Most Recent: PS4

Naughty Dog officially announces Uncharted 4 for the PS4

Posted on November 15, 2013 by John Scalzo

The PS4 is here and Sony used their massive launch event to reveal even more details about what gamers can expect from the future of the console. To that end, Naughty Dog has announced that Uncharted 4 is officially in development for the PS4.

There’s no release date and very few hints at the storyline, but we did get the teaser trailer above, which includes voiceover narration from actor Todd Stashwick as a pirate-themed map of Africa flies by. Before the game begins, Stashwick’s character had been imprisoned for 15 years. But now he’s out, and looking for revenge. Presumably, Nathan Drake had something to do with all of this.

The trailer ends by lingering on the words, “Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso,” which is Latin for “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” These are supposedly the final words of Jesus, said to the Penitent Thief after he asks for forgiveness.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Next Gen Marketing Malarkey: 5 Buzzwords I’m Already Bored Of

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Andrew Rainnie

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While the launch of two new consoles is an exciting event, this one has been slightly marred by marketing departments using inane buzzwords to hype up frantic fans until there is nothing left but over-expectations and broken hearts. It has become a bombastic practice that often leaves companies in a bigger hole than where they started, as fans and critics peel away the poor PR paint job to uncover a myriad of lies and deceit. Here are a few words to cry BS at. (more…)

Posted in Opinions, PS4, Top Story, Xbox One |

Secret Ponchos will be released for PS4 in April

Posted on November 13, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Secret Ponchos was the toast of this year’s PAX East. Large crowds gathered around the Old West-styled arena shooter during all three days of the expo (this includes several members of the Warp Zoned Staff). In addition to the throngs of con-goers, several Sony executives were mightily impressed with the game as well. According to Polygon, the Sony crew was so impressed with the game that they signed a deal with the developers from Switchblade Monkeys that weekend.

Part of this deal included an appearance at E3 2013 and a pledge from the developer that Secret Ponchos would be released on the PS4 first. To ensure that Secret Ponchos would be the best game it could be on Sony next-gen platform, the publisher even gave Switchblade Monkeys access to their PhyreEngine rendering engine. PhyreEngine was previously used by thatgamecompany to create Flow, Flower, and Journey.

The developers hope to release Secret Ponchos on the PS4 in April. The game will also be included as a free download for PlayStation Plus subscribers when its released.

Switchblade Monkeys originally coded Secret Ponchos in the Unity engine with plans to bring it to as many platforms as possible. While an Xbox 360, Xbox One, or Wii U release remains unannounced, plans are in place to eventually bring the game to the PC.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

WB Games announces Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Posted on November 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is returning to Middle-Earth with a new game inspired by the Lord of the Rings saga. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is in development for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One at Monolith Productions. If the Monolith name sounds familiar, it should, the team was also responsible for 2012’s Guardians of Middle-Earth.

In the game, players will control a Ranger named Talion as he ventures into Mordor during the time between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Shadow of Mordor will also appear on the cover of Game Informer‘s December 2013 issue and here’s what they had to say about the game:

While many previous games set in Middle-earth have revolved around the major events or characters depicted in Tolkien’s books, Shadow of Mordor offers a new chapter that fits comfortably between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Players control a lone Ranger by the name of Talion as he journeys deep into the heart of Mordor in the days before it transforms into a blasted hellscape. Along the way, developer Monolith is exploring a fascinating next-gen approach to enemies, encounters, and storytelling, one in which every player shapes their own story through the choices they make. The Nemesis System assures that every enemy you fight is a named foe, and if they survive their battle with you, they continue to grow, improve, and act in the world, even as you attempt to do the same with Talion. Our cover story recounts our extensive look at the game in action, from combat and leveling to story and setting.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor doesn’t currently have a release date, but I’m guessing “soon” is out of the question. One doesn’t simply develop a “fascinating” next-generation game quickly.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

PS4 Trophies will also be classified by rarity

Posted on November 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

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OK, this is neat. The Trophy system on the PS4 will work very similarly to the current system employed by the PS3 and the Vita. Trophies will be sorted by difficulty level (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) and earning all Trophies in a game will once again unlock a Platinum Trophy.

However, PS4 Trophies will also be classified by rarity.

In addition to their difficulty rank, Trophies will be tagged with a rarity indicator: Common, Rare, Very Rare, or Ultra Rare. A Trophy might be considered Rare, Very Rare, or Ultra Rare because its hard to obtain. But it might also receive that designation because few PS4 players have played the game it belongs to. A Trophy’s rarity will be constantly recalculated so a Trophy that’s Ultra Rare today could be Common by tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow, the PS4 will officially be available when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow night.

[Source: Kotaku]

Posted in News, PS4 |

GAME announces additional next gen bundle deals for UK gamers

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Andrew Rainnie

gamegroup-logoIn addition to several previously announced packages, Video Gamer reports that UK retailer GAME has a number of new bundles they plan to make available to customers savvy enough to pre-order either the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Both consoles will come with four tier options; Value, Movie, Premium, and Epic.

The Value package for the PS4 comes in at a cool £389.99 and is bundled with one additional game, with players being able to choose from the much anticipated Killzone: Shadow Fall, platformer Knack, as well as the latest entry in two of EA’s biggest franchises, Battlefield 4 and Need for Speed: Rivals. Curiously, there is also the option to take home Putty Squad, the remake of an unreleased Amiga game. There are also some sport options available, including FIFA 14, Madden NFL 14, and NBA 2K14. The Xbox One Value pack (priced at £469.99) also comes with the option of these sports titles, although gamers can get FIFA 14 or Forza Motorsport 5 free, in addition to another game. These include Ryse: Son of Rome, Dead Rising 3, as well as the EA titles mentioned above.

The Movie pack adds the option of taking home two new Blu-ray titles as well as one game for £414.99 for the PS4 or £499.99 for the Xbox One. Such titles include robot rampage Pacific Rim, hilarious cartoon comedy Despicable Me 2, and superior X-Men sequel The Wolverine. The hairy Canadian is not the only superhero in consideration, with Man of Steel and Kick-Ass 2 also on offer, along with British smash Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa.

The Premium pack is where things get exciting. For the Xbox One, it removes one of the Blu-ray titles and replaces it with a 12-month Gold subscription to Xbox Live for a grand total of £509.99. The PlayStation 4’s Premium pack, priced at a cool £449.99 means you can take home two games and two Blu-ray films.

Last, and most expensive, the Epic Pack for the PS4 chucks in another Blu-ray film from the list, and includes a GAMEware starter kit including a headset, vertical stand, and a handy dual controller charging station, all for £484.99. The Xbox One Epic package comes with the same two-game, three-film combo, although no Xbox Live subscription, yet it sports a similar starter kit, but includes a Play & Charge kit, HDMI cable, and Kinect wall mount and clip, with a total bill of £549.99

The Xbox One is the first next-gen console out of the gate in the UK, releasing on Friday, November 22. The PlayStation 4 will be playing catch-up when it is released exactly one week later on Friday the 29th.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One |

New Releases: PS4, XCOM: Enemy Within, Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, More

Posted on November 10, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Part One of this year’s next-generation console extravaganza begins this week with the launch of PlayStation 4. If you haven’t already ordered one, Sony’s new machine may be hard to find, but peripherals like the PS4 Camera are plentiful. However, if you have the next-gen plunge, here’s what gaming opportunities you can expect to see on store shelves this week:

If the next-generation of consoles is still a bit too expensive for you (or you’re waiting for the impending Xbox One launch), there’s also a few current-generation games to keep us busy this week. XCOM: Enemy Within, the expansion to last year’s massively well-received XCOM: Enemy Unknown, will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. And the possibly final voyage of Ratchet & Clank, Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, will be released for the PS3. Finally, Mario & Sonic square off again in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games on the Wii U.

There’s more new games where those came from and you can find a complete list of this week’s new releases after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

PS4 will receive Diablo III/Reaper of Souls “Ultimate Evil Edition” bundle

Posted on November 9, 2013 by John Scalzo

We all expected it, but Blizzard has confirmed that next year’s release of Diablo III on the PS4 will include the Reaper of Souls expansion. The BlizzCon 2013 announcement also confirmed that the bundle will be known as the “Ultimate Evil Edition.”

Players of Diablo III on the PS4 can look forward to experiencing the revamped loot system, same-screen co-op, direct character control, and online play of the PS3/Xbox 360 version. And the new Reaper of Souls content (including the Crusader character class, Adventure Mode, the Mystic Artisan, and Nephalem Rifts) will make the “Ultimate Evil Edition” the most complete version of Diablo III available for consoles.

Blizzard has yet to announce if Reaper of Souls will be released for the Xbox 360 or if Diablo III will be available on the Xbox One in any form. Even if the game is coming to Microsoft’s console, due to Blizzard’s deal with Sony, the publisher’s radio will likely stay silent for the forseeable future.

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