General Gaming News II: Steam Helpdesk Site Leak

[6souls]

In the recent HideoBlog web radio show hosted by Konami (via: Game Jouhou), Hideo Kojima talked about Zone of the Enders HD Collection and the reason why we might have to wait a little longer to see a Zone of the Enders sequel.

Kojima started the show by assuming the persona of the humorous Moby Dick Studio CEO, Joakim N. Mogren, with the bandaged mask. However, his humorous tone quickly changed to a more stern voice once he began to talk about Zone of the Enders HD Collection. After reading plenty of feedback, especially from fans of the PlayStation 2 versions of the game, it has come to his attention that his recent HD Remaster didn’t live up to the expectation of the franchise’s loyal fans, to whom he offers his deepest apologies.

Zone of the Enders HD Collection’s transition from 30 FPS to 60 was not as smooth as Kojima had hoped for. While it wasn’t as noticeable to first-time players, those who enjoyed the original seamless fast-paced games were able to feel the choppiness. Kojima believes that such action-heavy games deserve nothing but the smoothest gameplay to fully enjoy. Due to this problem, Kojima and his team have re-programmed the entire game, and will release a free PlayStation 3 patch that should fix the problem and greatly enhance its performance. There won’t be a patch for the Xbox 360 version for the time being.

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/05/02...enders-sequel/
http://remoon.blog15.fc2.com/blog-entry-25369.html
http://www.kjp.konami.jp/gs/hideoblog/

[6souls]

Star Wars: Battlefront 3 Gameplay
http://www.twitch.tv/ptoponline/c/2241950 / http://www.twitch.tv/ptoponline/b/399429501

GameStop to stop accepting PlayStation 2 trade-ins June 1

GameStop will no longer accept PlayStation 2 trade-ins as of June 1, according to a photo posted by Reddit user eGORapTure.

The rule will apply to all PS2 games, accessories and consoles, according to the photo. Polygon contacted several stores nationwide to confirm the date. According to one GameStop employee located in New York, several stores have already stopped accepting PS2 items and June 1 is the company-wide date. Another GameStop employee told Polygon that stores would continue to sell PS2 stock after trade-ins ended.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/5/4303...ade-ins-june-1
http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comme..._sweet_prince/

[Salodin]

The gamestop thing isn't that big a deal only cause all the worthwhile games and hidden collectable gems have been bought up by now. Been to at least half a dozen stores with nothing worth while in the ps2 section.

[Pharaun]

The gamestop thing isn't that big a deal only cause all the worthwhile games and hidden collectable gems have been bought up by now. Been to at least half a dozen stores with nothing worth while in the ps2 section.

And if by some rare chance there is a hidden gem it's disc only with a generic case...

[6souls]

XSEED Aquires Atlus Online and Becomes Marvelous USA, but will still Publish Games using XSEED & Marvelous Online Names

Xseed grew today starting with the acquisition of Atlus Online from Index Digital Media. Atlus Online handles MMORPGs like BattleSpace, Knights of the Sky, Pandora Saga, and Shin Megami Tensei Imagine.

This new company has a rather familiar name, Marvelous USA and will be run by Shinichi Suzuki who is the current President and CEO of Xseed and former President of Atlus USA. Ken Berry will continue to direct publishing and localization efforts for console and handheld games. Tatsuya Nishioka from Marvelous AQL will handle digital titles from Marvelous Online.

“Marvelous USA unifies our US operations under the global Marvelous brand while giving our customers topnotch products and support for both traditional and online social and mobile games,” said Shinichi Suzuki, President and CEO of Marvelous USA. “Our Xseed Games console and PC brand will continue to offer the quality games and service for which it is known, and Marvelous Online gives us expanded reach into mobile and online social gaming markets.”

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/05/06...marvelous-usa/

Bethesda Teases Something Labeled #1960

Spoiler: show

The above image was posted to the studio’s official Twitter account with the message “discover this morning.”

Studio marketing boss Pete Hines added that the tease has “nothing to do with Bethesda Game Studios,” suggesting it’s from one of Bethesda’s other development teams like MachineGames or id Software.

http://gematsu.com/2013/05/bethesda-...g-teaser-image
https://twitter.com/Bethblog/status/...847105/photo/1
https://twitter.com/DCDeacon/status/331413580161380352

Madden 25: Run Free

EA Tiburon is very proud of the new free running system in Madden NFL 25; this producer’s video shows off some of the new moves you’ll be able to employ.

As detailed on the EA Sports blog, the new Run Free mechanic provides new moves for several kinds of players. All players have access to all Run Free moves, but those with higher stats may have special versions of them,

Ball carriers are the most obvious beneficiaries of the new system. They can utilise the following moves: Acceleration Burst (hold down the right trigger); Deceleration and Stutter Steps (hold down the left trigger; Jukes, Back Jukes and Jump Cuts (flick the analog sticks), Spins (B or circle); Dives (X or square) Hurdles (Y or triangle); and Stumble Recovery (right stick to rebalance or use the momentum).

Stronger back players can use Stiff-arms (tap A or cross) and Trucks and Truck Spins (right stick).

Speedy backs can use Left-Right Juke Combos and Precision Jukes; Spin Jukes, Juke Spins and Jab Step Spins; Precision Back Jukes and Back Juke-Spin Combos, all of which are triggered by various analog stick combos.

The blog goes into greater detail on how these moves are performed and combined, but the video is perhaps the easiest way to understand what the heck Tiburon is on about.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/06/madd...ning-detailed/
http://www.easports.com/madden-nfl/n...producer-video

[Kaisha]

Devolver Digital is up to something with Duke's Japanese cousin. Nothing on the site but this image - http://shadowwarrior.com/

[Insanecyclone]

http://www.destructoid.com/report-ta...3-253603.phtml

Report: Tales of Symphonia to re-release on PS3

Tales of Symphonia is reportedly receiving a high-definition re-release on PlayStation 3. Speaking with Koi-Nya, series producer Hideo Baba teased what he is calling "a representation of the dreams and hopes of the fans, who have long been wanting it."

In addition to the acclaimed GameCube and PlayStation 2 role-player, Tales of Symphonia: Perfect Edition will apparently include the previously Wii-exclusive sequel, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World. Namco Bandai has yet to officially comment or divulge any release information for such a compilation.

[Ratatapa]

Would be awsome!

[Charismatic]

Spoiler: show

http://www.destructoid.com/report-ta...3-253603.phtml

Report: Tales of Symphonia to re-release on PS3

If it is localized and is PS2 Symphonia... I'm 100% game.

[Lonely]

Fuck, I wish namco didn't hate everywhere outside of japan.

I never played Symphonia so a hd release with Dawn of the New World would be day 1 for me.

[Ratatapa]

in b4 more people ask for ps3 vesperia

[Kaisha]

in b4 more people ask for ps3 vesperia

Still wouldn't mind it. Been years since I beat Symphonia on my Gamecube though, and I never played the follow-up, so I'm fine with this also.

[KuroTsuki]

That is great news. Minus the ToS2 part.

If it is localized and is PS2 Symphonia... I'm 100% game.

Even if it's the GC version, it's day 1 for me.

Shit, even if it's never localized, I'll get it lol. I think I've played the game enough to know wtf in Japanese. Also, didn't stop me from buying, and getting the platinum for, PS3 Vesperia.

[Kohan]

in b4 more people ask for ps3 vesperia

Everyone who really wanted it has already bought the Japanese version.

Also, fucking Goddamn. If Symphonia HD actually happens, it will be a Must Buy™.

[Insanecyclone]

[darkepyon]

Can't say much about that, good or bad, besides the dragon looks cool I guess.

As for Symphonia, day 1 buy for sure. I played the GC version many moons ago, but not the sequel.

[Charismatic]

Stay far away from the sequel even if you buy that.

[6souls]

EA Ignite Engine
(PC/PS4/XO)

Spoiler: show

http://image.noelshack.com/fichiers/...eas-ignite.jpg

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that it has developed EA Sports Ignite, a new game engine that will power EA Sports games on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation 4. Fuelled by EA Sports Ignite, EA Sports games will be alive with players who think, move, and behave like real athletes and dynamic living worlds, transforming the way people play and experience games on next gen consoles. Created with the EA Sports Ignite engine, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, NBA LIVE 14, and EA Sports UFC, will each launch within the next 12 months.

EA Sports Ignite blends new technology with the best rendering, run-time physics, animation, intelligence, locomotion, and online systems from across EA into one powerful, new engine. Athletes will possess human-like intelligence for advanced decision-making, players will have the agility required to change speeds and directions with true athletic motion, and living worlds will make the game experience as rich and dynamic as real-world stadiums and arenas. A video showcasing how EA Sports games will look and play on Xbox One can be viewed here.

“Through years of investment and innovation, we have built technology across EA Sports to create a game engine that will deliver stunning accuracy, realism and experiences that we previously could only dream about,” said Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice President and Head of EA Sports. “With EA Sports Ignite and the power of next generation consoles, our games will come alive—with more authenticity, more emotion, more connectivity, and more fun.”

Athletes in EA Sports next gen games will be able to make intelligent decisions with human-like reaction times. EA Sports Ignite computes four times more calculations per second than previous consoles, unlocking nearly infinite potential for how players think, and enabling them to make more difficult decisions faster. Players are alive with contextual awareness and instincts—thinking, anticipating, and reacting—just like real athletes, and players are conscious of their environment. In FIFA 14, for example, a player’s sense of urgency increases as the match draws on and a goal is needed, rushing to take a free kick, corner, or goal-kick if time is running down.

EA Sports Ignite will deliver the dynamic movements and biomechanics of the world’s best athletes. With 10 times more animation depth and detail than previous consoles, and thousands of new sport-specific animations to drive new locomotion systems, players now plant, pivot and cut, quickly change speeds, and shift momentum with the agility and explosiveness of superstar athletes.

EA Sports games for the next generation will have stunning accuracy and visuals. By creating living worlds, the in-game environment is now as dynamic as real-world stadiums and arenas that change throughout a match. For the first time ever, 3D crowds and dynamic sidelines will impact the experience, and rich sports atmospheres will change organically based on the progress of a match. Player actions will change depending on the situation, and crowds will have an expectation of how a game is likely to play out, and react accordingly.

Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, EA Sports UFC and NBA LIVE 14, will release worldwide within the next 12 months on Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, and will be available for pre-order soon. Madden NFL 25 will release in North America on August 27 and worldwide on August 30 on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. FIFA 14 will also be available on the Xbox 360, PlayStation3, PC and additional platforms. The release date has not yet been announced.

[Ratatapa]

EA finally making games for WII U ?

<<link removed due to copyright problems>>

Oh EA, just make up your mind already, would you? Last week brought us a slew of controversial comments from the company regarding Nintendo's newest home console, Wii U. First, EA spokesperson Jeff Brown stated, "we have no games in development for the Wii U currently." Not long after, EA Senior Software Engineer and Architect Bob Summerwill tweeted, "WiiU is crap" and "Nintendo are walking dead."

Now it looks like EA is eating its words. During the Stifel Nicolaus 2013 Internet, Media and Communications Conference, EA's CFO, Blake Jorgensen, confirmed that the company is developing games for the Wii U after all - albeit, not as many as for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Jorgensen also said, "You know, I think Nintendo's business was more [an] extension of their last console." He also commented, "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."

What a difference a week can make, eh? No details were given on exactly what EA has cooking for Wii U, though perhaps more information will come out of E3 this June.

[6souls]

Kingdoms of Amalur IP May Finally Get Sold Soon

Kingdoms of Amalur is to be sold by the State of Rhode Island as part of the ongoing case against 38 Studios and owner Curt Schilling. Lawyers close to the sale have confirmed that the IP has drawn the interest of unnamed parties.

The Providence Journal reports that the sale will help repay some of the $130 million owed to the state by 38 Studios.

Speaking to the site about the sale, Providence-based lawyer Richard J. Land said, “Who knows what the value ultimately will be. But there is interest in the assets,” suggesting a game publisher or studio has already approached those handling the sale regarding a purchase.

The site adds that the Kingdom of Amalur brand, together with ‘drawings, designs’ and other related work are the troubled studio’s most-valuable assets.

Court hearings will begin on Wednesday. We may know more about any potential buyers then.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/05/20/king...named-parties/
http://news.providencejournal.com/br...lion-debt.html