Relax, the Xbox One’s Kinect sensor CAN be turned off

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After viewing Microsoft’s “Next Xbox Reveal,” you’d be forgiven if you thought the Xbox One could only be controlled through voice commands. Thankfully, a Microsoft spokesman has spoken to Kotaku and confirmed that the system does indeed have a power switch.

“It is not always watching or always listening. Yes, you can turn the system completely off. This would use no power and turn everything off. We’ll share more details about how it all works later.”

The fact that this needed to be clarified is pretty scary. Microsoft has been backtracking thanks to a bevy of miscommunicated official statements ever since the Xbox One was first revealed. In fact, questions about the console’s used game policy started making the online rounds before the presentation was even over.

So it’s not surprising that Microsoft also had to tell Kotaku that the Xbox One’s Kinect sensor will include customizable privacy settings in case you don’t want a 1984-styled two-way camera monitoring you:

“We are designing the new Kinect with simple, easy methods to customize privacy settings, provide clear notifications and meaningful privacy choices for how data will be used, stored and shared.”

So you can put away your tin foil hat… for now.

Posted in News, Xbox One |

Fuse, Grid 2, Wolfenstein 3D, more added to PS Store

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Two retail games make their PSN debut the same day along with a pair of classics (and a random fifth game) in this week’s PlayStation Store update.

Insomniac’s co-op shooter, Fuse, and Codemasters’ racing sequel, Grid 2, are now available to scratch your new release itch. They’re joined by the PSN re-release of id Software’s seminal first person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, and Rockstar’s PS2 resurrection of that classic of 70s cinema, The Warriors.

Also available this week is Mountain Crime: Requital, a crime-solving adventure game.

More information on all of these titles can be found after the break and a full rundown of this week’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog.

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What Did I Just See?: 5 Surprising Moments From Classic Video Games

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In 2013, video games have a graphical fidelity that was unthinkable during my childhood. But games were still able to shock us. Often, their seemingly simple worlds allowed these surprises to sneak up on us, changing the way we thought about everything that came before and, sometimes, even the entire world around us.

So take a trip back with me as I explore 5 Surprising Moments From Classic Video Games…

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Tecmo Koei at E3 2013: Dynasty Warriors 8, Dead or Alive 5, Ninja Gaiden Z, more

tecmokoei-logoTecmo Koei is bringing a quintet of games to this year’s E3 Expo and their lineup should look quite familiar to anyone who knows the company well.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, the next game in the Ninja Gaiden series (and the first not to star Ryu Hayabusa), leads off their lineup. A newly announced “early 2014” release date accompanies its E3 appearance.

New entries in two other long-running franchises, Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate and Dynasty Warriors 8, will also be included at Tecmo Koei’s E3 booth.

Finally, two Vita games: Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland, an RPG re-release, and Toukiden, a new game from the Dynasty Warriors development team, will also be on hand.

More details about all of these titles, straight from Tecmo Koei, can be found after the break.

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Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

Sonic: Lost World gameplay trailer rushes its way online

IGN has posted the first trailer for Sonic: Lost World, the Nintendo-exclusive next entry in the Sonic the Hedgehog series.

The trailer introduces “The Deadly Six,” a monstrous group of… well, monsters… that have begun to threaten Sonic’s animal friends. Naturally, the blue speedster has strapped on his red sneakers and is going to do his best to defend them. The video also reveals a few glimpses of gameplay footage, and Sonic: Lost World appears to be a mix of behind-the-back play and side-scrolling sections.

Sonic: Lost World is looking pretty good so far, and it will be available for the 3DS and Wii U later this year.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

Zumba Fitness World Party coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Wii

It’s the news you’ve been waiting for… a Zumba game has been announced for the Xbox One! Majesco has announced that Zumba Fitness World Party is in development for Microsoft’s next-generation console. it will be available “later this year.”

Zumba Fitness World Party is also in the works for release on the Wii, Wii U, and Xbox 360 and is scheduled for an October release.

Majesco has provided us with more information about Zumba Fitness World Party than you could ever ask for, which you can find after the break. They also promised that we’ll learn even more about the game at E3 2013. So mark your calendar.

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Posted in News, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Daily Scoop: May 28, 2013 – Video Game Gold Box Event!

What a great extended weekend! Anthony and I played so much Borderlands 2 that I’m dreaming about being Krieg the Psycho. That might sound like a bad thing, but I haven’t had this much fun since the game first came out! It’s been such a blast. We also made a lot of progress on our big move! So close to being completely finished – just a few more big trips, and then it’s setting up time. Woo!

What better way to start off a short week than with an Amazon Gold Box Event full of nothing but video games? The main game on sale all day is Injustice: Gods Among Us. The PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 regular versions are $34.99, while the Collector’s Edition versions on PS3 and Xbox 360 are $64.99.

Here are the rest of the deals for today:

  • 12:00AM PST/3:00AM EST: Dead Island Riptide – regular and special editions on sale for $31.99 and $59.99, respectively
  • 6:00AM PST/9:00AM EST: AmazonBasics Carrying Case for Nintendo 3DS, DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL ($6.99) – just what it says!
  • 9:00AM PST/12:00PM EST: Play Lara Croft´s latest adventure – this one’s got to be the new Tomb Raider
  • 12:00PM PST/3:00PM EST: Turtle Beach Ear Force PX21 – another self-explanatory one!
  • 2:00PM PST/5:00PM EST: Forza Horizon Limited Editionthey’re not even trying
  • 4:00PM PST/7:00PM EST: AmazonBasics PlayStation 3 Wired USB Chat Headset
  • 6:00PM/9:00PM EST: This ultimate collection has two best-selling Kinect games – most likely Kinect Sports: Season One and Two

What are you going to get from the sale?

Also up – lots and lots of great t-shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Mojang’s Scrolls will launch in open beta on June 3

Mojang, the people behind the massively popular Minecraft, are almost ready to release their next title, the card-based strategy game Scrolls. Instead of a traditonal launch, the game will be released as a paid “open beta” for the PC and Mac on June 3. Players will be able to purchase Scrolls for $20 and test/play the new game for themselves in a kind of rolling launch.

For more information about the world of Scrolls, you can check out the launch trailer above or you can peruse the game’s “mini-guide” over at the official site.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged