44:00 GMT

The sequel to Epic Mickey sold poorly and was slammed by critics. After the release of Epic Mickey 2, developer Junction Point Studios was even shuttered. That hasn't stopped Sony from going forward with its plans to bring the iconic mouse to the PlayStation Vita.

On the PlayStation Blog, Sony revealed the release date for Epic Mickey 2 to be June 18. The major change from the PS3 version is touch-screen controls, which are used to handle camera rotation as well as Mickey and Oswald's main weapons. Other than that (and the addition of ad-hoc network functionality), Epic Mickey 2 on Vita looks to be largely the same experience as its console counterparts – for better or worse.

[Source: PlayStation Blog]

Nintendo's Next Direct Presentation On First Day Of E3

Mike Futter — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:18:00 GMT

As promised, Nintendo will be broadcasting directly to the fans from next month's Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The first Nintendo Direct will take place on the first day of E3.

Viewers can tune in at 7 AM Pacific on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Interestingly, this is hours before the press will hear comments from Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime and famed designer Shigeru Miyamoto at the Nintendo booth inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. Chances are that this will be the first time the public gets eyes on new Smash Bros. and Mario Kart titles.

Need for Speed Rivals Taking To The Streets This Year

Matthew Kato — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:40:00 GMT

Ghost Games, the studio formerly known as EA Gothenburg, has been working on a new Need for Speed title for some time, and now the developer's inaugural game – Need for Speed Rivals – has been announced.

The game, created in conjunction with franchise overseers Criterion Games (NFS: Most Wanted) is using the Frostbite 3 engine, and will appear on undisclosed current-gen systems on November 19, and Xbox One and PlayStation 4 sometime before the end of the year.

As the name insinuates and the series is known for, cops and racers will go at it in the fictional setting of Redview County (complete with some dangerous-sounding weather), and both sides will have their own career paths. Racers gain Speedpoints for evading the cops and capturing it on video, but the more notorious you become the more Speedpoints you could possibly lose if caught.

Cops, meanwhile, will work in teams and players will try and rise up the ranks for better cars and tech. Both sides will make use of 11 upgrades, from turbo, jammers, and EMPs for the racers, and shockwaves and helicopter and roadblock support for the cops. Speaking of upgrades, Rivals has a license with Ferrari, letting you get in the cockpit of cars like the F12berlinetta.

Rivals introduces an online component – called AllDrive – that sounds similar to the series' use of Autolog. AllDrive mixes single- and multiplayer components so your friends can come and go from your experience at any time. Naturally, AllDrive will also surface stats and challenges from your friends as well.

Electronic Arts has already announced the pre-order incentive for Rivals at participating retailers, the Ultimate Cop Pack. This consists of the Nissan GT-R Black Edition cruiser, unspecified pursuit tech, and a custom livery.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Rockstar Announces Grand Theft Auto V Special Editions

Matthew Kato — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:19:00 GMT

Participating retailers have started taking pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto V's Special and Collector's Edition, as well as offering a special bonus for anyone who pre-orders any version of the game.

Grand Theft Auto V Special Edition ($79.99) (Click to see enlarged detail)

The game in a steelbook case with exclusive art of the three main characters, Michael, Trevor, and Franklin
A 21.5" x 26.75" blueprint map of Los Santos and Blaine County that includes fast cash locations and other landmarks
A 25 percent regeneration bump for the main character's special ability bar
Single-player stunt plane trials
Bonus outfits, tattoos, and deals at shops for the main characters
Get the Pistol .50, Bullpup Shotgun, and melee hammer for free at Ammunation stores in single-player

Grand Theft Auto V Collector's Edition ($149.99) (Click to see enlarged detail)

All the contents of the Special Edition listed above
A 10.75" x 8.5" security deposit bag with laser-etched key and game logo
New Era 9Fifty GTA V cap
Classic GTA characters for use within the online character creation system
A garage with a Hotknife hotrod in single-player and a Khamelion electric car in multiplayer

No matter which version of the game you pre-order before the game's September 17 release date on PS3 and Xbox 360 (including the standard one), you'll get to pilot the Atomic Blimp in the game.

For more on Grand Theft Auto V, take a look at the latest batch of screens, and click on our cover story hub below.

Update Tomorrow Re-Enables Features In SimCity

Kyle Hilliard — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:20:31 GMT

SimCity is receiving a hefty update tomorrow that adds new locations, and re-activates features that were disabled. You can check out the full list of upcoming updates below.

New: SimCity Launch Park, an exclusive new park just for our dedicated fans who were early adopters.
New: Region: Edgewater Bay. Seven city sites in one cluster around a beautiful bay with one great work site.
New: Your current server will now be shown in the options menu.
New: More detailed rollover information on buildings telling player’s if their Sims received happiness from a park or from shopping. Previous to this fix, this information was generic.
Re-Enabled Feature: Global Market prices now dynamically change during gameplay.
Re-Enabled Feature: Leaderboards will be active on EU West 3, Pacific 1 and Pacific 2 at the release. We will enable them on additional servers throughout the day.
Re-Enabled Feature: Region filters are now enabled on all SimCity servers. Players will be able to search for open games by Map Name, Sandbox Mode, and Abandoned Cities.
Rain Clouds: Fixed an issue where some cities would not have rain clouds to replenish their water table. If you had a city with this issue, you will start seeing clouds again within a game day.
Fire: Improved response time of fire trucks to fires. Improved the time it takes for a fire signal to reach a fire station.
Mission updates: Tuned Metals HQ and Community College missions. These were appearing too early, making them difficult to complete. They now appear later in a city’s development.
Solar Farm Great Work: Reduced fire risk at the Solar Farm Great work. Local fire engines were spending too much time at the Solar Farm.
Messaging: Improved pre-requisite messaging for Trade Port, Casinos, Smelting Factory and Oil Refinery. It should be clearer on how to unlock these buildings.
Graphics: Fix for flickering low wealth buildings on NVIDIA graphics cards.
Education: Fix for an issue some cities experienced where commuting students did not return from a neighbor’s city. This was causing a problem where students would disappear from a city in some cases.
Tuning: Sims will lose a small amount of happiness if they don’t have a place to shop. Cities without places to shop will see complaints and feel the effect of unhappy Sims. This will emphasize the importance of commercial zones.

SimCity has gone through quite a bit of controversy since release, with its online requirements causing a multitude of problems. Our review, which you can read here, reflects many of our issues with the game.

[Source SimCity forums via Polygon]

Rockstar Bringing The Warriors To PSN Next Week As PS2 Classic

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:01:00 GMT

Games that tie in with movies are usually pretty terrible. Thankfully, with Rockstar at the helm (and a couple decades of distance), The Warriors turned out quite well.

If you missed it when it was released on PlayStation 2, you have another chance to pick up the brawler next week when it hits the PlayStation Network. Starting on May 28, 2013, the title will be available as a PS2 Classic for the price of $9.99.

Rockstar is doing a great job of making its back catalog available, with 12 titles currently available for purchase through Sony's store. With Manhunt, The Warriors, all three PS2 Grand Theft Auto titles, Bully, Max Payne, and more available, one can only hope that these will somehow make their way to the PS4.

[Source: PlayStation Blog]

Metro: Last Light Season Pass Available, First DLC In June

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:24:00 GMT

If you're a fan of 4A Games' vision of post-apocalyptic Russia, you'll have the opportunity to return to the Metro this summer. Deep Silver has announced the upcoming release of DLC for Metro: Last Light.

A season pass is available now, which gives players an early opportunity to put money down the four different DLC pieces rolling out this summer. The Faction Pack and Chronicles Pack are new single-player expansions, the Tower Pack appears to be a challenge mission, and the Developer Pack enables unspecified exploration tools. The season pass also awards a new shotgun that can unleash six shells at once.

The Metro: Last Light season pass can be purchased for $14.99 (1200 Microsoft points) on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, or Steam. PlayStation Plus subscribers can save 25 percent through June 4. The first DLC, the Faction Pack, arrives next month.

The full press release is on page two.

Remedy's Sam Lake Addresses Alan Wake Fans In Video Message, Humble Bundle Launches

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:38:00 GMT

In one of the classiest moves in recent memory, Remedy's creative director Sam Lake has taken to video to answer fan cries for a new Alan Wake title. The news isn't great, but the delivery strikes the perfect chord.

Lake talks about the studio's challenge to get a sequel to the title into production, even though Alan Wake has now sold three million copies since launch.

"When the game was released, that was not the case immediately," he said. "Even though we worked hard on it, the sequel was not happening. The time was not right for it. Sure we could have gone ahead and created something less ambitious, but we felt that would not have done justice to you guys, to us. We want to be really proud of everything we create. Certainly, it wouldn't have done justice to Alan Wake."

At yesterday's Xbox One reveal, we learned that Remedy is working on a new title called Quantum Break, which means that Alan Wake 2 is on the back burner. However, fans can purchase a new Humble Bundle, with previously unreleased material, right now. Additionally, sales are available on all Alan Wake titles and avatar items on Xbox Live.

This isn't the news that Alan Wake fans were hoping for, but the pitch perfect delivery may help ease the pain.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition Is Coming To PC In July

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:07:51 GMT

NetherRealm Studios is doing right by PC gamers this July. 2011's Mortal Kombat is finally coming for those who have shunned the console way of life.

The title will arrive on July 3 via digital delivery platforms (specific avenues were not mentioned), and August 6 at retail. This version comes with all of the downloadable characters, fatalities and skins that were released for the console iterations. The only thing you won't be getting in this version of Mortal Kombat is Kratos (who was exclusive to the PS3 and Vita versions).

The full press release is on page two.

Don't Panic: The Gamer's Guide To The Xbox One Reveal

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Sit down. Grab a paper bag. Breathe slow and deep. It's going to be ok. Yesterday's Xbox One reveal offered a lot of information about Microsoft's vision for next generation, but it also left us with a lot of questions. In less than one month, a lot of those holes are going to be filled in.

Here's what we do know. The Xbox One is designed to be a convergence device that brings together existing television service with games. Kinect 2.0 is critical to the system and will supposedly respond better to voice commands and track gestures with more precision. The idea is to create as seamless an experience across entertainment media.

Yesterday's presentation was about setting the tone for how Microsoft plans to take over the living room. It was about raw capabilities of the hardware, and from a multimedia, non-core gamer perspective, the execution can be considered a success.

We knew in advance we wouldn't be seeing a lot of games. The EA Sports presentation was only impressive in that we learned about the next generation Ignite engine. Quantum Break from Remedy evidenced new exclusive IP and was enough of a tease to garner interest for more information at E3. Call of Duty was on display for the strength of the time-limited exclusivity partnership and the contrast between current generation power and the capabilities of the new hardware. Every title we saw had a purpose for being on that stage, and that wasn't first and foremost to wow gamers.

Microsoft announced that it plans to release 15 exclusive titles in the first 12 months. That's an enormous number, especially if many strive for the core audience like Quantum Break and Ryse will. Had that been it, core gamers would have walked away underwhelmed, but interested in hearing more at E3.

But Microsoft made a significant mistake, failing to keep key personnel on message. In interviews, executives each had different answers to straightforward questions. Conflicting reports bounced back and forth among outlets on two key issues: secondhand games and the Xbox One's connectivity needs. Every time a new comment was made, PR had to sweep up.

Yesterday's tone became about Microsoft's lack of clarity instead of the potential of the hardware. It shifted from excitement about E3's pending game reveals to angst about ownership of those inevitable purchases. The "always online" controversy should have been put to bed once and for all (or at least avoided), and instead it was brought back to the surface. In short, it was a PR stumble that marred the presentation.

Thankfully for Microsoft, E3 is less than three weeks away. The Xbox One will take the stage first on Monday, June 10, and we've been promised that the presentation is heavily weighted toward games (which will mark a nice change from the past three years). Microsoft has 18 days to decide how it wants to explain software ownership, the secondary market, which functions (if any) require Xbox Live "check ins," and how frequently users need to connect.

All is not lost, and anyone who believes it is after just this first bit of information is selling Microsoft's market dominance here in the United States very short. News coming out of E3 is going to fill in the picture for all three platform holders. Let's take a deep breath and give it three weeks before we pronounce anyone dead.

Crytek's Ryse Confirmed For Xbox One, CryEngine 3 Already Running On System

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:00 GMT

Back in 2011, Crytek took the stage at Microsoft E3 press conference to tease a Kinect game titled Ryse (formerly Codename: Kingdoms). Then it disappeared.

The official website for Ryse declares that the title is now exclusive to the Xbox One and that it is a controller-based experience, but enhanced by Kinect. Based on the countdown timer, we'll learn more at E3, likely as part of Microsoft's promised game-focused keynote address.

This news comes in tandem with Crytek announcing it already has CryEngine 3 running on the Xbox One hardware and ready for licensing to other developers.

Visit our Xbox One Headquarters for complete coverage of news from the reveal. The full CryEngine 3 press release is on page two.

[Source: Crytek]

[PageBreak]

Frankfurt am Main (Germany) May 21, 2013 - Videogame developer and publisher Crytek has welcomed the unveiling of Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, reiterating that their CryENGINE 3 technology is equipped to start creating software for the system now.

Crytek recently became an officially licensed provider of middleware and tools for Xbox One, and will support the platform as well as equipping CryENGINE 3 licensees with the advanced toolset required to achieve their own games for the system.

“We offered assurances over two years ago that CryENGINE 3 was ready for the next generation of consoles, and time has revealed that promise to be true,” said Carl Jones, Director of Global Business Development at Crytek. “As developers begin to create new games for Xbox One, our technology and unparalleled support will ensure CryENGINE 3 users remain at the forefront of the industry now and well into the future.”

Crytek’s CryENGINE 3 is used by licensees around the world to create blockbuster hits and popular online games, and is the first all-in-one development solution that provides multi-award winning graphics, and all necessary game systems and tools, out of the box.

About Crytek GmbH

Crytek GmbH (“Crytek”) is an independent company at the forefront of the interactive entertainment industry, and is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of gaming by creating standout experiences for Xbox 360™, Playstation®3, PC, mobile devices and games-as-service using their cutting-edge 3D-Game-Technology, CryENGINE®.

The company’s headquarters are in Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Crytek also has studios in Kiev (Ukraine), Budapest (Hungary), Sofia (Bulgaria), Seoul (South Korea), Nottingham (UK), Shanghai (China), Istanbul (Turkey) and Austin (USA).

Since its foundation in 1999, Crytek has consistently been recognized for excellence in its field, earning accolades such as the 2011 Develop Award for Best Independent Studio and a 2010 Red Dot Design Award. Its multi-award winning games include Far Cry®, Crysis® (awarded best PC Game of E3 2007 and Best Technology at the 2008 Game Developers Choice Awards), Crysis Warhead® (awarded Best Graphics Technology at IGN Best of 2008 Awards), Crysis® 2 (awarded Best Shooter of E3 2010 and Gamescom 2010) and Warface (awarded Best Social/Casual/Online Game of Gamescom 2012). For more information, please visit www.crytek.com.

Is There A New Need For Speed Coming?

Matthew Kato — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:26:00 GMT

With E3 around the corner and EA openly talking about the next-generation, it will be interesting to see what games make the jump in the systems' launch windows. Could a Need for Speed title be on the docket?

The franchise's Facebook page has posted the above shot of a police cruiser with the caption, "Have no rules, show no mercy." The car doesn't appear to be related to Criterion's Most Wanted game or its DLC, so it will be interesting to see if the company is teasing a new game in the series. The fact that the car is a police cruiser seems to indicate that this potential NFS title could be from any of the series' various lineages except for the sim-esque Shift inprint.

It's been previously reported that Ghost Games (formerly EA Gothenburg) was working on a NFS game.

In the past, the company has said it plans to have a Need for Speed game on the market every year, and the debut of the next-gen systems this year would certainly be a good time to put out a new title for the franchise.

E3 is in a few weeks, so at a minimum we should hear something by then.

[Source: Facebook]

EA Backpedals, Games In Development For 'The Nintendo Console'

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:36:00 GMT

Wii U owners might be catching a break. EA chief financial officer Blake Jorgensen made a presentation at the Stifel Nicolaus Internet, Media, & Communications Conference yesterday, offering new information on the publisher's plans for the Wii U.

Last week, EA stated definitively that it has no games in development for Nintendo's home console. Yesterday, Jorgensen gave a different take, stating, "We are building titles for the Nintendo console, but not anywhere near as many as we are for PS or Xbox."

EA previously stated it was having trouble getting Frostbite running on the Wii U. We also know that FIFA and Madden will be skipping that platform this fall. Without Frostbite, the underpinning of EA studios' next generation development, it's unlikely we'll see marquee titles on the Wii U.

[Source: Polygon]

EA Sports Ignite Engine Shown Wasn't Gameplay

Margaret — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

EA Sports' Ignite engine will be powering the division's next-gen titles, but yesterday's reveal may not be exactly what those games look like on the upcoming systems.

Polygon talked to Andrew Wilson, executive vice president at EA Sports, who told the site that any Ignite footage shown at the Xbox One unveiling was pre-rendered using in-game assets in "a format that would be usable in this style of event." In other words, what was shown wasn't gameplay. However, Wilson added: "What I'm really happy to say, though, is that our games right now are delivering on that, and in some cases more."

Here is the footage in question.

In other EA Sports next-gen news, MCVUK reports that the PC version of FIFA 14 will not be using the Ignite engine like its counterparts.

Visit our Xbox One Headquarters for complete coverage of news from the reveal.

[Source: Polygon, MCVUK]

Sorry, Indies, You'll Still Need A Publisher For Xbox Live

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:38:58 GMT

Yesterday was a big (and at times confusing) day for Microsoft. Some exciting details about the new Xbox One console have come into focus, but there is still much we don't know.

One of the things we learned is that the divide between Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Games on Demand, and Xbox Live Indie Games will disappear (and with it growing brand confusion). Games will all be housed together, and we envision an approach similar to how Valve has structured Steam.

What won't be like Steam though, is how developers will get their content onto Microsoft's Xbox Live service. In an interview with Shack News, Microsoft general manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms Matt Booty confirmed that, as of now, developers will still need publisher assistance to get in front of consumers.

This is a departure from how Microsoft's competitors are approaching independent development, with Sony and Nintendo both opening the door to self-publishing. It's important to note that this decision may change between now and the Xbox One launch (and even later as the platform evolves).

Visit our Xbox One Headquarters for complete coverage of news from the reveal.

[Source: Shack News]

Working With In-Development Hardware A 'White-Knuckle Ride,' Says Activision's Eric Hirshberg

Mike Futter — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:10:00 GMT

Today following the Xbox One reveal, Game Informer editor-in-chief Andy McNamara and executive editor Andrew Reiner sat down with Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg to talk about Call of Duty: Ghosts. The conversation covered changes to multiplayer, the next-generation engine, and the story behind this new branch of the mega-franchise.

He also tiptoes around our question about underwater segments appearing in multiplayer.

Game Informer: You announced that exclusive timed DLC is coming to Xbox One first. Are you looking at a similar timing window you used for Xbox 360.

Eric Hirshberg: Very similar. It's a continuation of that great relationship we had with Microsoft.

How has the process of building a new future for Call of Duty been with new hardware that is still in development?

It's been a white-knuckle ride, to be honest. First of all, there are the complexities of cross-generation development. Period. And then there is the fact that a lot of the capabilities of the next-gen hardware are still coming online and being polished by the first-parties. So, our teams have had their hands full. What you saw today, I think that's a really good reflection of what we trying to accomplish. I hope you agree it's a pretty big change from what we've been able to do with current-gen.

For a while there I thought there would be a period where people wouldn't be able to notice a difference.

That's why we did that side-by-side video. I think in your mind's eye, the current-gen looks great. Black Ops II is a great looking game, but it's not until you see it that you really go "that's a big improvement."

That's a big investment for Activision overall, considering Xbox One's install base will be smaller than the current-gen at launch.

Of course it's a big investment. We've left nothing to chance here. The cross-generational development on its own is big, but we're putting more manpower and technology and ideas into this game. We're interested in establishing the gold standard for the next-gen like we did the current gen. That's what we intend on doing. The size of the investment doesn't just apply to this year. We're looking at establishing that gold standard for next-gen for the next decade.

For the last game, you had a lot of leadership coming from Sledgehammer games. The messaging for this game seems to be just Infinity Ward.

Infinity Ward is leading development, but as is the case with pretty much all Call of Duty games, we'll have multiple development teams contributing. We'll have more on that later. Sledgehammer is not working on this game, but they are working on some other stuff we haven't announced yet. (Editor's note: Activision followed up to let us know that Raven and Neversoft are supporting the development of Call of Duty: Ghosts.)

Microsoft didn't announce a date today, but do you think you'll be ready for launch?

They haven't even announced their date yet, so I can't have a date for us. (laughs) We're planning to be there for the launch window for sure.

You said Ghosts offers a new story with new characters. Are you wiping the slate clean with no connection to the series' established fiction? The look of the game and setting certainly sings of the most recent games.

I agree with you that it has that big Call of Duty epic scale, but saying it's familiar to those games? I disagree. You just saw a little bit of the teaser and what we're doing for multiplayer in the behind-the-scenes video. The idea of dynamic maps is going to be a game changer for us.

The map impacting change on you and you impacting change on the map becomes a strategic weapon now that can be used against you or for you. The whole idea of learning the maps and learning the flow is going to take on a whole new level of strategy. I think that's a big change. The same goes for character customization.

For the story, this is the first time the enemy has more firepower and more manpower. You're a part of this ragtag, small group that is trying to fight their way back from being crippled or close to obliterated. I think this is going to be a very new experience. That said, it's a balancing act.

We have to continue to make the game people fell in love with and know so well and also have to continue to find new ways to innovate. I think this game will find the right balance. It's Infinity Ward. They started the Modern Warfare series. They set the standard for current gen. They do this better than anybody.

If you look at the trailer, there's an entire level that takes place underwater. We've had underwater scenes before where you scuba dive from here to there, but this is a whole new thing with underwater physics and underwater gameplay and underwater weapons.

Are you bringing that underwater gameplay to multiplayer?

Hmmmm... We'll have to wait and see.

I know EA seems to be hyped with the battle coming up. What's your stance on Call of Duty versus Battlefield for next-gen consoles? Is there something to that fight. Or is it something the press just likes to get behind?

I've been pretty consistent with these types of questions. We don't focus on our competitors. We've had strong competition with Call of Duty every single year on the current-gen systems. We don't focus on that. We focus on making the best game we can.

You put a lot of focus on the writer, Stephen Gaghan (Traffic, Syriana). What is his involvement with the game creation process?

We've had David Goyer helping out with the Treyarch games for years now. It's funny how people compare movies and games. It's almost impossible not to, as we're seeing more Hollywood talent In the writing standpoint, acting standpoint, and technology standpoint. They're getting involved in it.

The thing we've done with Stephen Gaghan is he's just imbedded in this game. The way we struck the deal, he has an office at Infinity Ward. He's there into the wee hours of the night. He there's with the team kicking around ideas. The story creation, the mythology creation, and character creation are happening simultaneously and are interwoven with the gameplay design.

Lots of times those two things are oddly disconnected in the creative process, where people think first about what's going to make a great gameplay experience. That's understandable. It's a game. That's where it should start, but lots of times the story is retrofitted into the game design. In this case, it's organically grown. We want to eliminate as many creative restrictions as possible. As wonderful as the Call of Duty games are, we wanted a clean slate.

For example, you roll with one squad throughout the entire game. If you played any past Call of Duty games, you know that we've been very fast and loose with those rules. We jump to different identities throughout levels, and sometimes within levels. In this case, this is what is happening to this squad. This is what is happening to these characters. You're going to develop a real relationship with those characters. I think that will be new for the franchise. One of them is your brother. One of them is your father. You've been through hell together. You're the underdogs.

Are you going 64-player or 100-player for multiplayer?

I think Call of Duty is the best multiplayer game in the world. It's hard to argue with the number of people that play it every day and every month. We have a winning formula. We always innovate within that. We always find new ways to keep it fresh and new.

Smartglass is becoming a big part of gaming. Are you adding new functionality to Ghosts outside of Elite?

You're going to see us take that to a whole new level. A seamless second screen experience will be integral to next gen.