General gaming news

**6souls** · 2012-05-05 13:24

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Deep Silver is planning on re-releasing Dead Island, according to the British Board of Film Classification. The BBFC rated Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition, which is according to the rating board will be available on June 30.

It’s unclear what extra content will be included with Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition, but existing DLC like Ryder White’s Campaign and the Bloodbath Arena from the special edition are likely.

http://www.siliconera.com/2012/05/04...ratings-board/

**Lonely** · 2012-05-05 13:34

I thought Dead Island was shit.

**6souls** · 2012-05-11 00:17

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Double Fine sent out press invitations to see the upcoming game by Ron Gilbert. Included with the package was a puzzle that offers a first look at the new game.

"Join us. See a new game by Ron Gilbert & Double Fine," the puzzle says. Gilbert joined Double Fine back in September 2010.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/a...ne-puzzle.aspx

A different game Double Fine is working on. That 3.3, side money.

**6souls** · 2012-05-11 00:22

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Days ago, we reported on the not-so-mysterious Amazon listing that pointed to a new Family Guy console game in development by Activision and Twentieth Century Fox – turns out Amazon listed correctly (as usual, it seems). Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse is a real game, and it’s releasing this Fall.

Based on what I consider one of the funniest episodes in the show’s history (and you can take that how you’d like), Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse is said to take you through some of the series’ “most iconic and memorable moments”, but layered into an “impressive and uncensored” game, according to the words of David Oxford, VP of Activision.

“Anyone who watches the show will appreciate how much we have adhered to its rich and twisted universe and characters.”

Given that quote came from the publisher’s Vice President, instead of, say, one of the writers or developers on the game itself, it’s perfectly alright if you’re not convinced…

But on a strikingly good note though, the game will make use of original source material from the show, including the writers and voice actors. This has a chance to be a good game, much like the South Park RPG has a chance to be a good game. It should be abundantly clear to any Family Guy viewer that if they can nail the writing and the humor of the show, they’ve won a good portion of the battle.

http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...-2012-release/
http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...ted-on-amazon/
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Guy-Bac...tsm_1_tp_un_it
http://www.amazon.com/Family-Guy-Bac...6080976&sr=1-2

**6souls** · 2012-05-11 00:45

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Crystal White Vita will be released in Japan on June 28th.

http://wanabrar.com/blog/wp-content/...-Miku-Vita.jpg

Hatsune Miku Vita will be released in Japan on August 30th.

**6souls** · 2012-05-13 19:16

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Activision hinted that its World of Warcraft update would help subscriber numbers recover

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Diablo 3 will charge users either $1 or a 15% cut for transactions carried out inside the game

Activision Blizzard says the number of subscribers to its World of Warcraft online video game has stabilised.

The publisher said the seven-year-old title had 10.2 million members at the end of March - the same as at the turn of the year.

That supported its claim to be the most popular subscription-based title of its kind.

World of Warcraft (WoW) had lost nearly 1.8 million players over the previous 12 months.

The announcements were made following the release of the publisher's first-quarter earnings.

Panda pets

Its net income for the three months was $384m (£234m), a 24% drop on the previous year.

It linked the fall to the decline in the number of people playing WoW - its most profitable business - as well as the fact that its most recent Call of Duty first-person shooter game was experiencing lower sales than its predecessor.

However, it noted that revenue of $1.2bn for the period was better than expected and raised its forecasts due to what it described as a "highly innovative product line".

This includes the forthcoming WoW Mists of Pandaria expansion pack, which introduces a new continent populated by martial-arts-skilled pandas and their pets.

"We expect to see increased engagement with the launch," said Michael Morhaime, chief executive of the firm's Blizzard division.

The release should help WoW compete with its newer big-budget rival, Star Wars: The Old Republic, which lost about a quarter of its subscribers between February and April.

Both titles face challenges from MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) Guild Wars 2 and Elder Scrolls Online.

Cash for equipment

The company also highlighted next week's launch of Diablo 3.

Activision said that the horror-themed role-playing game had already set a new pre-order record for its Blizzard unit.

The sequel features an auction house in which users can trade objects with other players using real-world currency. Activision can take a cut of each sale, potentially creating a significant new revenue stream.

The company also said it had high hopes for November's release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, as well as a Call of Duty "micro-transaction game for China", for which details remain scant.

It added that it thought a "new universe" from developer Bungie - creator of the Halo series - could also become a "potential mega-franchise", but did not give any further details.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18016814

**6souls** · 2012-05-18 01:08

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It seemed as though everything was going pretty well this year for 38 Studios, the Curt Schilling-founded video game developer behind EA’s new IP, Kingdoms of Amalur. Last month we had reports that the game had sold over 400,000 units in two months, a pretty impressive number considering the fact that it was a brand-new franchise. New DLC packs continue to arrive, and, overall, gamers seem pretty happy with the game.

Nonetheless, today reports of financial troubles at 38 Studios, one of the co-developers of the game, have started to swirl. An article in the Providence Journal from yesterday reveals that Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has met with 38 Studios’ executives as well as representatives from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC) to go over the studio’s finances, with hopes of “protecting the taxpayer dollars.”

Apparently the studio was loaned $75 million by the RIEDC in 2010 in order to move them from Massachusetts to Providence, says a report on WPRI. Part of the deal was that 38 Studios would employ 450 people in Rhode Island. But apparently only 288 of the company’s 379 full-time employees are in Providence, with the rest based at another office in Maryland. In addition, the $75 million in loan funding is going towards the studio’s next game, an MMO codenamed “Project Copernicus,” says the report. And last year an independent audit issued a “going concern” and noting “substantial doubt” about the company’s ability to stay in business.

It’s unclear what the fallout of these meetings will be, and what will happen if (or when) 38 Studios can’t begin the process of paying back the loan—which, according to the Journal article, will have to begin next year and continue through 2020 (relatively standard procedure for municipal loans). One of the reasons for the speculation over 38 Studios’ stability is the fact that they’ve been removed from the list of attendees of next month’s E3 conference, a move that’s usually cause for alarm considering all the business and press the conference tends to drum up for those involved.

http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...o-stay-afloat/
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/14/rh...udios-solvent/
http://news.providencejournal.com/br...hafee-m-1.html
http://blogs.wpri.com/2012/05/14/38-...s-75m-at-risk/

More details have been emerging in the situation regarding Kingdoms of Amalur developer 38 Studios. It was revealed this week that the studio has met with the governor and officials from the State of Rhode Island over a $75 million economic development loan they secured in 2010. Their first payment of $1.125 million was scheduled for May 1, and is past due, it turns out—probably what spurred the meeting in the first place. And because of the fun nature of loans, interest, and repayment, if 38 Studios can’t manage to make good on what they borrowed, taxpayers in the State of Rhode Island will be footing a bill for $112.6 million that the studio was supposed to pay off by 2020.

About an hour ago, though, the Associated Press filed a story revealing that Curt Schilling, former MLB pitcher and founder of 38 Studios, is asking the state for even more financial assistance—though how much isn’t yet clear.

Said Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chaffee with regard to the request: “How do we avoid throwing good money after bad?”

After Schilling met with Gov. Chaffee and members of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation yesterday morning, he refused to answer questions from reporters, saying, “My priority right now is to get back to my team.”

As of now, no official action’s been taken by the EDC, who have their next meeting on Monday. The EDC did, however, release this statement today:

“The RIEDC Board of Directors met in closed session to receive a presentation from representatives of 38 Studios as to the company’s confidential financial status and projections. Members of the Board asked many probing questions of the company. After representatives from 38 Studios concluded their presentation, the Board then engaged in extended discussion of confidential financial information. The Board did not take any vote. The company still has the option to cure the existing default by paying the $1,125,000 guaranty fee that is past due. In the meantime, we will continue to talk with 38 Studios and develop additional information, and will resume the Board meeting at our regularly scheduled meeting on May 21. The members of the Board may not discuss the confidential information received and discussed today.”

This is all some interesting—and troubling—stuff. Due to the fact that 38 Studios was unable to make even their first payment, that spells trouble. This situation also echoes news from March, in which it was revealed that Canadian studio Silicon Knights had a dispute with the Ontario Government over $3 million in public funding that was never awarded to the developer, despite the public announcement that it would be.

When questioned about why the government didn’t deliver the funds, we were told that Silicon Knights hadn’t fulfilled one or more of the agreement’s pre-requisites, while Silicon Knights claimed they had. What were those pre-requisites? Totally unknown, as opposed to a full-on fact sheet that was released today about 38 Studios’ situation. But in the end, $3 million never delivered is much, much less than $75 million that was paid…and seemingly spent.

http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...oan-repayment/
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/16/38...ney-state-off/
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...7ba2ca5b6d23f3
http://blogs.wpri.com/2012/05/16/edc...om-38-studios/

It won’t be long now: an article on WPRI today reports that 38 Studios, the developer behind this year’s Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, tried to make good on its first loan repayment of $1.125 million to the State of Rhode Island at around 5 p.m. EST today.

But the check bounced.

Not only that, but apparently studio’s employees haven’t been paid, and according to a post on Joystiq, the company’s temporary workers and contractors have been laid off amid the crisis.

As those who’ve been following this story may know, in 2010, the State of Rhode Island gave 38 Studios a loan of $75 million in return for relocating from Massachusetts. But their first payment was due on May 1, and the studio hasn’t been able to come up with the funds—and if the loan isn’t paid back, the state’s taxpayers are on the hook for $112.6 million.

The effects of the bad deal—which the state’s current governor, Lincoln Chaffee, publicly opposed before taking office—have even had effects on the Rhode Island Economic Development Company itself, the state organization that brokered the loan. The EDC’s executive director, Keith Stokes, turned in his resignation last night. The position is still unfilled as of this writing.

At this point, it’s pretty much assured that 38 Studios will be filing for bankruptcy sooner or later. It seems unlikely that the state will offer any tax credits or extend the loan at this point—though I’m sure it’s possible. But even if they do, filing for bankruptcy, while never desirable, is a way for companies to work with debtors to restructure. However, no matter what happens, unless someone swoops in with a bunch of cash to clean up this mess, Rhode Island’s going to wind up paying for this over the next few years.

http://www.insidegamingdaily.com/201...-make-payroll/
http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/38...-make-payroll/
http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/politic...-not-employees

tl:dr Nix those plans of Kingdoms of Amalur being anything more than a stand-a-lone game. Looks like another studio who had EA publish & distribute their game, Pandemic Studios being the last, is going by the wayside.

**6souls** · 2012-05-18 01:23

Unreal Engine 4 tech images

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-con...eal4_first.jpg
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-con...nreal23b_f.jpg
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http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-con...4_mountain.jpg
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http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-con...al4_statue.jpg
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/wp-con...eal4_14_ss.jpg

Spoiler: show

The screenshots above are taken from the 153 second Unreal Engine 4 real-time demo powered by the Nvidia Kepler GTX 680. It shows an armoured demon knight in a mountain fortress. Lava flows as the knight wields a huge hammer as he enters a metal corridor before looking out at mountain peaks. It's designed to show lens flare, distortion, environmental destruction and other fancy graphics techniques.

The engine itself introduces dynamic lighting, which, according to Wired, behaves in response to its own inherent properties rather than programmed effects.

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/0...4&viewall=true

**Kaisha** · 2012-05-18 02:10

All I see is Unreal Engine 3 visuals but with better lighting, and a better implementation of tessellation.

The samaritan demo from last year was something crazy on the other hand, but I guess the hardware just isn't up to the level (that the average PC gamer could afford) for Epic to promote it further, and instead are focusing more on realistic expectations for the next few years that the possible next wave of consoles could handle, rather than only the high-end market.

**Kalmado** · 2012-05-18 12:09

Not sure if this is the wrong spot to ask, but here goes. Having trouble with Max Payne 3 for my 360. Game stutters during opening c/s and when attempting to get to the 2nd scene (opening the balcony door) the c/s doesn't trigger and you can't advance. I attempted to instal the game, but it refuses. I get the "unable to read disc" error. Disc is clean.

I've had the "unable to read" error a few other times, but nothing continuous. No red rings. Does this sound like a 360 hardware problem or the game specifically? I'm going to exchange the game for a new copy today regardless, but I'm curious if I'm looking at needing a new 360 as this one is far out of warranty.

**Doombear** · 2012-05-18 13:23

I hesitate to say anything definite, but it does sound like it could be the beginning of the end. Are there any graphical problems, or is it just skipping? I know that I started seeing some pretty serious graphical problems as well as skipping (in my case with Netflix) when my last console died. Hoping it is the disc, but I have my doubts.

**Kalmado** · 2012-05-18 13:34

Just skipping and hanging on instal. Other people have reported on other sites similar things happening w/MP3. I've had RROD once on this system. It froze a few times before, but it happened on anything I put in the system. So far, it's just MP3. I need to do more testing. I'm at work currently though so no telling.

**Kalmado** · 2012-05-20 06:28

I exchanged my copy for a new one. Same things happened. Tried disc on a friends console that is in perfect working condition. Same thing. Is it possible for a bad batch of discs to have been produced, as others have reported similarities, or would this be something addressed with a patch from the game company?

**Doombear** · 2012-05-20 17:58

I highly doubt this solves anything, but A few months ago on my Slim I tried to install a game (and I know you are having worse issues, but you mentioned hanging on install) and it just sat at 0%. Is that what it is doing when you say it is hanging? Or does it actually get to a certain percentage and then stop. Are you getting it installed at all... if not here is what worked for me.

The solution for me, and many others stuck at 0%, was to sign out then install the game. For whatever reason that worked for me. It was only on that one game though and has never happened since. The only thing my slim does is take up to 60 seconds to kick off when I shut it down. Brick light stays green, Xbox ring 'dot' light pulses green a few times, then it shuts off. I had read that was due to cloud data syncing, but I have cloud storage disabled.

Anyway, maybe try that for the install. I think there are bad batches of discs every so often, or at least you tend to hear GameFAQers complaining there must be from time to time. No idea about MP3 though, haven't heard much on the forums about problems. I do know that both discs install about 7.5 GB of data. You have the room I would assume? If all else fails, go for copy number three. Maybe it is the disc.

**Kalmado** · 2012-05-20 18:06

Thanks for the replies Graelinn. Hanging wasn't the right word I suppose. Should've just said stop, because at 31% it would stop every time and say the disc was dirty or damaged. I exchanged it again at Target just a bit ago, installed disc 1, and it went to 100%. Played midway through chapter 3 and not one skip, hesitation, etc. So, hopefully 3rd time is the charm and it won't happen again. Kinda bummed I formatted my hd. I lost my profile and I can't remember for the life of me my gamertag's email I used when I created it 5 years ago so I made a new one.

I'm just thrilled to be playing this awesome game. It's everything I hoped for so far.

**Doombear** · 2012-05-20 21:31

Congratulations! I am enjoying the game quite a bit myself. Quite a cinematic experience. I will say it has been AAAAGES since I played a bullet time game so at first it just seemed so silly to me. But now it is just part of the game and I have once again just let my disbelief be suspended. Ah good ol bullet time. Trying to finish it up in the next day or so because then it is Dragon's Dogma time!