Monthly Archives: May 2015
Konami Issues Apology, Explains ‘Mobile First’ Future
Recent disruption within Konami has left many important questions about the Japanese publisher’s future unanswered before today, but a lengthy explanation has shed light on the future of Silent Hill, Metal Gear, and Konami’s “Mobile First” future. The company has also issued an apology for the commotion following these controversies.
In a statement to IGN, a Konami representative said “We are aware that the conjecture surrounding our recent changes has prompted a great deal of anxiety, for which we apologise.”
Konami’s statement continued to explain that, in addition to mobile gaming, “the Metal Gear and Silent Hill series, both beloved by countless fans around the globe, are also extremely important to Konami. We have nurtured them with care over many years since their inception, and will continue to produce products for both franchises, but we are not currently at a stage where we can announce the path these future titles will take.”
Here’s When SAO: Lost Song Is Coming to the Americas
Bandai Namco Games has announced it will be bringing Sword Art Online: Lost Song to the Americas.
Sword Art Online: Lost Song is an action-RPG based on the plot of the light novels and anime series Sword Art Online. Fans can explore the worlds of Aincrad and ALfhiem Online as their favorite characters, including Kirito, Leafa, and Asuna.
It was also announced on Bandai Namco's official tumblr that those in America will also be getting a PS4 digital release of Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment this summer. For those who don't know, this game is an enhanced director's cut port of Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, which originally released for PlayStation Vita in 2014.
Steam Summer Sale 2015 Dates Leak
The Steam Summer Sale will begin on June 11 and last until June 20, according to a prematurely-revealed social post.
Our friends at IGN Russia spotted a post on Valve's official VKontakte, a social networking platform in the country, which explains the annual sale will run for those days before being followed by a successive two days of encore sales, where the best offers are once again available.
Last year, the Steam Summer Adventure, let people collect, trade, and craft 10 cards that could only be acquired during the Steam Summer Sale. The adventure was a competition of sorts, with players earning items and rewards for crafting badges during the sale. There's no word if it's back.
Blitzball May be Heading to Final Fantasy 14
Blitzball, the underwater sport made famous by Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 may one day make an appearance in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
That's according to game director Naoki Yoshida, who revealed to IGN he's had conversations with Yoshinori Kitase about possibly including the sport in a future update, in a similar manner to how Final Fantasy VIII's Triple Triad is. He also teased something may be coming to Eorzea to celebrate Final Fantasy XV's launch, too.
"We can’t say it’s been decided yet, this may be just half-joking so don’t write it down as confirmed," he said. "But there was a meeting about two months ago where I had a chance to speak with Kitase-San, and I mentioned there seemed to be a big demand for implementing a Blitzball element in Final Fantasy XIV, and Kitase-San was just like, 'Oh wow, I never knew that? That could be cool to consider!' So let’s just say… that conversation happened.
FIFA 16’s Female Players Are a Step in The Right Direction
It's 22 years since FIFA first landed and finally it's representing the football world as a whole, by including female players. Alex, Chris and Rory all agree it's about time and discuss why it's taken so long.
The voice of Darth Maul, AKA Peter Serafinowicz, also swings by to talk about his love for Dark Souls and Bloodborne, why it was nerve-racking to work with George Lucas and why he went weak at the knees working with Jason Statham and Jude Law in new movie Spy, the trailer for which can be viewed below.
So grab your light sabre because it's about to get messy!
IGN UK Podcast #282: Why FIFA 16's Female Players Are a Step in The Right Direction
Hyperloop is Taking Ideas From Free to Play Games
Elon Musk's idea for a high speed transportation system Hyperloop could be free to use.
The CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Dirk Ahlborn, spoke at a question and answer session with CNBC at the Pioneers Festival in Vienna recently. "When we think about video games, they are free and are making more money (than ever before) through upsales in-game."
Ahlborn said that tickets during off-peak times could be free, and very low cost during peak time, adding that they are looking for other ways to make money.
A five mile test track for Hyperloop costing around $100 million is coming to Interstate 5 in California. However it is thought that the fully realised project will cost between $6 and $7.5 billion.
Dragon Age’s Jaws of Hakkon Gets Cross-buy Functionality
Cross-buy functionality has come to Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC Jaws of Hakkon.
Players who purchase Jaws of Hakkon on a last-gen console will be able to redownload the DLC should they purchase a current-gen system. There is one caveat, mind you: the DLC needs to stay within the same console family. So if you buy the DLC on PlayStation 3, you can’t then redownload it on Xbox One.
Since its release, Inquisition has seen a raft of DLC, including the makeover store The Black Emporium, multiplayer content updates – including the ability to battle dragons as part of a group – and the option to upgrade to the collector’s edition without needing to repurchase the base game. Jaws of Hakkon, however, is the first piece of story content that catapults Inquisitors back into the treacherous world of Thedas.
A Pillars of Eternity Card Game Has Been Announced
Obsidian has announced a Kickstarter for Lords of the Eastern Reach, a card game based on Pillars of Eternity.
Developed by Zero Radius Games, it is set in Eora, and will feature characters, locations, and items from the computer RPG. The card game is designed for 2-4 players and takes around 20-30 minutes per player.
Gameplay revolves around combat, where you can send your army into dungeons or attack another player's city, after which you can build structures or hire new troops. At the end of the round, an event die is rolled "that usually causes a little bit of chaos and destruction."
X-Men: Apocalypse Concept Art Shows Cyclops vs. Storm
New concept art from Bryan Singer's upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse shows Cyclops and Jean Grey battling Storm.
The art, via Empire magazine, shows Cyclops fighting an airborne storm while Jean takes shelter under rubble. Check it out below.
X-Men: Apocalypse will star newcomers Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops, and Alexandra Shipp as Storm. They will join James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence in the movie, which is set to open May 27, 2016.
Tekken 7 Boss Revealed as Next Playable Character
Another playable character in Tekken 7 has been revealed and she uses a tiger for special attacks.
The latest new challenger to join the roster is none other than the matron of Mishima clan and boss of Tekken 7 Kazumi Mishima, the wife and mother of long-time Tekken vets Heihachi and Kazuya Mishima, respectively.
In a video on the official Tekken 7 YouTube channel, Kazumi is shown performing numerous special moves and combos on Heihachi, many of which are assisted by a tiger. The final sequence shows what appears to be her Rage Art, a super move similar to an Ultra Combo in Ultra Street Fighter IV.