Oculus VR acquired by Facebook for $2 billion

Posted on March 26, 2014 by John Scalzo

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When the consumer version of the Oculus Rift ships sometime in the near future, it’ll come complete with a big Facebook logo as Mark Zuckerberg’s technology empire has purchased Oculus VR for $2 billion. Somewhere, Jesse Eisenberg is jumping for joy as his future portrayal of Lex Luthor just got a lot more credible.

I kid, I kid, but Zuckerberg plans to expand the Rift’s focus beyond games to also include “communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas.”

“Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow,” Zuckerberg said. “Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate.”

Speaking to Polygon, Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey said that the deal will enable the company to procure better components at a keeper price and, ultimately, deliver a better version of the Rift: “There are things that piles of cash and having a $100 billion plus company behind you can do that you can’t do on your own. Overall, it’s going to be a better product at a lower price.”

However, not everyone is happy with the news. Markus “Notch” Persson revealed that he was in talks with Oculus to develop a version of Minecraft for the virtual reality headset. But he later tweeted that that deal is now dead because he finds Facebook “creepy.” An expansion on his thought process can be found on his official website.

So what’s next for Oculus? According to a Reddit post by Luckey, “We can make huge investments in content.”

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Fez, Deception IV, The Witch and the Hundred Knight, more added to PS Store

Posted on March 26, 2014 by John Scalzo

fez-boxOne of the greatest puzzle platformers of the previous generation, Fez, is now available to download from the PlayStation Store. And it doesn’t even matter which PlayStation platform you own. Fez has been released as a Cross-Buy title on the PS3, PS4, and Vita, so you can play it wherever you are. Several other multiplatform releases are available this week, but sadly, they’re not Cross-Buy purchases.

Tecmo Koei will bring the hack and slash gameplay of Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends back to the PS3 and Vita. For its PS4 release, the standalone expansion will be bundled with the original Dynasty Warriors 8 as Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends – Complete Edition. The publisher will also release the latest game in their popular trap-setting series, Deception IV: Blood Ties, for the PS3 and Vita this week. In non-multiplatform release news, NIS America also added The Witch and The Hundred Knight to the PlayStation Store yesterday.

Finally, a new Call of Duty: Ghosts bundle that include the original game and the Onslaught Map Pack is available to download on both the PS3 and PS4.

More information about all of these games (as well as a few others) 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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10 Actresses We Think Could Play Elena Fisher in the Uncharted Movie

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Andrew Rainnie - UK Correspondent

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Recently, we looked at who could play Nathan Drake and his fatherly cohort in crime, Victor “Sully” Sullivan, in the upcoming film adaptation of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise. However, their Indiana Jones-esque adventures would not be complete without American journalist Elena Fisher there to film their antics, get kidnapped, and break Nate’s heart. But which Hollywood darling could play the part and woo one of gaming’s most lovable rogues? We have picked ten actresses that we think best fits the part.

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Posted in Etcetera, Features, PS3, Top Story | Tagged

Daily Scoop: March 25, 2014 – Gold Box Video Game Event!

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Nicole Kline

It’s been a while since Amazon had one of these, but they’re making up for it with a good one. Today only you can get South Park: The Stick of Truth for $42.99 for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. This is a great deal for a game people love – including us! There’s also a bonus Deal of the Day, which is $69.99 for an Ouya Console.

Also on sale today is Fable: The Lost Chapters, which is Steam’s Daily Deal. It’s marked down 85% to $1.49. The Midweek Madness deal is Crusader Kings II for $9.99. The Humble Store has a few new deals as well – Mercenary Kings is $14.99, Nowhere: A Psychedelic RPG is $20.99, and Last Knight: Rogue Rider Edition is $5.39.

And now, shirt time!

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Ubisoft bringing Watch Dogs, The Crew, Child of Light, Trials Fusion, more to PAX East 2014

Posted on March 25, 2014 by John Scalzo

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Several big name publishers won’t be in attendance at this year’s PAX East convention, but you definitely shouldn’t count Ubisoft among their number. The French publishing powerhouse will have a massive booth featuring eight different games at this year’s show:

  • Watch Dogs – Con-goers will be able to view a before-seen demo of the game as well as participate in an “eye-opening Watch Dogs experience that lets fans see themselves through the lens of a hacker and get a look at how they could potentially be targeted.”
  • The Crew – Ubisoft’s upcoming driving game will be playable on the show floor as “players will be able to the own the road in a massive, open-world re-creation of the United States that is brimming with exciting challenges.”
  • Trials Fusion – Scheduled for release on April 16, attendees will get their first chance to play the first next-generation game in the Trials series. In addition to the hands-on demo, professional BMX riders will perform stunts in Ubisoft’s in-booth skate park.
  • Child of Light – Players will be able to take control of the game’s main character, Aurora, in a new hands-on demo: “Players will use an active turn-based fight system to uncover mythical dragons and other enchanting creatures, as well as explore the gorgeous watercolor-painted 2D environments in a poetic journey inspired by fairy tales.”

Ubisoft also plans to showcase a playable demo for an unannounced downloadable title as well as a trio of free-to-play titles: online shooter Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Phantoms, hack and slash The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot, and collectible card game Might & Magic: Duel of Champions.

PAX East 2014 is less than three weeks away and it’ll be held in Boston, Massachusetts from April 11-13.

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BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode Two is now available to download

Posted on March 25, 2014 by John Scalzo

“Burial at Sea – Episode Two,” the final expansion to BioShock Infinite (and the final game produced by Irrational Games), is now available to download for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. The expansion gives players the chance to play as Elizabeth for the first time as they explore Rapture in a film noir-style story.

“I think the work the team did on this final chapter speaks for itself,” said Ken Levine, Creative Director of Irrational Games. “We built something that is larger in scope and length, and at the same time put the player in Elizabeth’s shoes. This required overhauling the experience to make the player see the world and approach problems as Elizabeth would: leveraging stealth, mechanical insight, new weapons and tactics. The inclusion of a separate 1998 Mode demands the player complete the experience without any lethal action. BioShock fans are going to plotz.”

I gotta say, I love Levine’s use of the word “plotz.” “Burial at Sea – Episode Two” can be downloaded as part of the BioShock Infinite Season Pass or it can be purchased separately for $14.99.

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Rumor: Far Cry 4 to be set in the Himalayas and release in 2015

Posted on March 25, 2014 by Zackery Cote

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Development of the Far Cry franchise shifted to Ubisoft Montreal (the team behind the original Assassin’s Creed) after the first installment, and if there’s one thing we know about Ubisoft, it’s that they know how to keep a franchise going. Names like Assassin’s Creed and Tom Clancy have become as recognizable in the gaming world as Call of Duty, and each sequel just seems to make each franchise better. So it should come as no surprise that, after the success of Far Cry 3, another installment in the series is well underway. This time, however, the tropical setting will be notably absent.

Eurogamer is reporting that Far Cry 4 will take place among the snowy mountains of the Himalayas. Players will be able to interact with the region in a number of ways, perhaps the most notable of which is the ability to ride an elephant.

Far Cry 4 is expected to be in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, though its possible a version for current-gen consoles is also in the works. According to Eurogamer’s source, Far Cry 4 will make its official debut at the upcoming E3 Expo in June with Ubisoft planning to release the game in early 2015.

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Microsoft will announce an Xbox One exclusive from an “awesome” Japanese studio soon

Posted on March 24, 2014 by John Scalzo

xboxone-logoMicrosoft plans to add another exclusive to the Xbox One’s lineup and it looks like it’ll come from an “awesome” Japanese developer.

Famitsu (translated by Dualshockers) caught up with Phil Spencer during last week’s Game Developers Conference and he revealed that Microsoft plans to announce a new Xbox One exclusive very soon:

“I’m very excited about the announcement of the release window in Japan. An unique exclusive title for Xbox One is going to be released by an awesome Japanese studio.”

What studio is behind this game and whether or not it will even be released in North America is still unconfirmed, but Spencer did say that Microsoft had a big announcement planned for this year’s Tokyo Game Show:

“I’m looking forward to go to Tokyo Game Show this year, and I want to show everyone something never seen before. Stay tuned!”

Microsoft is no stranger to publishing Japanese-developed games as Capcom (Dead Rising 3), Groundlings (Crimson Dragon), and Access Games (D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die) have all released or will release exclusive Xbox One titles.

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