Monthly Archives: May 2015
Will Guillermo del Toro Ever Make a Game? – IGN UK Podcast
With Kojima seemingly kissing goodbye to Konami, the future of Silent Hills - at least under the direction of the Metal Gear maestro and horror supremo Guillermo del Toro - has come to an unfortunately demise. But it's not the first time Del Toro's dabblings into video games have failed to blossom, after THQ went to pot, taking the planned horror series Insane with it. So will we ever see a game directed by Del Toro? Check out this week's podcast to see what Alex, Krupa and Rory think.
The crew is also joined by special guest Kit Harrington, AKA Jon Snow from Game of Thrones, who lifts the lid on the show and also talks about his upcoming film, Spooks. Turns out he knows quite a lot then, contrary to popular belief.
Tortoise Mauled by Rat Gets Legs Replaced by Wheels
A tortoise that had its front legs bitten off by a rat has had them replaced with a set of wheels.
The Telegraph reports the 90-year-old reptile, who resides in Prembroke, West Wales, is now moving at twice its normal speed following the operation.
The tortoise, called Mrs. T, suffered the attack whilst hibernating. Owner Jude Ryder took her to the vet upon discovering the distressed animal but, unfortunately, nothing could be done to restore the animal's mobility... or so they thought. It was then Ryder turned to her son Dale, a mechanical engineer for help. He designed and attached the wheels using resin.
Russian Cargo Spacecraft to Crash Back to Earth
The cargo spacecraft Progress 59 will fall back into the Earth's atmosphere between May 5 and May 7.
The capsule was supposed to be taking 6,000 pounds of supplies to the International Space Station, however it entered an uncontrolled spin in the wrong orbit shortly after its launch on Tuesday.
Thankfully the out of control craft poses no threat to the ISS. The crew on board still has enough supplies to last until August, despite another failed supply mission in October last year.
Apple Watch Orders Delayed By Faulty Component
According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the taptic engine on the Apple Watch is faulty, delaying some orders.
The report states that the component developed by AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. - which gives the user the sensation of being tapped on the wrist - fails at an unacceptably high rate.
Apple has told IGN that it has nothing to say on this matter. A second supplier of the part, Nidec Corp., is reportedly not having the same issues.
It was recently found that supply issues for the Apple Watch means that stores may not be stocking them until June.
Valve Unleashes The New Dota 2 International Compendium
Valve has revealed the Compendium for this year's Dota 2 International 2015 tournament.
The Compendium is an interactive book that was introduced before 2013's International tournament as a way for fans to both participate in the event and donate to its substantial prize pool.
The 2015 Compendium costs $10, and for every one purchased, The International's prize pool is increased by $2.50. At the time of writing, the prize pool currently sits at $1,917,155.
As more money is donated to the prize pool, Valve unlocks rewards when certain stretch goals are met. For example, if the prize pool reaches $2M, Valve will unlock a batch of new cursors for all players. Other stretch goals include chat emoticons, a Wyvern Hatchling Courier, new music, special HUDs, and more.
Mad Max: Fury Road Heads Up May’s Must See Movies
This month’s movie releases feature earthquakes, Mi5 agents, a President in mortal danger, and the return of one of the most iconic characters in movie history…
Release Date: UK & AU May 14, US May 15
Mad Max smashed into cinemas in 1979, the revenge flick making a star of Mel Gibson and taking vehicular carnage to the next level. Mad Max: Fury Road finds writer-director George Miller returning to that barren post-apocalyptic world, though it’s Tom Hardy who plays ‘The Road Warrior’ this time out. The story finds Max doing battle with Immortan Joe – who the eagle-eyed might remember as Toecutter from the original flick – in what several spectacular trailers suggest will be the ultimate road war.
Jon Snow Talks Game of Thrones Movie
Kit Harrington has weighed in on the possibility of a Game of Thrones movie, saying if such a thing happened it should be as the end to the series.
The actor, best known for playing Jon Snow is the hit HBO show, sat down with IGN to talk about his upcoming flick Spooks: The Greater Good, and we took the opportunity to ask him about the potential for seeing Game of Thrones on the big screen.
"I think it’s possible," he said. "I think it lends itself very well to the big screen, Thrones. They put it out on IMAX and apparently it worked surprisingly well. Whenever I’ve seen premieres it’s been on a big cinema screen and it’s felt like it belonged there.
"I can’t tell you whether they’ll ever do that; I can’t tell you whether they’ll ever want to do that. They wrote it as a TV show and David
Dragon Age: Inquisition DLC Gets PS4 Release Date
BioWare has announced Dragon Age: Inquisition's Jaws of Hakkon DLC will arrive on PS4, PS3 and Xbox 360 on May 26.
The company announced the news on the game's Twitter, which brings to an end the torturous wait for RPG fans that don't own a PC or an Xbox One.
Jaws of Hakkon was released as a timed-exclusive for Xbox One and PC back in March. Due to the exclusivity contract, Bioware was previously unable to comment on when it would be coming to platforms.
If you're not sure whether the DLC is worth picking up, be sure to check out our Jaws of Hakkon review.
Pluto May Have a Polar Ice Cap
Images captured by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft reveal bright and dark features on Pluto’s surface, including a patch at one pole that scientists believe may be an ice cap.
The telescopic Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) camera onboard New Horizons took the images early to mid-April from 70 million miles (113 million kilometers) as the craft makes its approach to the dwarf planet.
“As we approach the Pluto system we are starting to see intriguing features such as a bright region near Pluto’s visible pole, starting the great scientific adventure to understand this enigmatic celestial object,” says John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “As we get closer, the excitement is building in our quest to unravel the mysteries of Pluto using data from New Horizons."
Tesla Unveils Powerwall Home Battery System
Tesla Energy unveiled a home battery system called the Powerwall during an event today hosted by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk.
Powerwall comes in a US$3,500 10 kWh weekly cycle model and a US$3,000 7 kWh daily cycle model. According to Tesla, the Powerwall automatically switches to battery power in the event of electricity outages, and allows users to switch over to battery use during the more costly peak evening hours.
“Powerwall is a home battery that charges using electricity generated from solar panels, or when utility rates are low, and powers your home in the evening. It also fortifies your home against power outages by providing a backup electricity supply. Automated, compact and simple to install, Powerwall offers independence from the utility grid and the security of an emergency backup.”