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First Unravel gameplay trailer revealed at Gamescom 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

EA’s Unravel (and its protagonist, Yarny) made a big splash at this year’s E3 Expo. The publisher brought the character back for another round of press appearances at the Gamescom expo, giving us a first look at some gameplay video in the process.

The trailer showcases a level known as “The Sea” and Yarny has to figure out how to navigate the shoreline without being washed away by the tide. The physics-based platforming is excellent and Yarny’s world is somehow ridiculously detailed and heavily stylized all at the time. A single strand of thread, the character’s very literal lifeline, dangles behind him at all times.

It’s easy to see why EA’s executives believe the game charmed everyone at E3. Unravel is in development at Coldwood and will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, possibly as early as next year.

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Ubisoft adds lip-syncing Showtime Mode and nine new tracks to Just Dance 2016

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft wants players to share their dancing with the world after they play Just Dance 2016. The new Showtime Mode will let players record themselves lip-syncing along to their favorites songs. After the song is over, Just Dance 2016 will create a shareable video for the world.

Showtime Mode will only be available on the PS4 (a PlayStation Camera is required), the Xbox One (a Kinect is required), and the Wii U (a Wii U GamePad is required, but that’s standard equipment for Wii U owners):

The new Showtime mode will allow players to unleash their inner star by creating unique music videos of themselves performing. Players lip-sync and perform along to hit songs in the game and the video footage is then turned into a fun shareable music video. The music videos pull in both creative visual elements and pop cultural references— each song will have a distinctive and visually original atmosphere.

Ubisoft also announced nine new tracks for Just Dance 2016 during this week’s Gamescom expo:

  • Angry Birds – “Balkan Blast Remix”
  • AronChupa – “I’m An Albatraoz”
  • Britney Spears – “Circus”
  • Ellie Goulding – “Lights”
  • Iggy Azalea (Featuring Charli XCX) – “Fancy”
  • The Lemon Cubes – “Boys (Summertime Love)”
  • Pitbull (Featuring Chris Brown) – “Fun”
  • Prince Royce – “Stuck On A Feeling”
  • Shakira (Featuring El Cata) – “Rabiosa”

Just Dance 2016 will be released for the PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 20.

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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain gets two new trailers at Gamescom 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Josh Griffiths

The hotly anticipated Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is less than a month away, and Konami is finally ramping up promotion for the game (while in the midst of some internal turmoil) by releasing two more trailers that show off the game’s new features.

Revealed during Gamescom 2015, a short gameplay trailer (embedded above) notably wasn’t directed or edited by Hideo Kojma, while a longer demo walkthrough (available after the break) showcased the new and improved Mother Base.

Among the new features demonstrated in the walkthrough video is the ability to take showers to wash away blood and collect posters scattered throughout the base. Players can also run obstacle courses, train troops, and customize the base (including layout, insignia placement, color, and security measures). We also got a look at how all of these features integrate with the iDroid while you’re in the field.

Also showed off was Forward Operation Base (FOB) multiplayer mode, which involves creating a base separate from Mother Base that other players can invade at any time. In the demo, we saw the player in the middle of a mission get a warning that their FOB was being invaded, and they quickly left the mission to defend the base. What followed was a game of cat and mouse that ended after the defender captured the attacker.

With Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain releasing September 1st, these are probably the last trailers we’ll see before it’s release. It’s been a heck of a ride considering the significance of this game in the franchise. But, the light is finally right around the corner. (more…)

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Uncharted movie delayed to 2017; Resident Evil: Final Chapter set for Jan. 2017 premiere

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Josh Griffiths

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The Uncharted movie is quickly turning into a teenage procrastinator, insisting they’ll come out of their room later, but with no immediate intention of coming out. Sony recently announced (via Variety) that the film has been delayed again, this time until June 30, 2017.

This news comes weeks after it was confirmed by Heroic Hollywood that director Seth Gordon had stepped away from the project. At least two different writers have worked on the script, and with Gordon’s departure, it’s currently being reworked for a third time. A new director has yet to be announced and the film has even struggled to find a lead actor.

We probably won’t see Nathan Drake until he’s rushing out of the door on June 30, 2017 clasping his belt with a piece of toast in his mouth, running to catch the bus. They’ll probably be some jumping involved as well.

In the same announcement, Sony confirmed that Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which stars Milla Jovovich and is set to be directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, will be released on January 27, 2017.

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Activision confirms StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will launch in 2015

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Activision delivered their quarterly financial report on Tuesday, and in addition to talking about how much money they made, Chief Financial Officer Dennis Durkin got to announce that StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will definitely be released by the end of the year:

“One important addition is we are now confirming that the much anticipated final chapter for StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void is expected to be released in 2015 and will now be included in our guidance for the full year.”

Later in the report, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime talked a bit more about the standalone expansion and how happy he is that players won’t need to be invested in the earlier titles to experience Legacy of the Void:

“[W]e’re working hard to deliver a worthy finale to an epic story that’s now been over 17 years in the making. One of the reasons we feel we can continue to expand our StarCraft II audience is that players no longer need to have the previous entries in the series in order to play Heart of the Storm or Legacy of the Void. This provides a great opportunity for players who might have missed one of the chapters in the trilogy to come back and jump right into the latest content.”

Blizzard has set up shop at the 2015 Gamescom expo this week and attendees will be able to try out a StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void demo at the developer’s booth in Hall 7.

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Next wave of Amiibo figures (including Zero Suit Samus, Ganondorf, Dr. Mario, more) will be available on September 11

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

amiibo-september112015Super Mario Maker definitely won’t be lonely on store shelves on September 11, as Nintendo has announced the next wave of Amiibo figures will also be available on that date. In addition to the “Classic Color” version of the 30th Anniversary Mario figure, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS/Wii U players will be able to pick up figures based on Bowser Jr., Dr. Mario, Ganondorf, Olimar/Pikmin, and Zero Suit Samus.

Another set of Smash Bros. figures will follow on September 25 in a “Retro 3 Pack.” The Duck Hunt Dog, Mr. Game and Watch, and R.O.B. will be packaged together for players who fondly remember the 1980s. Another three-pack, this one featuring the Mii Fighters, will be available in November.

Finally, a release date for the “Modern Color” version of the 30th Anniversary Mario figure will be announced at a later date.

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The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes will be available on October 23

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo has announced that The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, their multiplayer dungeon-crawler for the 3DS, will be available on October 23. Allowing up to three players to take control of three different Links (and with only one game cartridge), Tri Force Heroes bears more than a slight resemblance to Four Swords Adventures:

In The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, up to three players play as Link, with each hero selecting a different outfit equipped with a special boost or ability. One outfit might grant the wearer the ability to shoot arrows, for example, while another could provide more life-saving hearts. A new Totem mechanic allows three Link characters to stack on top of each other to reach higher ground and solve puzzles. The game can also be played solo, allowing one player to rent two paper dolls to take along to complete the legendary team of three.

If you’re in Cologne, Germany this week for the annual Gamescom expo, you might be interested to know that a playable demo of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is available at Nintendo’s booth in Hall 9.

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Battleborn will be released on February 9, 2016

Posted on August 6, 2015 by John Scalzo

2K Games and Gearbox Software have announced that Battleborn will be released on February 9, 2016. Gearbox’s “hero shooter” will include 25 “Badasses” when it releases early next year and a new trailer released for the 2015 Gamescom expo introduces us to four of them. Say hello to Ambra, Reyna, Mellka, and Benedict:

  • Ambra: Born into an ancient order of priestesses responsible for discovering a way to prolong life indefinitely, Ambra was betrayed by her leader and her faction, the Jennerit Empire, and now fights alongside the Battleborn. She is a specialist hero, dealing damage up close through her melee attacks and powerful abilities, while healing her allies in the process.
  • Mellka: A stealthy assassin, Mellka lost her parents at a young age before eventually earning her place among the Eldrid’s black op’s and intelligence bureau. Her life has been defined by a series of staggering losses, but her response to these losses was never despair – it was fury. She strikes quickly, disorienting foes with her nerve gas machine pistol and bio-glaive melee attacks.
  • Reyna: Known by her followers as “The Valkyrie,” Reyna was born aboard the Rogue faction’s ailing junk heap of a flagship and is a native to the last star system. Reyna has fought tirelessly for the freedom of her space pirate comrades, finding her calling as their inspirational leader. She dishes damage with her laser pistol and uses her command glove to support her teammates.
  • Benedict: August Benedict Jr. is one of several surviving races of bird-like “Aviant” refugees. He swore allegiance to the Peacekeepers where he’s gained considerable notoriety for being a self-centered jerk that’s capable of astounding destruction with his rocket launcher. Double jumping, rocket jumping, and flying – Benedict’s good at all of them and he lets his teammates know it.

An open beta for Battleborn will be held sometime before the game ships to stores this February. But 2K Games isn’t ready to talk about the public test just yet and will announce more details about it at a later date.

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