Monthly Archives: December 2017
Why MechAssault Didn’t Continue
Mitch Gitelman, who previously worked as the head of FASA Studio, has shed a bit of light on why the Xbox-exclusive MechAssault franchise didn't continue after the first sequel, subtitled Lone Wolf.
MechAssault developer Day 1 Studios worked with FASA to create two games for Xbox set in the BattleTech universe, but after the sequel, Microsoft decided to pull the plug on the franchise.
When asked on the latest episode of our monthly interview show IGN Unfiltered if the franchise didn't continue because MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf didn't sell well enough, Gitelman replied: "Yeah, exactly that. It didn't turn into the franchise that Microsoft was looking for. That's all."
Warner Bros.’ Rival Jungle Book Movie Gets a New Title
Warner Bros.' 3D adaptation of The Jungle Book has received a new title as it gears up for release.
The movie was originally titled Jungle Book: Origins, but will now be known simply as Mowgli.
The feature is being developed under the direction of motion capture wizard Andy Serkis and will focus on the upbringing of the titular character.
Mowgli will "come face to face with his human origins" whilst encountering an ensemble of animals from the Rudyard Kipling classic.
An award-winning cast will populate the jungle in Warner Bros.' adaptation, including Christian Bale as nefarious panther Bagheera, Benedict Cumberbatch as Shere Khan, and Cate Blanchett as Kaa.
The Rock’s 10 Best Movies
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been keeping as busy as ever lately, starring in epic blockbusters like The Fate of the Furious, comedies like Baywatch and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the video game adaptation Rampage, and now Skyscraper.
With Johnson’s resume growing bigger than his massive biceps, we figured it was time we ran our countdown of his 10 best films again. From The Scorpion King to the Fast & Furious franchise to Moana, these are the best films with which to get your Rock on.
Pokemon Go’s New AR Mode Knows How Close You Are to Pokemon
Niantic has revealed AR+ Mode, a new AR feature coming to Pokemon Go exclusively on Apple devices.
The new feature will be coming “soon” to Pokemon Go on iPhone and iPad and can be triggered during any Pokemon encounter, including those following Raid Battles. Once you switch on AR+ mode, you’ll see Tall Grass (like in the main Pokemon games) that you’ll have to tap in order to make a Pokemon appear on-screen.
Check out footage of AR+ Mode in the video above
Once you’ve engaged a Pokemon, a new proximity alert system will trigger. Unlike Pokemon Go’s original AR mode, AR+ now keeps the Pokemon in a fixed position, and will track how close you are. If you approach a Pokemon too quickly, a meter will fill up and change from yellow to red. If it fills in completely red, the Pokemon will flee. But if you approach slowly and get close enough, an “Expert Handler” alert will appear on-screen in place of the meter, offering additional experience points and Stardust for catching the Pokemon.
Snag Xbox One X for £420
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Looking for the cheapest Xbox One X standalone deal? Snag £30 off when buying it at Simply Games. It's currently priced at £429.99 at Smyths Toys, which previously was the cheapest place to get it.
Women in Video Game Development in 2017: A Snapshot
Several months ago, I asked 55 female and non-binary game development professionals from around the globe about the moment the light bulb switched on for them, the moment they thought video games are for me. Each answer was unique, “I would rent Diddy Kong Racing all the time from Blockbuster or Movie Gallery to the point that my dad had to buy it for me,” said one. “I starting typing in programs from magazines on my dad’s ZX81, then I begged my parents to buy my brother and I an Amstrad CPC 464 with a tape drive when I was 8,” said another. Or, as one simply put it, “Fable 2.”
Unique, yet familiar - these light bulbs are universal. They are genderless. So why do women currently constitute only 22 per cent of the video game industry?
Five Rian Johnson Projects to Watch After The Last Jedi
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is undoubtedly Rian Johnson's biggest writing and directing gig yet, but Johnson made a name for himself with a host of unique and beloved films and TV episodes before traveling to a galaxy far, far away.
Johnson started in much lower budget movie fare, but has created a few films heralded for their originality and ability to play with established form. He's also directed a few episodes of Breaking Bad and other shows, with some of his work being heralded as some of the best episodes of TV ever.
AJ Lee’s Life is Becoming a TV Series
♪"Let's light it up..."
Former WWE Diva's Champion AJ Mendez ("AJ Lee") took to twitter today to announce that the producers behind Nat Geo’s Genius series are currently developing her New York Times Best Seller -- “Crazy is my Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules” -- for television.
A small part of Mendez's life will be seen in the upcoming Dwayne Johnson-produced film Fighting with My Family, about WWE Superstar Paige's parents, when Thea Trinidad (NXT's Zelina Vega) portrays Mendez during some of Paige's famous in-ring moments on the main WWE roster, but now Mendez will get to have her own story told.
Blizzard Job Listing Suggests New Game Will Have Vehicles
A new Blizzard job listing suggests the company's unannounced project will incorporate vehicles.
The listing is for a Senior Software Engineer focusing on creating vehicles in "a robust first-person engine." The ideal candidate must have "proven experience in vehicle handling" and with "real-time rigid body physics and dynamic forces."
It's also important note the candidate needs to be comfortable with adding and working within an established code framework. This may suggest the technology for the unannounced title might already exist.
Job listings for the game last year pointed to Blizzard looking for someone to work on a robust first-person engine for the unannounced project. Another, more recent listing from this year indicated the project may somehow be related to Overwatch.
First-Ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match Announced
At the end of this week's episode of Monday Night RAW, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon made an appearance to announce that, for the first time in history, the company's female Superstars will perform in a Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble PPV on Sunday, January 28th - with the winner receiving a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 34 in April.
While this Rumble match will feature the women from both the RAW and SmackDown brands, we're not sure yet if it will also include female talent from NXT. We're also not sure yet as to how many participants there will be. The men's Rumble has contained, traditionally, 30 competitors, but there's a possibly that the female Rumble could feature fewer combatants.