Monthly Archives: July 2015
Xbox Live Surpasses 100,000 Achievements
There are now more than 100,000 achievements on Xbox Live since the Xbox 360 launched back in November 2005.
According to TrueAchievements, on Xbox Live has 100,000 achievements spanning 3,100 games, with a total possible Gamerscore of 2.3 million.
The popular achievement hunting resource analyzed numerous statistics, breaking them down into charts and pie graphs. Obviously, the Xbox 360 has the highest distribution of achievements among all of Microsoft’s platforms at 76 percent.
2011 had the most achievements in any given year, but 2015 is projected to have a bigger year.
Walking Dead Returns to Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights
AMC's The Walking Dead will be making its return this year to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orland Resort. Beginning September 18, this year's mazes will take you through 3D recreations of memorable moments from the show's fifth season.
Created by Universal in collaboration with The Walking Dead's creative team, the adventure will begin at Terminus, complete with "W" walkers and the loading dock of the Del Arno Food warehouse where Daryl and Aaron took on a massive group of walkers in Season 5.
Universal Studios Hollywood's maze, titled The Walking Dead: Wolves Not Far, will be the theme park's "biggest, longest, and most gruesome" maze ever constructed. It will take place in a new location in the park and feature "twice as many, never-before-seen walkers." Meanwhile, Universal Orlando's maze will feature a recreation of the flooded food bank. In addition to flesh-hungry walkers, you'll be surrounded by "hundreds of gallons" of water.
Daily Deals: 3DS Game Sale, 31-Disc Harry Potter Collection, Rare Replay
Buy One 3DS Game, Get One Half Off
Get in here quick if you want to score some cheap Nintendo 3DS games, these Best Buy deals always seem to go fast.
Massive 31 Disc Harry Potter Blu-ray Set
If you're a Harry Potter super fan, here's your chance to get this insane 31-disc collection of the films, plus exhaustive special features, at a $50 discount. I normally see this set going for $150, but right now it's $98.
7 Video Game Movies Worth Watching
A glance at the three-and-a-half decade history of video game movie adaptations and arcade-inspired films reveals a landscape littered with disappointment. Most game films range somewhere between merely meh and obnoxiously odious. The most recent misfire, Pixels, garnered a 4.5 rating from IGN. But sprinkled amidst the masses of mediocrity and canyons of crap are a few films that are positively enjoyable. Next time you're looking for an entertaining movie, check out these seven recommended diversions totally worth your time.
Wreck-It Ralph tells the story of a video game villain fed up with being taken for granted. Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) escapes from his game cabinet and wanders the network connecting his local arcade on a quest to earn some respect. The inside jokes on game culture Ralph encounters on his odyssey are uniformly amusing to the core gamer audience, but the movie shines brightest when it focuses on themes of friendship, jealousy, and the inevitability of change. Top-tier voice talent, a rib-tickling script, and a legitimately-surprising plot twist help make Ralph the best all-ages video game movie.
Big Changes Inbound for Guild Wars 2’s Fractals of the Mists
With the release of the expansion Heart of Thorns, changes are coming to Guild Wars 2.
Fractals of the Mists – Guild Wars 2’s five-man dungeon content that sends players to different areas and times – are seeing some core changes. First of all, each fractal run will now only be one island, as opposed to the current setup, which is three random islands. The reasoning behind the change is to allow players the chance to complete them in quicker succession while still having the chance to run several fractals if you’re playing for long periods of time. Furthermore, the change puts less pressure on players who can’t commit to 90-minute runs, meaning grouping up should be easier.
EA Has Three New, Original Franchises Coming in 2016
UPDATE:
EA has clarified that the new and original franchises it referred to during its investor call were Mirror's Edge, Unravel, and PvZ Garden Warfare 2.
Original story follows below...
EA has revealed it has three new franchises set to launch in the first part of 2016.
Speaking during an investor call following the company's financial results for the first quarter of the year, CEO Andrew Wilson explained there would be three new and original games launching before the end of April 2016.
How Zombi Will be Adapted for PS4, Xbox One and PC
Ubisoft has gone into detail about how the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions of Zombi have been adapted to function without the Wii U Gamepad.
Upon it's original release, much was made of how Zombi U utilised the Gamepad to create a sense of tension and claustrophobia, with you needing to split your attention between the two screens to avoid facing an untimely death. Naturally, with just one screen to play with this time around, certain fans are concerned we're looking at just another zombie shooter, rather than the tense and original affair that was the original.
Now, the developer has penned a blog post trying to alleviate concerns. The map has been moved to the main screen, though it will disappear when not required in order to keep a minimal HUD and high sense of immersion.
Nightmare Fuel Tangiers Has A Release Date
Stealth title Tangiers is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux on November 26.
Andalusian Games describes Tangiers as a “horror tinged stealth game,” inspired by the likes of Thief. The nightmarish world Tangiers is set aims to embody the “darker avant-garde of the 20th century.”
“Writers such as Burroughs and Ballard, artists within the Dada movement and the music and textures of Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire and David Lynch all drive us,” reads the game’s 2013 Kickstarter page.
“They are our motivations - often oblique, sometimes in open reference.”
Destiny: The Taken King’s Dreadnaught Gets Details and Images
Bungie has released a selection of new Destiny images, including screencaps and original concept art for the upcoming expansion, The Taken King.
The Dreadnaught, a brand new playable environment rolling out with the release of The Taken King, is home of the Hive enemy class. It not only provides a setting for the upcoming campaign expansion, but will also provide a new environment for Patrol missions and public events, too.
"Conceptually, we’ve dreamed of facing the Hive on their own ground for a long time," writes community manager, DeeJ, on this week's update. "With the development of Destiny: The Taken King, we’ve had the chance to fully realize the Dreadnaught."
The 9 Games we Want to Play at Gamescom
It's that time of week again - yes, the IGN UK Podcast returns to viciously assault your lugholes, and what a show we have for you this week.
With Gamescom just around the corner, Rory, Gav and Luke reveal the titles they're each most excited to play at the show. As it's going to be Rory and Gav's first time at the show, veteran Luke (who has been to a stonking one Gamescom before) offers his unique blend of advice for how to survive. For the love of God, if you're going, do not listen to him.
We also have a lovely chat with star of Frozen and Pixels Josh Gad, who does a wonderful impression of The Goonies' Ma Fratelli. It's equal parts chilling and inspirational. So what are you waiting for? Watch the whole thing in all its glory up above, download it on iTunes or pick it up directly via the link below: