Monthly Archives: March 2015
PS4 Sells Over 20.2 Million Units Worldwide
As of March 1, Sony reports that its current-gen console the PlayStation 4 has sold over 20.2 million units globally.
With these metrics, the manufacturer reports the PS4 is continuing its legacy as the "fastest and strongest growth in PlayStation hardware history." It is currently available in over 123 countries worldwide.
Originally launching in fall 2013, the PlayStation 4 was last reported in January 2015 to have sold 18.5 million units worldwide, with 6.4 million of those being sold in its third financial quarter.
Fight Rival Teams in New GTA Online Modes
Developer Rockstar Games has announced a number of new multiplayer gameplay modes for Grand Theft Auto Online launching with their open-world game's Heists update next week.
Adversary Modes, a novel form of competitive multiplayer for GTA, will give players the chance to take on rival teams in three different game modes. Pitting two teams against each other, these modes range from hunting other players to defending locations and running over cyclists with trucks. Visit Rockstar's blog to learn the dirty details.
Project Morpheus Release Date, Specs Revealed
At GDC today, Sony announced that its Project Morpheus VR headset will be available to consumers in the first half of 2016.
Sony also revealed a new prototype that will be closer to the final version than the one we've seen previously. This new prototype has an OLED display running at 1920 x RGB x 1080, which removes motion blur, and all pixels now have RGB sub-pixels.
Project Morepheus has a 120 hz refresh rate which will allow for smooth video, while a 5.7 inch screen offers a 100 degree field of vision. The new prototype also includes 9 tracking LEDS; 3 more than the previous version.
"We are one step closer to realizing our vision of making virtual reality a reality in games", said President of Woldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida.
Surviving in the Wasteland of Mad Max
Avalanche Studios has unveiled a large amount of gameplay details for its upcoming open-world Mad Max game.
As part of Game Informer's April cover story, Avalanche revealed Mad Max will have "soft" borders, meaning you'll be able to travel beyond the limits of the in-game map. However, venturing into this space, known as The Big Nothing, is incredibly dangerous. This area doesn't contain any food or water, and is filled with deadly sandstorms. If you're able to survive more than a few seconds, you'll occasionally find rare auto parts for Max's Magnum Opus.
Survival within the map's borders will also be challenging. Food and water, which are both used to replenish Max's health, will be scarce. When you're low on health and out of food, Avalanche suggests you look toward the sky for circling birds. Birds will fly over nearby decomposing bodies, which are covered with maggots. Luckily for Max, maggots are a good source of protein. Rodents can also be consumed for health, since this world has "absolutely no" vegetation, and very little life.
It Director Seeking the “Perfect” Pennywise
True Detective's Cary Fukunaga is searching for "the perfect guy to play Pennywise" for his upcoming remake of Stephen King’s It.
Bloody Disgusting (via Portuguese paper O Globo) reports that Fukunaga revealed that the project has been a long process, and that he has been working on an It remake for several years and still hasn't found the right actor for the iconic killer clown.
Jackman: Wolverine/Avengers Could Happen
Wolverine himself, Hugh Jackman, believes his character could one day appear in the same movie as The Avengers.
"You know, I think as an optimist I would love it. That’s the best thing about comic books; you can just pitch these characters into each other," Jackman told Yahoo. "I’m surprised by what’s happened with Spider-Man joining. You’re in a very complex world where big, big sums of money are being spent for different franchises and so getting them together is difficult.
"Two years ago I’d have said you’d be a real optimist to think it’d ever happen, but weirdly now I just think it maybe could. I think there is the possibility that it will happen."
Spielberg and Lawrence Team for It’s What I Do
Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Lawrence are teaming up to adapt It’s What I Do: A Photographer’s Life of Love And War, the memoir by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario.
The author has worked in some of the most dangerous places in the world and the memoir has been garnering interest since it was excerpted by The New York Times Magazine. Deadline reports that Warner Bros. is closing a deal for the memoir after an auction that included bidders and interested parties such as Working Title and Reese Witherspoon, Darren Aronofsky and Natalie Portman, Margot Robbie, and The Weinstein Company and George Clooney and Grant Heslov.
Pebble Time Becomes Highest-Grossing Kickstarter Ever
Last week, Pebble unveiled its new third-gen smartwatch, the Pebble Time, and reached its $500,000 USD Kickstarter funding goal within minutes, Now, the campaign has gone on to become the highest-grossing Kickstarter of all time.
At the time of writing, Pebble Technology has raised over $14.2 million USD with 24 days still left in the campaign. Pebble also holds the third highest-grossing Kickstarter with its Pebble: E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android campaign, earning $10.2 million USD.
Netflix’s Luke Cage Is “Geared Towards An Adult Audience”
"It's geared towards an adult audience, which is something that will be different from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that you've seen before on the big screen," says Mike Colter, the actor charged with bringing Luke Cage to life in the forthcoming Netflix series.
Speaking to IGN about the forthcoming release of Halo: Nightfall on DVD and Blu-ray, Colter spoke in detail about how race doesn't factor into his preparation for Cage, why he's excited about the role, and how Marvel's shows on Netflix will feel connected but distinct from the rest of the established MCU.
"I'm excited about playing the character because I've read the comic books," says Colter. "They're very detailed, gritty; the world they've written in the comic books is very clear. Marvel does a fantastic job about bringing human stories – because you're telling big stories with a heart at the centre of it – and that's what connects all of the characters to our audience members. Audience members have to feel connected with these characters, to make them relate to the character's situations and that's what you see with all of the Marvel characters."
Wrestling Wrap Up: Jon Stewart Appears on RAW
It's going to have to be a lickety-split, quick Wrap Up this week. Got a lot of irons in the fire and a ton of plates a' spinning. So let's get to smashin' all the big, broad moments with a sledge.
Jon Stewart. One of those celebs who's been a mostly-closeted wrestling fan for years. Not that he's necessarily hidden it, but it's also never been flaunted. Until now. And you could tell, just from the way that he spoke last night on RAW when he confronted Rollins (who was hosting his own Daily Show from the middle of the ring), that Stewart knew what he's talking about. He didn't need to spend time backstage memorizing names and storyline plot points - he knew them. Usually with big name fans you find that they're wrestling fans because they used to watch wrestling, but it's clear that Stewart still keeps up. Plus, as far as we know, his response to Rollins - that initial loosevideo he made - was just done on a lark. With no real expectations of it ever building into anything.