Halo 5 Details Spill

It's been a while since we've heard anything about Halo 5. In Fact the last thing we had heard was the announcement of the still unseen special Xbox One Halo Edition. The time of change is now! Thanks to this months Game Informer.

UPDATE: Nathan Fillion's ODST Buck returns in Halo 5 but now he is a Spartan-IV. Certainly looks better than "Two ugly dudes and a dog". Buck will be a member of the Eclipse Fireteam and playable in co-op... I can see the fights for who gets Buck!

Halo fact: In ODST it was said if Buck was any better he'd be a Spartan

It seems they misspoke about Halo 5's free co-op. Josh Holmes head of 343i has this to say

"I need take a moment to make an important correction on something we miscommunicated in the story. I misspoke during the interview when stating that online co-op campaign would be supported with an Xbox Live Silver account. Co-op campaign will require Xbox Live Gold to play. I want to extend my sincere apologies to our fans, and to Game Informer, for this error and any confusion it has caused."

Original Story Follows

Blue Team!
Despite featuring heavily in Halo's extended media (comics, animation and books) Blue Team has yet to appear in game. Till now. Who are Blue Team? Well Fred, Linda and Kelly are Master Chief's squad of fellow Spartan-II's who managed to survive the fall of Reach.

In Halo 5 Co-op players will take on the roles of Blue Team and their unique loadouts and Spartan - II abilities. However they won't be the only Spartan team in Halo 5, newly upgraded Spartan- IV Agent Locke will be joined by his Eclipse fireteam. Like Blue Team they have their own loadouts and enhanced Spartan-IV abilities. The idea behind including the teams? Finally making the co-op built into the narrative (outside of Halo 3's 1p-Chief, 2p-Arbiter, 3p-blue Elite and 4p-pink Elite) and single player finally let us see Chief in his natural squad leader role as we give orders to the AI.

CO-OP Good News, Bad News
Lets get this band-aid off quickly. There will be no split screen, a Halo staple. So far we're unclear if it's just co-op or if all splitscreen multiplayer is gone. The reason for split screen being sent to a great beyond? They simply could make it work without sacrificing too much.
So the good news? Its not that the co-op actually plays into the story but co-op will be free for everyone even NON-GOLD Xbox members.

Speaking of FREE
Continuing the trend Halo 5 will feature 15 multiplayer DLC maps after launch for the low price of NOTHING. Yep free content for all, no splintering the users into smaller groups. Of course the raises the question: Just what will the paid DLC be? Will it be cosmetic or story content?

Abe's Take
Currently playing through Halo: Master Chief Collection with my brother and it's been great jumping back in to the Halo world (shocked at just how nice Halo 2 now looks) and sounds like 5 is shaping up nicely. The lack of splitscreen co-op is a wound that cuts deep here at GKUK but hopefully it is just the co-op that's faced the axe.

UPDATE: Nathan Fillion = Pre Order confirmed!

E3 Talk!

E3 is coming! we are now more/less a week away (depending on your time zone) from the event. Excitement is building which of cause we're now getting news from "insiders", developers, publishers and Platform holders.

Platinum games
Platinum games (Bayonetta, MGR) will be announcing a brand new game exclusively with IGN@E3. Now it was believed this will either be an PS4 exclusive or multi-format seeing as Platinum's last 3 games was exclusive. However one member of platinum games Y. Hashimoto is tweeting about the Nintendo direct (image below), There is also the message from Akiko Kuroda, producer of Bayonetta 2 (text below) and finally apparently the head of Platinum Games International business is "prepared for the salt". 

"I have started working on the next project, but it looks like the announcement will come later. In any case, I think that it would be nice if something Bayonetta-related was also developed in 2015, so please pay attention to the continuation of Bayonetta!”

Given that due to Nintendo funding Bayonetta 2 and is extremely unlikely to be go multi-format could we be about to see Bayonetta 3, the long rumoured 3DS spin off, or perhaps the the rumoured Nintendo purchase of the IP from Sega?


Hardware Surprises?
Whilst we now know (thanks internet leaks) that both the PS4 and Xbox One are getting new models with bigger 1TB drives. Both Nintendo and MS have released seemingly "nothing" updates to the Wii U/X1 in preparation for E3. Will we see an New X1 dashboard hit at E3? Could the Wii U be getting new functionality?

The there is RAD the developers behind the PS4 exclusive "The Order" are extending their engine to X1 and something else

"Since the release of The Order, we have been very hard at work to advance our engine and technology to a place where we can deliver our games on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and one other unannounced platform that you will soon find out about."

What platform could this be? Nintendo has said we won't know about the NX till next year. Could this be Amazon's game console or an exclusive Steam Machine?

Nintendo Oddness
In the last week we've had a lot of announcements from the House of Mario regarding new games. Even the long rumoured Terraria for Wii U/3DS has been confirmed in it's forums. Now we also know that we're getting a new Smash direct just before E3 June 14th, that will detail Lucas DLC, Miiverse stage and the Splatoon Mii Fighters. Seeing as every Smash trailer, direct and event has ended in a tease for the next character, I expect we'll see DLC character 3. The oddness however is why isn't these announcements at E3, is Nintendo's direct and Treehouse event so full already?

Abe's Take
I always love E3 though it's been tougher to watch as an increasing amount of content is leaked before. Typically only leaving the most secretive with any surprises. Nintendo tends to be pretty water tight in this area but as the stage floor gets set up soon they to will spring a leak.

My only true hope for E32015 is surprises, Arguably Nintendo has the biggest fight this year as they have to prove to both owners and perspective owners that both N3DS and Wii U are still worth it in the run up to the NX. Microsoft also has to prove it has enough reasons outside of power to compete with the PS4's success and finally Sony just seems to be relaxing with Morphus as even their own execs have admitted it's first party offering will be "light".

WEIRDNESS: Awesome Fan Video

It's often scary to realise just how much games train us in bizarre ideas. Things that at the time seem perfectly normal with in context of the game. Something that became apparent to me when playing Farcry 4,  my partner asked why I was trying to kill a Rhino and my sole answer was "I need a bigger wallet"

This isn't unique to Farcry or even other "mature" titles and also just happened to be similar theme for this video but one "Source Film Maker" (Using game files to create characters for animation) Callegos-Y has created a brilliant almost Dreamworks (Ice Age, Shrek) style short using assets from multiple Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword.

Obviously in-game we never went as far as selling the sacred stone from the Temple of Time (could we?) but everything else is pretty much spot on and is such a good quality that I suspect may pop up in places as a "trailer" for a mythical Legend of Zelda movie. Please check out some out the rest of Callegos-Y YouTube videos .

Abe's Take
Thanks to technology and fantastic games there is no end to the amount of amazing fan work coming out of the increasingly talented gaming community, Here's hoping this inspires someone at Nintendo to kick of a new era of Nintendo animations in cinemas and TV.

The hookshot bit cracks me up.

Splatoon O' Love!

Even though Splatoon quickly grabbed interest during it's debut last at years E3, particularly during Nintendo's treehouse during E3. It is however gained more hype during development even as news such as no voice chat and limited map roll out caused internet message boards to fill with bizarre rage.

Bloody (Great) Mess

A lot of people including us here at GameKnights-UK expected Splatoon to be a good addition to Nintendo's struggle console (like Captain Toad) but it seems it has become one of THE reasons to own the system alongside Smash 4, Mario Kart and Mario 3D world. 

Splatoon had a great launch weekend. Managing to snag the 2nd in the UK all formats charts behind The Witcher 3 and 3rd in the single format charts behind the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Witcher.

Which is pretty good seeing as GAME's entire shipment of special editions was STOLEN so be aware of the green squid amiibo for sale. 

In Japan it did far better. Not only did Splatoon take the top spot selling though its initial shipment and beating 2nd place by over 100,000 but also almost doubled the number of Wii U's being sold.

The top 10 is below, with lifetime sales in brackets.

1. [Wii U] Splatoon (Nintendo, 05/28/15) – 144,818 (New)
2. [3DS] Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX (Sega, 05/28/15) – 41,442 (New)
3. [PS4] The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Spike Chunsoft, 05/21/15) – 22,454 (89,839)
4. [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition (SCE, 03/19/15) – 12,449 (179,625)
5. [Wii U] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo, 05/29/14) – 11,654 (1,006,719)
6. [PSV] Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons tr. (Bandai Namco, 05/28/15) – 11,215 (New)
7. [3DS] Downtown Nekketsu Jidaigeki (Arc System Works, 05/28/15) – 9,444 (New)
8. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition (GungHo Online Entertainment, 04/30/15) – 8,920 (252,479)
9. [3DS] Assassination Classroom: Grand Siege on Kurosensei (Bandai Namco, 03/12/15) – 6,620 (75,242)
10. [PSV] Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence with Power-Up Kit (Koei Tecmo, 05/28/15) – 6,360 (New) 

We're still waiting on sales numbers from the states, Arguably it biggest battle where the Military FPS is king.

Here at GKUK if we're not playing the excellent Witcher 3 then we're playing Splatoon. Its a hair's breadth away from becoming our go to online multiplayer game (that should correct itself during the August update). It seems we wasn't the only ones caught up in it's weird, off beat pseudo, 90's attitude, and almost unashamedly fair gameplay. Splatoon has also inspired brilliant artwork such as "Hero of Slime" above. Aswell as other creative works such as this EPIC Inkling hat over at "Epic Costumes" over at ETSY.com 

Splatoon is currently on sale on AMAZON for £29.99 (the exclusive Amiibo bundle is of course now crazy expensive) 

Abe's Take

Think it's safe to say we SPLATTING love Splatoon's gameplay but now we are impressed by just how Nintendo's ALL NEW IP is handling itself. Both in it's online and commercial performance, I expect we'll probably see Splatoon again on what ever the NX is/ 

Destiny's True Expansion Pack Outed?

There was plenty of flaws in Destiny, which was a shame considering how great the gameplay was. Whether the complaints was about the RNG loot drops (which became an requirement to progress), the light story content, the seemingly barebones competitive multiplayer or actual content to play. it was all valid complaints.

The hope was that the "expansion packs" Bungie and Activision was meant to fix this. However both packs cost £19.99 each and only added three story missions, three multiplayer maps, 1 raid or survival mode and a smattering of new exotic weapons and armours. Since launch the MP maps from the first expansion "Dark Below" are now free for everyone further driving the value down. However Bungie have routinely updated the core games systems addressing some of those complaints for free.

An old leak suggested there was 4 of these "expansion packs" on their way and in between the first 2 and last two was a far larger pack codenamed comet. This would feature new worlds, new missions, a new subclass for each class and new 2 weapon classes. This would also be available as a game of the year style retail package containing the three packs and full game. 

It was rounded this pack was named "The Taken King" after it was trademarked a few months back but now we have this Red Bull promotional multipack box.

The above pack says Red Bull customers will be able to receive bonus XP (for now) and a "Epic Quest in The Taken King" whether this epic quest is actual mission content or just an exclusive bounty chain we don't know.

Abe's Take

Destiny's core gameplay and co-op is rock solid and consistently fun. That being said the lack of content along with the change from XP to gear based leveling quickly soured the game for many. I know a few of us here have been holding off buying any of the inappropriately named (and priced) "expansion packs" due to this upcoming bundle pack. If this TTK pack is as content rich we'll be happy to jump back in.

UPDATE - Please Stand By? Fallout Inbound?

Ever since the announcement of a new generation of consoles fans have been asking for many things, one thing has been demanded louder Fallout 4. 

UPDATE 3: Trailer!!!

UPDATE 2: Seems that ear;y teaser site is the gift that keeps on giving... SCREEN SHOTS!

These screens seem to confirm an Boston setting and the return of Dogmeat

UPDATE: Looks like someone pushed the button a little early, The teaser site has gone live and we managed to grab a picture for you good people. This should nicely confirm what is ahead.

Yep Fallout 4 is confirmed! coming to X1, PS4 and PC

---Original story follows---

After what feels like years of leaks, hints, rumours, fakes and quickly deleted resumes it appears we have something concrete. A countdown website; counting down to tomorrow. 

How do we know this time its real? Well first Bethesda themselves tweeted it and secondly the website's URL "http://fallout.bethsoft.com/" certainly leaves no doubt to what it is.

So that leaves the question: Why now when E3 is weeks away? Could we be seeing the Del Toro linked CGI video tomorrow (Resume Rumour) and then the "leaked" 30 minute gameplay demo at E3?

Abe's Take 

YAY!

Weridness: The Real Reason For No Minecraft Style Lego

A Minecraft style Lego game seems like such a logical (and rather lucrative) idea, it seems like such a massive oversight in their extensive gaming portfolio. But it seems they have their reasons.

That reason appears to be us gamers and an surprising cost. Former coder from the now canceled Lego Universe MMO, Megan Fox (this is humorous considering the upcoming issue) says the single largest cost of was removing...

Yep. Single. Largest. Cost. Let's all let that sink in there. Lego has to pay people to go though Lego Universe and remove blocky nobs . Now I know that you're thinking "Surely a computer could recognize and delete it?" but as it turns out penis builders are extremely creative and persistent. Hiding trouser snakes so they can be viewed only in certain conditions, comprised of multiple separate structures, and generally defeating the filter. Apparently it caused such an issue Lego is permanently turned off to the idea of an online creation game.

Obviously for such a company aimed at young (and not so young) children this is a big deal. Lego works hard in earning the trust of parents and unsurprising parents get a little upset when their child discovers a wang. Where as Minecraft's online servers have always been basically lawless and rather todger filled.

Abe's Take
It is rather telling/worrying that the first response to infinite creativity in public view is often "do a wang!". However the fact that Lego Universe had official anti dong removers is still very, very funny.