April 2016

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The Fallout 4 Mod Kit Hits PC

April 27, 2016

This may well be some of the biggest news we've heard in quite some time, or at least some of the biggest news we've heard about Fallout since the release of the second piece of downloadable content. The good news is that the long-awaited Fallout 4 mod kit is finally starting to make its appearance, and is now officially available for PC.

The Fallout 4 Creation Kit, as it's known, will open the field to regular users, and give said users access to the exact same tools that Bethesda programmers used to create the game originally. With the Creation Kit in hand, users will be able to modify most anything in the game already: characters, outfits, quests, environments and more will all be on hand to toy with. Plus, there will even be a slight modification to the game's opening menu, adding the word "Mods" to the main screen, giving users the ability to access the mods already available without having to leave the game.

Tagged: Bethesda Softworks, Context menu, Dark Souls, Downloadable content, Fallout (series), Mod (video gaming), PC game, Personal computer, PlayStation, Xbox : Related Tags: fallout, users, available, access

Fox News' Andy Levy's Problems With The Division

April 26, 2016

Normally, when a host on a news channel gets his or her dander up about a video game, it's a disaster for gamers. Cries of violence, of adult situations, or a host of other problems can emerge and potentially change what's available on the market or even make it tougher to find games altogether. That may have caused a few eyes to roll when Fox News' Andy Levy took on The Division...though the reasons may have been of the most outlandish sort.

More specifically, Levy noted--during a segment about skills for 18 year olds on Fox News' Red Eye program--that being able to level up one's character in The Division was among them. This one may have been a joke, but Levy took it to an unexpected new level, noting that players should be able to level up a character in The Division, "...despite the way Massive nerfed the crafting system and allows packs of super-geared rogues to gank you in the Dark Zone." Levy then wrapped up this short impromptu screed by spitting "Thanks a lot, jerks." at the camera.

It was the kind of thing that made most everyone blink at least once in shock; a segment about skills for 18 year olds that includes things like contributing to the running of a household, knowing how to manage money and knowing how to handle deadlines generally doesn't get much mention of video games.

Tagged: About Comics, Andrew Levy, Board game, Dean (education), Fox News Channel, Lexx, Nerf (video gaming), The Division, Ubisoft, Video game : Related Tags: character division, video games, segment skills, division, mention, games

Cuphead Makes a Reappearance at PAX East

April 25, 2016

With PAX East 2016 now concluded, some exciting news has emerged from the event. One of the biggest such events was the resurgence of Cuphead, which we originally saw last year at E3. This old-school--on several fronts--action shooter has gained some new ground with PAX East, and the new changes make this one just as exciting as ever.

Reports suggest that this is still the year for Cuphead's release, though it's not immediately clear if it can hold to that. The new footage revealed at PAX East says that it should be a pretty impressive piece of work, with new bosses--like a giant bird armored by a birdhouse, who uses as a main weapon smaller birds with nails attached to them.

Tagged: 505 Games, Android (operating system), Beach volleyball, Bill Amend, Black operation, Boston, Bulkypix, Game mechanics, IOS, Xbox : Related Tags: cuphead, bosses, release

Insomniac Games Prepares VR Slate of Games

April 20, 2016

We all knew by now that virtual reality was going to be a major development in the gaming market, but it was hard to forecast just how much development would go into the field. New word from Insomniac Games says at least three titles will be on the way, as the company announced a pair of them recently.

The first new title featured was Feral Rites, which was described as a "VR adventure brawler" that sets you out to avenge your father's death. You'll be on an island, complete with temples and jungles, and you'll be able to transform into a beast form to face down the dangerous you'll encounter while on the island. Feral Rites is set for release in the third quarter of this year.

The second new announcement was The Unspoken, a game that allows users to summon "ghastly monstrousities" and "manipulate the environment" in a bid to win points and gain ground as part of an "urban magic fight club." Users can get hands on this one in November 2016.

The third--rather, the first game announced before either of these--is Edge of Nowhere, a game that sends you out to Antartica, where you'll be pursuing Lovecraftian horrors in the great white wastes.

Tagged: 505 Games, Freddie Wong, Head-mounted display, Hulu, Insomniac Games, Lions Gate Entertainment, Oculus Rift, Samsung, Showtime (TV channel), Virtual reality : Related Tags: feral rites, potential titles, insomniac games, great, titles, games

A New Shooter From John Romero?

April 19, 2016

On the surface--especially for anyone who remembers the fiasco that was Daikatana--the idea of John Romero making a new first person shooter is somewhere between deeply saddening and oddly hilarious. New reports direct from Romero himself suggest that's the case, however, and pose an exciting new idea.

The whole thing started with the discovery of a new company that was later found to be entirely fictional known as Hoxar Inc. The site is apparently related to the upcoming game, as noted by Romero himself, according to reports. Romero followed this up with a slate of hashtags, including PC and FPS. The Hoxar site describes an item called BLACKROOM, which it is "proud to present." BLACKROOM is said to be a kind of room-based holography that requires no goggles to present.

Tagged: Computer display standard, Dark Souls, Doom (video game), First-person shooter, Frame rate, PC game, Personal computer, PlayStation, Software release life cycle, Xbox : Related Tags: romero himself, person shooter, romero, daikatana, interest, shooter

Recent Open Betas Prove Popular with Players

April 18, 2016

Those who tried out the Doom open beta over the weekend were likely not disappointed, but the good news is that, those who have been playing and enjoyed it can get one more day's worth of open beta access at no charge.

The open beta was set to conclude at 11:59 on April 17, but was extended for an extra 24 hours to close out on Monday at the same time. No reason was immediately visible as to why, though reports suggest quite a bit of movement in terms of downloads. Popularity might be a good reason, and it's actually one that keeps in spirit with other recent developments.

The Doom beta wasn't the only one that proved to need an extension, as Halo 5's Warzone Firefight mode's open beta took an expansion of its own, adding an extra day to play.

Open beta is a good idea in general, as it draws in potential players and allows a system to be tested under the strain of a player base. It can also open up some potential new input from players outside the company, players that only care about the quality of the end product with no regard for internal politics.

Tagged: Card game, Chronicle, Gearbox Software, Jagex, Microsoft Store, PlayStation, PlayStation Network, RuneScape, Software release life cycle, Xbox : Related Tags: players, potential, reason, extra, going

The Doom Open Beta: What to Watch For

April 12, 2016

You've got to hand it to Bethesda; even when it's working with old ID Software properties, it's still getting the most out of them. Now, with the remake of Doom just a few weeks off, the game's open beta is about to arrive, and the word about what all will be found therein is likewise on hand.

First off, the best news is that there will be little restriction when it comes to this beta. It's poised to run April 15 - 17, and since it's an open beta, everyone can get in. No codes, no pre-order, no advanced purchase.

Tagged: Bethesda, BFG (weapon), Coilgun, Doom (video game), First-person shooter, Id Software, Maryland, Personal computer, PlayStation, Software release life cycle, Xbox : Related Tags: bethesda, rifle, users, choice, content, should

Samson Go Mic Connect Review: Frustrating But Valuable for Game Voice Connections

April 11, 2016

Gaming, these days, is increasingly marked by voice traffic. From teammates shouting instructions at one another for fire direction to opponents trash-talking one another to even players migrating to YouTube to do "Let's Play" videos. This means that having the right microphone can make or break a game in some cases, and our friends out at the Max Borges Agency sent out a Samson Go Mic Connect for us to review. This one might well be the weapon of choice for a lot of gamers out there.

The Go Mic Connect is a simple USB microphone, with a multi-hinged mounting system that allows it to easily set up in a variety of locations and settings.

Tagged: Active noise control, Apple Inc., Bluetooth, Headphones, IOS, IPad, IPhone, Lightning (connector), Universal Serial Bus, YouTube : Related Tags: quality recording, installation process, microphone, quality, recording, speakers

Congressional Rep Questioned Over Steam Charges

April 6, 2016

The idea of a Steam bill for $1,302 sounds unnerving enough, but when it comes from a U.S. Congressman, that's one to raise an eyebrow or two. That's the setup for a recent inquiry from the Federal Election Commission, who recently began questioning Duncan Hunter about said Steam bill, which may have been paid with campaign funds.

The $1,302 bill--the result of 68 separate charges--was the result of a mistake made by Hunter's son, and Hunter subsequently registered the charges as "personal expense -- to be paid back." It began when Hunter's son used Hunter's credit card to buy a game on Steam, but it didn't take long for several charges to show up afterward that weren't authorized. Hunter started out trying to get the charges reversed, and as such hasn't paid back the campaign.

Tagged: Appellate court, Associated Press, Automated teller machine, Bankrate, Black people, Boardroom coup, Credit card, Credit card debt, Debit card, Debt : Related Tags: video games, seeking reimbursement, hunter, charges, steam, video

How About More PC Games Coming to Xbox One?

April 5, 2016

Microsoft's recent moves to better integrate the Xbox One and the PC--as seen in moves like the Desktop App Converter and the ability to run Windows 10 on Xbox One--has left some concerned, and some optimistic. That led to Phil Spector recently stepping up to assure Xbox One players that all of their games would not also be available for PC. The only thing that came to mind when I heard that was, that's great, but what about the other way around?

There are a huge number of games available for PC players. Huge. For reference's sake, checking out the Steam homepage shows there are 206 products on sale this week.

Tagged: Cross-platform, Downloadable content, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Personal computer, PlayStation, PlayStation 2 online functionality, Sony, Video game console, Xbox : Related Tags: games, titles, microsoft, still

What's coming to E3 2016? More Than You Might Think

April 4, 2016

While there's been a lot of word coming out of late as to what--and who--won't be seen at E3 2016, there's some recent word about what will be. The good news is that there will be quite a bit making the rounds. So for those who thought that E3 2016 wouldn't be worth watching, there's good news afoot according to a recent report from IGN.

Sequels will be out in huge proportions at the big show; Call of Duty 2016 will be on hand, as will Final Fantasy XV and Forza. Crackdown 3, Dishonored 2, Gears of War 4 and FIFA 17 are all expected for arrival.

Tagged: Japan, Japanese newspapers, Link (The Legend of Zelda), Nikkei, Nintendo, Paper Mario, The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Wii, Wii U : Related Tags: coming, titles

End Game

April 2016