Another month passes and another update is heading to Xbox One.
Microsoft's new systems has continually evolved since launch, something that on 360 had to be done in massive updates like NXE and Kinect Dash, this is evidently down to the "three OS" they have been championing since launch.
We now have details about what to expect in the next one, here are the details ripped straight from Major Nelson's mouth (or his blog if you prefer)
Activity feed updates - We're adding new ways for you to interact with friends in the activity feed. The interface will change to a single column scrolling list that is longer and includes more content. We'll add the ability to post text to your feed, and to "like" and comment on feed items. You can share game clips and anything else in the feed with friends either publically (to your activity feed) or privately (as an attachment to a message). You'll also be notified when anyone likes, comments on or shares your items. Each user will get a personal feed on their profile, so you can see what specific friends have been up to. And, with SmartGlass, you can see what your friends have shared to their activity feed and "like" specific posts (additional activity feed support coming in future SmartGlass updates).
Expanded Friends area on Home - Right from Home, see what's going on with your friends. Stay up-to-date with their current activity, the top trending games your friends are playing, and a leaderboard to see who has been working the hardest on their Gamerscore. We're doing an extended preview on this, rolling it into the early access preview this month to a subset of our preview audience so we can refine it until it's ready for the entire Xbox One market.
Mobile purchase - One of the most requested features on Xbox Feedback. Using Xbox SmartGlass or on Xbox.com, you can remotely purchase games and Add-on content. No more waiting to begin downloading when you get home - if your console is set to automatically take updates, your console will begin downloading your purchase.
Low battery notification - You asked for it, now a notification will pop up when your controller battery is getting low.
Disable notifications during video - Adding the ability to turn off notifications based feedback we heard from you.
Enabling 3D Blu-ray - An update to the Blu-ray player app will enable 3D Blu-ray functionality on Xbox One.
OneGuide in Brazil, Mexico, Austria and Ireland - Live TV listings can be configured for four new countries as part of this month's Preview program. And now there is an OneGuide Issue Reporter available under the TV & OneGuide settings, Troubleshooting section.
Last seen time in Friends list - Direct from Xbox Feedback, the friends list will now show how long it's been since a friend has been online. For example, "Last seen 20m ago: Forza Motorsport 5."
Abe's Take
That's a fair amount of changes to the Xbox One whilst bring features up to speed and added fan requested ones. I know the 3D blu-ray has held back some people from acquiring the device.
The first one however seems to be a response to Miiverse Nintendo's surprisingly great "Gaming Social Network"
Monday, 21 July 2014
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Remember Bladestorm?
Let me tell you a story long ago before there was a Dyansty Warriors 6 and the idea of a "Warriors" game featuring anything but Japanese and Chinese historical warriors (let alone giant robots, pirates or Zelda) There was Bladestorm.
Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has sent out word that Koei Tecmo are taking another crack at Bladestorm. However it wont be a sequel KT hasn't given any details but they say its a reboot more than a remake or another entry. The game entitled Bladestorm: War & Nightmare will have new features and seems to be them trying to "do it right" this time.
For those who don't know Bladestorm was Koei's attempt at blending Dynasty Warriors high actions and it's far more strategy focused sister series Kessen. The game was set during the 100 years war featuring famous warriors from Europe from the time period e.g. Joan of Arc. The games basic gameplay looked like Dynasty Warriors but your character had commender other units on the field to do anything that the most basic slash. so for example before you could attack an group of French soldiers you must first find an cavalry unit or an group of knights to join. When you did you would magically gain that units equipment until it was defeated or you left.
Abe's Take
I tried the Bladestorm demo several times and although i thought the concept and setting had potential it was always held back by how useless your "legendary hero" was with out another unit glued to their spine.
I'm hoping it returns with a better combat system and it's unit based strategy giving us the real balance between dynasty action and Kessen strategy
For those who don't know Bladestorm was Koei's attempt at blending Dynasty Warriors high actions and it's far more strategy focused sister series Kessen. The game was set during the 100 years war featuring famous warriors from Europe from the time period e.g. Joan of Arc. The games basic gameplay looked like Dynasty Warriors but your character had commender other units on the field to do anything that the most basic slash. so for example before you could attack an group of French soldiers you must first find an cavalry unit or an group of knights to join. When you did you would magically gain that units equipment until it was defeated or you left.
Abe's Take
I tried the Bladestorm demo several times and although i thought the concept and setting had potential it was always held back by how useless your "legendary hero" was with out another unit glued to their spine.
I'm hoping it returns with a better combat system and it's unit based strategy giving us the real balance between dynasty action and Kessen strategy
Harmonix looking at Rock Band
It's been a while since activision completely killed the music came genre by releasing 6-8 different Guitar (and other) Hero titles in one year.
Harmonix is wondering if enough time has passed and is seeking your thoughts on the matter, Which you can do by completing this Survey. Considering they have at least 4 projects on the way (that we know about) It seems unlikely there will be any to announce for awhile.
The survey wants to know stuff like what system you used, if you still have any instruments and a list of 5 things for you arrange in most wants to least wants; like if you want a new game on old-gen or new-gen and if you want new controllers.
Abe's Take
I loved Rock Band and when the mood is right we brake out the plastic pretend instruments to relive our (faux)glory. I would gladly buy another... but there would be conditions. Like having the option of using instruments we still have, would be amazing if we could import our song library from last-gen to new-gen. Personally I wouldn't mind either RB4 or an new-gen complete edition.
Harmonix is wondering if enough time has passed and is seeking your thoughts on the matter, Which you can do by completing this Survey. Considering they have at least 4 projects on the way (that we know about) It seems unlikely there will be any to announce for awhile.
The survey wants to know stuff like what system you used, if you still have any instruments and a list of 5 things for you arrange in most wants to least wants; like if you want a new game on old-gen or new-gen and if you want new controllers.
Abe's Take
I loved Rock Band and when the mood is right we brake out the plastic pretend instruments to relive our (faux)glory. I would gladly buy another... but there would be conditions. Like having the option of using instruments we still have, would be amazing if we could import our song library from last-gen to new-gen. Personally I wouldn't mind either RB4 or an new-gen complete edition.
Friday, 18 July 2014
DOOM Revealed
We knew Bethesda kicked Doom 4 back for failing to live up to the franchise and now we know what that means. DOOM is returning to it's roots, gone is the "CoD style horror" now it's the mother of violence!
Back is the gore, the fantastical weaponary, back on Mars fighting the (always a good idea-that-never-backfires) "unholy union" of (demon) flesh and machine.
Not that you'll be underarmed in anyway players will be treated to weapons like the Plamsa Rife, all heat sinks and fans that will (thanks to next gen only power) have a devastating effect on enemy flesh but also give you some form of seizer
The main selling point of the recent wolfenstien was its DOOM beta access so we can assume some multiplayer will be involved, possibly readying us for a quake game.
No release date is given for DOOM and as of yet can't be preordered however... Wolfenstien is current £31.85 for the Next Gen versions and still comes with the Beta. (Game itself is also and fantastic selute to classic shooters
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Ubisoft Creates Epic Job title
The games industry isn't like other industries. It likes to think it's as young as it consumers and they like to reflect that in strange ways, such as the hiring of Michael "Frosti" Zernow
Michael "Frosti" Zernow has joined Ubisoft's team his function should be obvious once you hear his title. Drum roll please.... Chief Parkour Officer.
Yeah that's what it will say on his pay check. Zernow's no stranger to video games, having done motion capture for various titles in the past "I've been a long-time fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise," he said. "It's one of the few highly visible examples of parkour that attracts younger athletes to the sport every year."
Evidently Zernow is the one responsible for the shake up of Assassin Creed Unity's parkour as can be seen in this new trailer
Abe's Take
i suspect we'll start seeing more job titles like this now. However I would like to bring up that trailer for a sec. Assuming that is Arno (ACU's player character) he sounds awfully English for a Frenchmen, this wouldn't be the first time this has happened Patrick Steward played a Frenchmen for 20+ years with his classically trained English accent on display. I suspect this will follow Next Gen's technique of all the "French good Guys" will have English accents whilst the "Bad Men" and women will have French accents
Michael "Frosti" Zernow has joined Ubisoft's team his function should be obvious once you hear his title. Drum roll please.... Chief Parkour Officer.
Yeah that's what it will say on his pay check. Zernow's no stranger to video games, having done motion capture for various titles in the past "I've been a long-time fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise," he said. "It's one of the few highly visible examples of parkour that attracts younger athletes to the sport every year."
Evidently Zernow is the one responsible for the shake up of Assassin Creed Unity's parkour as can be seen in this new trailer
Abe's Take
i suspect we'll start seeing more job titles like this now. However I would like to bring up that trailer for a sec. Assuming that is Arno (ACU's player character) he sounds awfully English for a Frenchmen, this wouldn't be the first time this has happened Patrick Steward played a Frenchmen for 20+ years with his classically trained English accent on display. I suspect this will follow Next Gen's technique of all the "French good Guys" will have English accents whilst the "Bad Men" and women will have French accents
Cat Mario Hits eShop
Seems nowadays simply having games on a games console isn't enough. MS has several programs in development, Sony has got their ball rolling with the long dormant Powers TV show and now has Nintendo has thrown their hat in the ring. Well near the ring anyway. Well towards the ring.
Introducing "The Cat Mario Show"
As you can tell by the title this will be a hard hitting drama detailing the political strife in the mushroom kingdom and it neighbours, think Game of Thrones but with cat suits and denim dungarees... Oh wait it's a puppet show to help the newest generation of gamers with Nintendo games. The first episode is available now on eShop and covers Super Mario 3D World. The plan is to release new episodes for new games for both Wii u and 3DS... I suspect it's presenters will get Amiibo that will act as the Super Leaf (and other low difficulty modifiers
Abe's Take
I suspect this will get watched over and over in our household, that number will increase tenfold if it hits YouTube.
Fatal Frame Wii U Footage Appears
Well we told you we'll be back like some ghostly visage of an long departed ancestor, which brings us nicely to this.
First check out the trailer. WARNING trailer is Japanese
Well what to say about that? It doesn't appear that Nintendo gave any restrictions to Koeo Tecmo and looks like how any classic Japanese horror movie should - Dark and kinda grainy.
It also looks really good, graphically speaking when I watching the trailer I got flashes of the recent Tomb Raider which is rather high praise.
We've got some gameplay details as well! The navigation will play out like any game from the last 10 years, however the combat will be handled exactly how a game about a camera exclusive to Wii U would. You'll be using the Gamepad as the camera and you'll will be able to rotate and look about separately to the screen (think ZombiU/Lego City scanner). Much like the "VR" systems doing the rounds and the 3DS book game combo of Fatal Frame.
We don't know of it'll launch westward as only one of the last 2 Wii Fatal Frames was released (and only in Europe at that) but the Wii U has different challenges to Wii and lack of constant games is one so it is possible.
Abe's Take
It looks like this is shaping up to be worthy addition to the series, the Wii U and the genre.
First check out the trailer. WARNING trailer is Japanese
Well what to say about that? It doesn't appear that Nintendo gave any restrictions to Koeo Tecmo and looks like how any classic Japanese horror movie should - Dark and kinda grainy.
It also looks really good, graphically speaking when I watching the trailer I got flashes of the recent Tomb Raider which is rather high praise.
We've got some gameplay details as well! The navigation will play out like any game from the last 10 years, however the combat will be handled exactly how a game about a camera exclusive to Wii U would. You'll be using the Gamepad as the camera and you'll will be able to rotate and look about separately to the screen (think ZombiU/Lego City scanner). Much like the "VR" systems doing the rounds and the 3DS book game combo of Fatal Frame.
We don't know of it'll launch westward as only one of the last 2 Wii Fatal Frames was released (and only in Europe at that) but the Wii U has different challenges to Wii and lack of constant games is one so it is possible.
Abe's Take
It looks like this is shaping up to be worthy addition to the series, the Wii U and the genre.
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