Diablo III will get its first patch next week, according to Activision-Blizzard community manager 'Nethaera'. The incoming client-side patch will fix a number of bugs, including one that breaks the game, as well as a number of alterations to class skills to balance gameplay. Security concerns and the real-money auction house were also discussed in the forum post.
Patrick Spence, 14-year veteran of Research in Motion (RIM) and its head of global sales, has departed the company. Spence "will be taking on a leadership position in a different industry," according to RIM spokeswoman Rebecca Freiburger. No comment has been made if the move is in response to the announcement of RIM's new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer three weeks ago.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 S is to be banned from sale in the US following an International Trade Commission ruling. In a court document released on Monday, ITC Judge David Shaw recommended the sale of both 4GB and 250GB versions of the console be blocked. His recommendation related to a ruling made last month that Microsoft was infringing on four patents owned by Motorola relating to the H.264 video format.
New numbers out from market research company NPD Group suggest the average mobile device holds 12 apps targeted at kids. The payoff from the popularity of kid-friendly apps is uncertain, though, as NPD estimates that nearly nine out of 10 of those apps are acquired for free. In news that could prove troubling for traditional game-console makers Nintendo and Sony, the report finds that gaming on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is a particularly popular activity among children.
Microsoft has updated the software development kit for its Kinect sensor, adding facial expression recognition and other capabilities to its 3D camera system. The update comes ahead of Microsoft's release of the Kinect for Windows SDK, which will bring the Kinect's feature set from the Xbox 360 to Windows desktops and notebooks. The update is largely in keeping with what Microsoft previously revealed as forthcoming features for Kinect.
Video conversion hardware maker Elgato has announced the Game Capture HD, a new device that captures game footage from video game consoles and records it to a computer. Some gamers record their games as they play them for later sharing with other gamers. The Game Capture HD is about the size of a deck of cards, requiring no additional power supply for operation, and connects a video game console directly to a computer through USB2.
The first episode of The Journey Down, a point-and-click adventure game, has been released for Mac, Windows, and Linux. The first chapter of the game has players searching for a lost journal that contains the secrets of a the mysterious Underland. Players must work through a number of puzzles that have been spread across varying locations in order to find the journal and begin unlocking its secrets. The Journey Down can be purchased from a number of online game distributors for $14.
Nintendo may have slightly redesigned the tablet-like controller for its forthcoming Wii U console. A photo of a more ergonomically-designed controller appeared briefly on the Twitter feed of a developer, before vanishing shortly thereafter. The Wii U is expected to be showcased in full at this year's E3 being held early next month in Los Angeles, and likely will be released either over the summer or in the fall.
The Fling Joystick for iPad is one of the more interesting accessories available for the iPad and other tablets. With the graphics capabilities of tablets approaching console quality, the biggest hurdle facing in-depth gaming on capacitive touchscreen devices is the lack of physical controls. Similar comments were of course leveled at the iPhone when it first launched back in 2007 without a physical keyboard, but those concerns soon evaporated. However, the volume selling games on both iPhone and iPad tend to be the casual games that rely on simple touch gestures. Yet, there are a number of first person shooters that use virtual single dual stick controls that look appealing, but aren't quite as popular.
In an effort to push new PC sales, Microsoft is launching it's annual back-to-school Xbox promotion. Starting May 20 in the United States, purchasers of Windows 7 PCs worth more than $699 can receive a 4GB Xbox 360 console for free. Canadian purchasers can buy today, and spend $599 or more to get the same Xbox. End dates vary according to participating retailers' guidelines.
The Video Standards Council has become the UK's sole statutory video-games regulator, administering the PEGI rating system. The changes now mean age checking for the sale of any game rated PEGI 12, 16 or 18 would become enforceable under UK law. Previously, the system was in an advisory capacity and not legally enforceable, with PEGI games rated 15 or higher also being rated by the BBFC for content.
Sony has just revealed it will allow PlayStation Network (PSN) users to buy and download games before they're released, but they won't be able to play them until their on-sale date. The move mimics the way Steam distributes its game titles. The option should appeal to hard-core gamers who don't want to wait for the download on the release date.
At a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Toyota showed off its upcoming Estima Hybrid minivan. At the same time, equipping the van with an aftermarket Smart Navi NSZT-W62G GPS head unit will let a Nintendo DS control the GPS system of the car, 4gamer reported. The DS needs to have a Kuruma de DS (meaning Use DS in the car) cartridge inserted, which allows the portable games console to communicate with the head unit over Bluetooth.
Venstar has outed its Skyport Wi-Fi key for the ColorTouch thermostat. The key connects the thermostat to Skyport Cloud Services, run by the company, allowing users to monitor and adjust the thermostat from a phone or tablet. The key is a $100 upgrade to the $300 thermostat, with iOS, Android, and Blackberry apps free to download.
AT&T has stopped sales of the U-verse bundle for Xbox 360, citing work to “improve and enhance” the functionality, according to a message on its website. The bundle will not be up for sale again until the new functionality is added, a representative has told Multichannel.
Today's deals from DealNN include discounted keyboards, headphones, and more. Newegg.com has recently lowered the cost of the SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard with eight programmable hotkeys, two USB 2.0 ports, multiple media controls, and on-the-fly macro recording. Currently featured at DealNN, the gaming keyboard is now available for the discounted price of $34.99 and offers savings of up to $55.
[Update: Blizzard is allowing the customers who paid money to GAME to apply it to a digital copy of Diablo III] On the eve of the highly-anticipated action role-playing game Diablo III's release, Australian retailer GAME has gone bankrupt, and an administrator has been named. Some customers that reserved the title through the chain will not only be denied the title, but any funds that have been applied to a preorder have been lost and will not be returned according to the company.
Tomb Raider: Underworld, the eighth in the series of games features adverturess Lara Croft, will debut on the Mac on May 31st. The game, originally released for the PC in late 2008, is a direct sequel to Tomb Raider: Legend game (never released officially for Mac) but also contains plot elements drawn from the Tomb Raider: Anniversary reboot, which reinvented the original game with a modern game engine.
Sony will be releasing two new Walkman docks in Japan on June 9. The CMT-V70B and CMT-V50 will dock with the Sony Walkman range of personal media players, with the V07B variant allowing Bluetooth streaming. Both docks are 5.4 inches thick, have FM/AM radio tuners, and will be available in five different colors. Price is not currently known.
Social gaming giant Zynga has bought casual games company Wild Needle. The female-oriented startup was bought for an undisclosed amount following the release of its first title Shoptown Hero in March, which was pulled from the App Store two weeks ago.
On Finnish television, Rovio CEO Mikael Hed told presenters that Rovio's next game is titled Amazing Alex. The game will feature educational elements and revolve around the titular Alex, a "curious young boy who loves to build things." No release date has been announced.
The 3D TV clip service for the 3DS console Nintendo launched last June in Japan will be discontinued on June 20, making its run just under a year. Called Itsu no Ma ni Terebi, it translates to SpotPass TV, and features short, two-minute 3D clips from eight shows. The service was brought out in collaboration with Fuji TV. Nintendo will continue to offer 3D videos intermittently through its Nintendo Video Channel.
One of the classic computer games, the first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D, is celebrating its 20th anniversary year with a new browser-based version of the game as well as a promotional giveaway of the iOS version of the original game for a limited time. While the original Castle Wolfenstein first appeared on an Apple II computer in 1981, Wolfenstein 3D (the more familiar version of the game) debuted on DOS in 1992.
Gameloft today released the third installment of the N.O.V.A. series of first-person shooters. Previous installations of the sci-fi shooter series have earned acclaim for the detailed graphics Gameloft manages to coax out of mobile hardware. N.O.V.A. 3 [$7 in the App Store] follows a band of space marines from the Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance in their quest to save their planet from aliens.
Nintendo on Thursday revealed that it will lower the purchase prices of its DSi XL and DSi handheld consoles on May 20. The price of the DSi XL will drop by $40 to $130, while the DSi will see a bigger, $50 reduction to just $100. Between the two systems, Nintendo offers over 2,000 downloadable or retail games.
Outdoor enthusiasts will now be able to make reservations for campsites at national parks, forests and other recreational facilities through the release of two new apps for iOS. The ReserveAmerica camping app (free) lists nearby state campground sites, and provides information on sites, RV restrictions, tent and cabin use and other options.
Rovio Entertainment, fresh off of announcing phenomenal sales for the latest installment of its Angry Birds series, is reportedly looking to go public. The Finnish video game developer is in the process of preparing for an initial public offering in 2013, Reuters reports. Analysts peg the value of the company at up to $9 billion.
The previously speculated Xbox 360 bundle deal from Microsoft has been confirmed to exist. A voucher for the bundle has appeared on the Microsoft Store website, showing a 4GB Xbox 360 complete with Kinect for $99 and a two-year, $15-per-month Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Sony has invited the press to a conference before the E3 gaming show on its dedicated website. At the show, it plans to reveal 20 new game titles and what it calls the "future of gameplay and innovation." Exactly what that involves remains to be seen, but it could have something to do with its next-generation home console, the Orbis. That console will not be unveiled at the show, however, the company said earlier.
A newly discovered USPTO patent from Nintendo reveals the video game hardware and software maker may be working on a new tourist-guiding system. Thought up by Shigeru Miyamoto of Legend of Zelda fame, the patent talks about tracking users carrying a portable game console, a DS Lite in this case, by way of overhead infrared transmitters. The console would then communicate with a server that would light up signs built into the building to guide the user.
With Dell recently revealing that its three Alienware gaming notebooks were upgraded to Intel Ivy Bridge processors, those who ordered the PCs before the announcement may have felt slightly cheated. Dell has some good news, however, as it will upgrade the ordered notebooks to similarly-priced Ivy Bridge processors for free. This includes the M14x, M17x, and M18x.
OS X received two new additions to its gaming library today, as first-person shooter The Darkness II and simulation game Linux Tycoon have been released for the platform. The big-budget mob shooter and the indie-flavored Linux distro simulator mark opposite extremes of the gaming continuum, but are notable appearances on the Mac. The Darkness II is a Cider port done by TransGaming and is inspired by the 2007 comic book series that produced the original game.
Boutique gaming PC manufacturer Alienware users with outstanding laptop orders were informed by email today that the placed order is being upgraded to Ivy Bridge processors at no extra cost. No further delay in the placed order is expected. The Ivy Bridge upgrade is exclusive to Alienware orders, and will not apply to parent company Dell's orders placed before the Ivy Bridge announcement.
A newly-discovered USPTO patent from Apple reveals some interesting technology that could grace future iPhones and iPads. Unlike some of the company's older haptic feedback patents, this one takes things a little further by introducing variable textures and other feedback translating to a user's finger. The patent, called Methods and Systems for Providing Haptic Control, talks of a stacked haptic element set-up.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games have announced the launch of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 for iOS devices. The game takes players through the finale of the Harry Potter story and features a special interface that has players use touch gestures to cast spells, change characters, and duel. Additionally, the game includes Dueling Club expansion that allows players to to master advanced dueling skills against a host of famous witches and wizards including Professor Snape, and Lord Voldemort. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 App is available in the App Store for $5.
Streaming game service Gaikai, which teamed up with Walmart last year on browser-based game demos, is back in the news. This time around, it has partnered with electronics manufacturer Wikipad to bring its games to an Android-based tablet. The tablet has grown to include a 10.1-inch screen rather than the 8.1-inch version when it was shown off at CES.
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to offer a $99 Xbox 360 bundle that will include the Kinect sensor, subsidizing the upfront cost and tying buyers to a two-year subscription. Unnamed sources have told The Verge the company will require an agreement that works like a cellphone contract, requiring buyers to pay a termination fee to cease monthly payments before the end of the term.
Celebrated crowdsourcing site Kickstarter has been touched by scandal, as a project on the site that amassed about $4,700 in funding has been revealed to be a fraud. As the BBC reports, the scam centered around an independent role-playing game that promised big achievements on a small budget.
American gamers spend five times more on iOS games compared to those on Android, according to game-focused research firm Newzoo. The claim is said to be based on a comparison of revenue and download data from the top 200 grossing games, along with survey results from a group of 17,000 gamers.
Samsung's Ivy Bridge-powered Series 7 Gamer notebook, introduced yesterday as part of a larger unveiling, is now available for sale in the US. The 17.3-inch notebook sports 1080p resolution and has Intel's quad-core, 2.3GHz Core i7 3610QM chip onboard, along with NVIDIA's 2GB GeForce GTX 675M GPU. Prices start at $1,900.
Telltale Games has put out the first episode of The Walking Dead for download. The M-rated, five-episode series foreshadows the story of Deputy Sheriff Rick Grimes, serving as a prequel to the comic book and television series.
Rovio has announced that Angry Birds Space has reached 50 million downloads in a space of just 35 days. The developer says that the title has broken all of its previous records, and in fact claims that Space is "the fastest growing mobile game yet," though no comparison points are quoted. Mobile versions of Space are available for the iPhone, the iPad, and various Android devices; Windows and Mac editions are also on sale.
Nintendo started off the week by adding a fifth color to the 3DS. It now comes in a Midnight Purple along with the existing black, blue, pink, and red. The color doesn't have a special bundle attached.
Origin PC took its turn at the high-performance ultraportable category Sunday with the EON11-S. Using the same Clevo-made frame as the Maingear Pulse 11, it's small with an 11.6-inch screen but still fits as much as a quad 2.1GHz Core i7 courtesy of Intel's low-power Ivy Bridge architecture. Likewise, it carries a new GeForce GT 650M that gives it mid-level gaming.
NVIDIA at its Gaming Festival in Shanghai unveiled the expected GeForce GTX 690. The dual-chip board is billed as the fastest on offer and combines two partly downscaled GTX 680 units for a major leap in speed over the GTX 590. With 3,072 processing cores, it in many cases runs games twice as fast as the GTX 680.
A recent Lenovo investment, Eedoo, is drawing criticism for the upcoming launch of China's first mainstream motion gaming system, the CT510. Pitched as a family entertainment system, the system is conspicuously like Microsoft's Kinect add-on for the Xbox 360 but is intended more as a general device with HD movie playback, karaoke, and motion-driven exercise apps. At $600, however, it costs more than the $399 US price of Microsoft's most advanced Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle.
A trailer for Rayman Legends has leaked online, showing what appears to be touch controls and NFC capabilities of the Wii U. The trailer has since been said by Ubisoft to not be a representation of the final game, nor the Nintendo console.
Today in the MacNN forums, AvisNocturna is looking for some Beta testers for a new Logo Design App, click here to join in. Rumors that the 17-inch MacBook Pro is going to be discontinued were brought up in this thread started by Forum Regular Negrol earlier this week.
In an approach that appears to be a stepping stone to further digital selling, Nintendo has announced that it will begin offering digital copies of selected titles for the Wii U and 3DS systems through retail channels. The approach will allow buyers to visit actual game shops or the online sites for those shops and make purchases, and can choose to have either physical copies or digital downloads delivered to their console's SD card through a 16-digit download code.
With its latest financial report (PDF), Nintendo has admitted that it is selling its 3DS portable gaming console at a financial loss. This is only since it dropped its price in late July to boost sales, from the original $250 to just $170. The gaming giant did go on to say it plans to stop selling it below cost by the middle of the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2013.
