Feb
07

New MW3 map ‘Overwatch’ to arrive for Xbox 360 Elite Suscribers on February 21st

Xbox 360 players signed up to Call of Duty Elite will get another new Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer map – Overwatch – on February 21.

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That’s even before PS3 Elite Premium subs get last month’s maps, Liberation and Piazza, which won’t arrive until February 28. Infinity Ward has offered no release date for Overwatch for PS3 Elite Premiums.

 ”Overwatch drops you into a construction site atop a New York City skyscraper. The battle takes place along two levels in a near symmetrical layout, with the central bridge and side routes open to attack from multiple angles,” says IW.

Feb
07

Raspberry Pi’s $35 Linux computer on track to launch later this month

The first model of the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s low-cost Linux computer will likely be available for purchase later this month. The organization announced today that manufacturing on the first batch is set to complete on February 20.

The $35 computer, which is a bare board the size of a deck of playing cards, has a 700MHz ARM11 CPU and 256MB of RAM. A second model with lower specs will eventually be released for $25. According to a statement issued today by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the $35 model will probably be available for purchase by the end of the month unless there are additional production delays.

Source : Arstechnica

Feb
04

Max Payne 3 Gets A New and Confirmed Release Date

As a side note to the company’s fiscal results for Q3 2012, Take-Two Interactive Software, the parent company of Rockstar Games and 2K, has confirmed the new post-delay release dates for upcoming title, Max Payne 3.

Originally slated for release in early March, Max Payne 3 will now hit gamers like the proverbial gun butt to the back of the head, when it arrives on the Xbox 360 a little later – May 15th, 2012 in North America and May 18th in all other territories.

Let’s continue with the firearm theme, by introducing a new 30-odd second-long trailer featuring Max taking on some thugs (who, frankly, probably wish they hadn’t bothered turning up!) with a high-powered 608 Bull Revolver in hand:

Here’s hoping that you’ve not already seen enough gun-toting for one day, because there’s more! This comes courtesy of the latest batch of bad-ass looking screenshots which seen the light of day just a few hours ago.

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If all that action has whet your appetite for the forthcoming iteration in the Max Payne franchise, bear in mind that you now have until April 2nd to pre-order the Special Edition of Max Payne 3. You can check out the available pre-order options, by heading to the previous delay announcement story (linked in the first paragraph of this article).

Thanks: True Achievements

Feb
03

Anonymous ‘intercept FBI and Scotland Yard phone call’

People wearing masks associated with Anonymous (file image)

The conversation covers the tracking of Anonymous and other splinter groups, dates of planned arrests and details of evidence held by police.

Anonymous also published an email, apparently from the FBI, giving the email addresses of call participants.

The FBI confirmed the leak and said it was hunting those responsible.

It said the information “was intended for law enforcement officers only and was illegally obtained,” the Associated Press news agency reports.

British police at Scotland Yard said they were working on a statement.

According to the alleged email, the 17-minute phone call took place on 17 January. It was unclear how Anonymous had managed to obtain the recording.

The email was sent to law enforcement officials in the US, UK, Sweden, Ireland and other countries, inviting them to “discuss the on-going investigations related to Anonymous, Lulzsec, Antisec, and other associated splinter groups”.

In the call, British and American voices said to be police and FBI agents discuss the names of some of the people they were tracking and plans for legal action.

Usernames are included but some of the real names of people being investigated appear to have been bleeped out.

Among those discussed are two British men, Ryan Cleary and Jake Davis, who are wanted in the US for their alleged connections to Anonymous.

One of the British voices on the recording also says UK police have made mistakes in previous investigations.

A comment on one of the Twitter accounts linked to Anonymous,AnonymousIRC, said: “The FBI might be curious how we’re able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now.”

Anonymous is a loose collective of hackers, anarchists and pranksters who have targeted a range of governments, companies, law enforcement agencies and individuals in recent years.

Source: BBC News

Feb
02

The Simpsons Arcade Game Details Revealed

Coming to XBLA and PSN.

Konami has confirmed new details about The Simpsons Arcade Game headed to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. The game is an updated version of the classic arcade game and features four-player gameplay as well as multiple modes.

“Quarters” mode re-creates the original arcade experience, while Survival mode “challenges you to see how far you can get with only one life.” A Free Play mode will offer unlimited continues and the Japanese version of the game will be included as unlockable bonus content.

The game will be available on February 7th on PlayStation Network and will be free to PlayStation Plus subscribers. Xbox Live players will be able to play four days early – this Friday, February 3rd at the price of 800 MS points.

Jan
26

Steam App Hits iOS and Android Market

Valve has released a new Steam Mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

Click to view larger imageBefore your jaw falls off, it doesn’t bring Steam games to mobile, but it does let you interact with Steam in many ways, including browsing the library of games, seeing when your friends are online, what they’re playing and messaging.

 

It’ll also let you keep up with Steam’s news posts, new sales, check out user profiles and see screenshots and user-generated content for your games.

“The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers,” said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. “Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale – these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone.”

The app is a beta release, and you’ll have to register your interest to get in on it. “Those who wish to join the beta just need to download the Steam app (free of charge) and log in to their Steam account via the mobile app to express interest in the beta. Gamers will be added to the Closed Beta as the service ramps up,” explains Valve.

Thanks: CVG

Jan
25

‘Xbox 720′ to use ATI 6000 Series GPU [Rumour]

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 successor will utilise a Radeon 6000 series GPU, the latest Xbox 720 rumour report has claimed.

 

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“Sources close to the project” apparently indicated the decision to IGN, claiming that Microsoft’s is prepping the year-old graphics processor for its new console, rather than the newer 7000 series.

The processor will be derived from the Radeon HD 6670, it’s claimed, which offers support for DirectX11, multidisplay output, 3D and 1080p HD output. You can currently buy the chip for less than £50.

The report goes on to claim Xbox 720′s raw graphics processor will boast “six times the processing power” of the Xbox 360 and “20 percent greater performance” than Nintendo’s forthcoming Wii U.

The next Xbox will ship to retailers in “late October or early November of next year”, the report concludes.

Microsoft has long spoken of its ten-year plan for Xbox 360, which launched in late 2005, but that doesn’t rule out a successor launching during the period.

European Xbox boss, Chris Lewis said in August:

“We think we’re a little over halfway with the life cycle of the console, but that’s not to say there won’t be an overlap. I’m not going to announce specifically or talk about timing. But you could imagine there could be overlap, it depends. We’re not being specific about the next generation at this stage.”

A patent discovered earlier this week has suggested that Microsoft intends its new console to be a digital video recorder, along with a game console.

[ Source: IGN ]

Jan
24

MW3 Map Pack DLC available for COD Elite members

The first DLC for MW3 has just hit… Only available to premium members though.. I think I can hear the cash cow moo’ing.

Jan
19

US Federal Prosecutors Shut Down File Sharing Site Megaupload

File sharing website Megaupload, previously the 13th most visited site on the web, has been shut down.

US Federal prosecutors have indicated the executives of the popular service, accusing the company of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated content.

Megaupload was already duking it out with Universal following the inclusion of Kanye West and other artists from the label in a promotional video for the website.

In a week where the future of the web is open for debate, this is sure to open up another can of worms.

Jan
17

Max Payne 3 delayed to ‘ensure quality’

 

Rockstar title pushed back to May

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[UPDATE: it's May 15 in North America and May 18 internationally; and for the PC on May 29 in North America and June 1, 2012 internationally.

"Max Payne 3 brings powerful storytelling back to the action-shooter genre," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "Rockstar Studios are delivering a game that's both incredibly cinematic and very, very intense to play."]

The aftershock of moving the shooter out of the fiscal quarter means Take-Two now expects to report a net loss for year 2012, it says.

“We do not take changes to our release schedule lightly, and this short delay will ensure that Max Payne 3 delivers the highest quality, groundbreaking entertainment experience that is expected from our Company,” said Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two.

“Max Payne 3 promises to be one of our most exciting releases to date, and we are confident that consumers will once again be amazed by Rockstar’s ability to take interactive entertainment to another level.

“With Max Payne 3 now slated for May, our robust lineup of upcoming releases for fiscal 2013 is even stronger, including BioShock Infinite, Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line, XCOM, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and other titles yet to be announced for release that year.

“Fiscal 2013 is poised to be one of our best years ever, with anticipated substantial revenue growth and Non-GAAP Net Income of over $2.00 per share. We are well positioned to deliver growth and profitability over the long term.”

Earlier this month, Rockstar gave us an insight into the research conducted to ensure that the vibe, culture, police, weapons and every element of São Paulo, Brazil in the game is as authentic as possible.

Rockstar Games plans to announce further details on the delay later today.

CVG

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