games news

• Get a job: IO-Interactive is hiring an experienced Level Designer

  11-03-2016 22:49
  
  The Copenhagen-based studio behind Hitman is seeking a senior level designer to manage large portions of the latest Hitman project....
  
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• NCSoft lays off staff at WildStar studio Carbine -- again

  11-03-2016 22:25
  
  Reports are surfacing today that a number of people have lost their jobs at NCSoft-owned Carbine Studios, developer of the free-to-play MMORPG WildStar, as the game's Chinese launch is scrapped....
  
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• Alt.CTRL.GDC showcase: Triband's Suck My Rainbow

  11-03-2016 22:20
  
  "We found an old vacuum cleaner in a closet. It has a huge appetite, and it only eats rainbows! That was lucky, since we were on the lookout for some kind of alternative game controller to take to GDC." ...
  
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• Bethesda: Fallout Movie 'May Happen'

  11-03-2016 22:10
  
  No film adaptation of Fallout is currently in the works, but Bethesda's Todd Howard recently confessed he isn't totally against the idea.
  "We've had a couple of in-roads, particularly with Fallout, which is a bit stickier than Elder Scrolls, but everybody's kind of asked and I've taken a number ofmeetings over the years and nothing quite clicked where I felt, 'Oh, that would be as good as the game,'" Howard told GI.biz in an interview.
  "And that may happen. I don't rule it out, but nothing reall
  
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• Former Halo devs found new multiplayer-focused studio First Strike

  11-03-2016 21:41
  
  Seattle's game development officially welcomes a new challenger this week: First Strike Games, a multiplayer-focused studio founded by a group of ex-343 developers who worked on Halo multiplayer. ...
  
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• A Combination Of Diablo And Paper Mario

  11-03-2016 21:06
  Independent Polish studio Thing Trunk announced Book of Demons today, along with a gameplay trailer and a number of screenshots. The game is pegged as a "tribute to and a parody of the action-RPG genre."Book of Demons aims to fuse the strategy and depth of Diablo with the style and charm of Paper Mario by using a unique movement and combat system, more accessible action-RPG mechanics, and a fair dose of humor intertwined with its dark theme. Character building centers around a card system that
  
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• After nearly 20 years, Yahoo Games is shutting down

  11-03-2016 21:05
  
  Struggling tech firm Yahoo confirmed today it will shut down venerable online game platform Yahoo Games in May, nearly two decades after it launched the service in 1998....
  
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• XSEED Announces Trails Of Cold Steel II, Trails In The Sky The Third For North America

  11-03-2016 21:04
  Having found success with both The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and, more recently, Trails of Cold Steel, XSEED has decided to bring two more games westward. The publisher shared the news today in commemoration of the franchise’s five-year anniversary.
  Trails of Cold Steel II will be arriving on western shores this fall. It will feature cross-save between PlayStation 3 and Vita. 
  Trails in the Sky The Third has been announced for a 2017 western release. No details about platfo
  
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• Alekhine's Gun Review

  11-03-2016 21:04
  
  Good stealth-assassination games involve cool, calculated setups, tense waiting games, and the eventual thrill of a successful hit. Alekhine’s Gun seems to understand that formula: you’re given a few objectives, dropped into a level full of roaming guards, and forced to make do with a limited selection of tools. But thanks to terrible AI, awkward controls, and loads of performance issues, Alekhine’s Gun fails to execute.
  Alekhine’s Gun’s potentially exciting Cold Wa
  
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• Nintendo Voice Chat: Tales From Within Nintendo

  11-03-2016 21:00
  
  Download Nintendo Voice ChatThe welcomes... the voices... they just don't stop. Art by Pandamusk.This week comedian and writer for The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Mike Drucker, joins the cast of Nintendo Voice Chat! Previous to his time working for IGN, Drucker was a localization editor for Nintendo Treehouse.
  Continue reading…
  
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• Exclusive Screenshot Gallery

  11-03-2016 21:00
  Gears Of War 4 marks an ambitious attempt by both Microsoft and developer The Coalition to kickstart the series once again, taking it in a new direction with a fresh cast of characters while simultaneously getting back to the more horror-focused elements of the first Gears of War game. We recently took a trip to The Coalition and came back with a bloody sack filled to the brim with details and images of the game in action, like the creepy church above, which was the setting for an intense firef
  
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• Our game won an award for best mobile art. Here's our process

  11-03-2016 20:53
  "No matter what your poly count is, the trick after choosing your art style is to stick with it and stay consistent."...
  
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• Hearthstone is Doomed: Talking Whispers of the Old Gods

  11-03-2016 20:45
  
  The newest expansion for Hearthstone - Whispers of the Old Gods - was revealed today, and it sees the game head in a much darker direction than the last few releases.
  The set will feature 134 new cards themed on the apocalyptic, Cthulhu-inspired Old Gods mythology from World of Warcraft, and will release sometime around late April/early May. Its release will also introduce the split between Standard and Wild formats. Standard will become the new competitive format, and sees the cards from Curse
  
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• Find out When Hearthstone’s Card Nerfs Will Be Announced

  11-03-2016 20:39
  
  I recently caught up with Hearthstone’s Senior Game Designer Mike Donais and Game Designer Peter Whalen to chat about the new Whispers of the Old Gods expansion, but I also took the opportunity to find out more about the changes that the team are planning on making to the Classic and Basic sets to address problem cards and combos heading into the new Standard format. Read on to find out what they had to say...
  IGN: When are you guys intending on telling us specifically what’s happeni
  
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• Don't Miss: Designing the AI for Hearthstone

  11-03-2016 20:38
  
  In this classic GDC 2014 talk, ex-Blizzard engineer Brian Schwab delivers a thorough, frank rundown of the AI design of Hearthstone and how Blizzard fine-tuned it to be lightweight and challenging. ...
  
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• The scripting language that drives 80 Days is now open-source

  11-03-2016 20:16
  
  Narrative game developer Inkle Studios is capping off the week prior to GDC by releasing its Ink scripting language as open-source software for fellow developers to use in their own projects. ...
  
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• Alt.CTRL.GDC showcase: Planet Licker

  11-03-2016 20:07
  
  In this game, the controller is a USB gamepad with three popsicles attached to it. Use your tongue to propel your space monster through space, avoiding obstacles and eating planets as you go! ...
  
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• The effectiveness of character speech in in-game text

  11-03-2016 20:06
  "Addressing the player directly works great to pull them into the situation or to give a sort of call to action -- so to either open an event or to prompt the player before he decides on an action." ...
  
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• Hearthstone: Whispers of the Old Gods Revealed

  11-03-2016 20:06
  
  Whispers of the Old Gods will be the next Hearthstone expansion, Blizzard has announced.
  Packs containing the  134 new cards included in the set will be available for gold, real money, or as rewards in the Arena. They will feature cards based on C’Thun, N’Zoth, Yogg-Saron, and Y’Shaarj — a.k.a the Old Gods — and their followers.
  Blizzard teased at least one new mechanic, wherein cards affiliated with a certain god will power up that minion whether it's in the p
  
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• EverQuest Next Canceled, 'Wasn't Fun' Says Developer

  11-03-2016 20:03
  
  EverQuest Next, the successor to the long-running MMO series, is no more.
  A statement issued by Daybreak Games president Russell Shanks claims the game simply "wasn't fun," and "would not meet the expectations" associated with the franchise.
  This comes nearly a year after Daybreak shifted focus from Landmark, another of its MMO projects, specifically to work on Next. And it seems as though the studio isn't done with Everquest just yet.
  Continue reading…
  
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• Quantum Break Cinematic Trailer Features Cover Of Nirvana’s Come As You Are

  11-03-2016 19:51
  Microsoft’s tentpole game for the Spring arrives in just under a month. If you're interested in getting a look at some of Quantum Break's flashy cinematics, this latest trailer is for you.
  The new footage features motion-captured actors Shawn Ashmore, Dominic Monaghan, and Aiden Gillen. It’s set against a cover of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.”
  (Please visit the site to view this media)
  For more Quantum Break, be sure to check out our coverage from the December 2015
  
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• Golem Will Mix PlayStation VR and Traditional TV Gameplay

  11-03-2016 18:00
  In a first for VR games, Highwire Games's upcoming PlayStation VR adventure Golem will alternate back and forth between VR gameplay and traditional TV-based gameplay.
  “We knew that people’s tolerance for VR was something that they had to develop over time and that the first time someone was in VR that you had to get them out of it fairly quickly," explained Golem lead designer and longtime Halo designer Jaime Griesemer. " even a minute or two in some cases, and then stop and assess h
  
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• Frozen Synapse 2 Introduces A Procedural World Of Mind-Bending Strategy

  11-03-2016 17:20
  Mode 7’s Frozen Synapse differentiated itself from other strategy games by forcing players to anticipate enemy decisions. Instead of a turn-based structure, both players plan and execute moves simultaneously, making Frozen Synapse a unique experiment in psychology.
  The follow-up, Frozen Synapse 2, is ambitious in its own right. The single-player campaign features a procedurally generated city, multiple factions with which you can ally and have their own approach, and an opportunity to eng
  
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• Weekly video game releases: Pokémon's 'Pokkén Tournament,' 'Dungeon of the Endless,' 'Samorost 3'

  11-03-2016 16:30 via news.yahoo.com
  
  Retail might be recovering from the launch of "Tom Clancy's The Division," but there are still plenty of gems ready to release in the coming weeks. Those included span from "Dungeon of the Endless" and a new "Shantae" for Xbox One and Pokémon spin-off "Pokkén Tournament" on Wii U to "Day of the Tentacle Remastered" on computers, Playstation 4, and Vita, a Rio-themed 'Mario & Sonic,' plus visual treat "Samorost 3" for Mac and PC.
  
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• Dying Light Gets Rocket League DLC and Vice-versa

  11-03-2016 16:04
  
  UPDATE: Developer Techland offered the following statement to IGN in regards to what content will be coming to Rocket League in the future.
  "The Dying Light items mentioned in the press release for Rocket League are coming later this year. We were excited to get something Rocket League-related in our game for our recent expansion, The Following. Psyonix will be including Dying Light Garage items in a future update. More details to come about those at a later date."
  Original story follows...
  Dyin
  
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• Watch the Chuckle Brothers Play Real-Life Hitman

  11-03-2016 15:55
  
  In celebration of the release of Hitman, English children's entertainers, the Chuckle Brothers have been playing a real-life version of the game created by the studio behind the Chatroulette FPS, Realm Pictures. In related news, no one knows what's real life anymore.
  If you're not from the UK, and of a certain age, you'd be forgiven for not knowing who the Chuckle brothers are. To explain, these two mustachioed, Northern gentlemen were part of the childhoods of millions of British kids, so watch
  
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• Nintendo’s first mobile app Miitomo launches on March 17 in Japan

  11-03-2016 15:22 via news.yahoo.com
  
  It was nearly a year ago when Nintendo first announced its partnership with DeNA and its strategy to begin producing games and apps for mobile devices. Now we’re about to see the very first fruits of that partnership come to the public. We’ve known for some time that Miitomo, Nintendo’s social messaging app, and game of sorts, would be launching in Japan sometime this month, but today the company finally announced a concrete release date, saying that the game will launch s
  
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• Elite: Dangerous Will Be an Oculus Rift Launch Game

  11-03-2016 15:05
  
  Elite: Dangerous will be coming to Oculus Rift on March 28, the day the headset is released.
  Existing Elite: Dangerous and Horizons season pass owners will be getting the Oculus version for free. If you've pre-ordered a headset, the Oculus Rift is coming on March 28 for $600.
  "Frontier was one of the earliest Kickstarter backers and developed Elite Dangerous with VR in mind," said Oculus in the announcement on its website.
  Continue reading…
  
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• Sony to Hold a Recruitment Event for Lionhead Studios Staff

  11-03-2016 13:34
  
  On Monday, Sony will be hosting a recruitment event in Guildford, England, and it has invited everyone at Lionhead Studios to come along.
  Lionhead Studios is owned by Microsoft, but it seems likely that Microsoft will be shutting the studio down, joining Press Play Studios in Denmark.
  Lionhead Studios was co-founded and formerly led by Peter Molyneux. It is well known for creating the Fable series, however Microsoft also announced on Monday that work on the upcoming Fable Legends has now ceased.
  
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• Dark Souls 3 Will Run at 60 FPS on PC

  11-03-2016 12:41
  
  After recent rumours that Dark Souls 3 will be locked at 30 frames per second on PC, the game's official Twitter account has categorically stated that the non-console version will run at a full 60 FPS. Of course, it illustrated this with a silky smooth 'Praise the Sun' gif.Forget what you've heard. #DarkSouls3 will run at 60 FPS on PC! https://t.co/h8O21GTxR8
  — Dark Souls (@DarkSoulsGame) March 10, 2016
  The Dark Souls series has a shaky reputation when it comes to PC versions, with the Dar
  
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• Gears' General Raam Spotted In Killer Instinct Stream

  11-03-2016 12:39
  
  Update: The images discovered by Shoryuken did not come from the developer Keits' Twitch channel.
  Gears of War’s General Raam is the next guest character coming to Killer Instinct Season 3.
  The ruthless leader of the Theron Guard’s nameplate was seen in a preview stream by Iron Galaxy Studio’s Adam “Keits” Heart. Raam joins Season 3 as the third guest character from another universe - the other two being Halo’s Arbiter, and Battletoads' Rash.
  Also reveale
  
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• Rocket League Is Getting a Basketball Mode

  11-03-2016 10:57
  A Twitter tease from developer Psyonix has revealed a new Basketball-themed mode for Rocket League, possibly called Hoops.March Madness is just around the corner. Great time to tease the mode we're working on next #RocketLeagueHoops pic.twitter.com/rrlEnnFhby
  — Rocket League (@RocketLeague) March 11, 2016
  There's a hint that the new mode - which, going by that screenshot, will require high-level aerial skills to nudge that giant ball into a half-pipe style hoop - could arrive in time for M
  
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• Nintendo's Miitomo Coming to Japan March 17

  11-03-2016 04:44
  Nintendo has announced that its social messaging mobile app Miitomo will launch in Japan March 17.
  We've known that that the first of Nintendo's projects with Japanese mobile gaming company DeNA was due to launch sometime this month, but this is the first word of a firm date in any territory. Nintendo plans to launch the app in other territories later this month, although no other specific dates have been announced. The final day for Miitomo pre-registration in Japan is the 16th.
  Miito
  
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• Square Enix Collective Announces New First-Person Puzzler

  11-03-2016 03:42
  Bulkhead Interactive, the studio behind Pneuma: Breath of Life, is working on another first-person puzzler that aims to explore philosophy of human consciousness and the meaning of human intuition.In The Turing Test, players will take control of an engineer for the International Space Agency, named Ava Turing, who seeks to uncover the hidden mysteries of Europa. Players will take control of artificially intelligent machines, manipulate giant structures, and solve complex tasks designed in such
  
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• Battleborn's Incursion Mode Blends Strategy and Shooters

  11-03-2016 01:12
  Balancing ranged and melee characters in a first-person arena is a difficult task to achieve, and with a few tweaks, Battleborn’s Incursion mode might just get there. Balance aside, wrecking others in this MOBA mode is a ton of fun.
  Incursion has a similar setup to most MOBAs; two teams of five barrel down the map with weak AI teammates, or minions, to destroy the enemy team’s base. Incursion, however, adapts that formula for quicker matches by limiting every game to 30 minutes and r
  
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• Cities: Skylines sells over 2 million in a year

  11-03-2016 00:43
  
  Paradox Interactive has its fastest-selling title ever -- as the popular city-builder posts great numbers in a relatively short span....
  
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• The Top Selling Games for February Announced

  11-03-2016 00:34
  
  According to numbers from the NPD Group, Far Cry Primal was the top selling game for the month of February.
  However, according to a statement from the NPD Group, "decreases in hardware spending," as well a decrease in sales of new, physical hardware, "led to an overall decrease in physical spending of 12 percent."
  Far Cry Primal wasn't the only new release in the top 10. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Street Fighter V and Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, also appeared on the list.
  If al
  
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• Colopl gunning to be big VR publisher, with new CEO in U.S.

  11-03-2016 00:11
  
  Big Japanese mobile gaming company steps up its VR game, after already committing to invest $50 million in VR games, with a new CEO who aims to publish several VR titles a year. ...
  
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