Monthly Archives: March 2015
Valve’s Steam Controller Isn’t for Console Gamers
Valve’s Steam Controller design is finalized and set to ship this year, and I don’t think it’s a controller console gamers are going to like. Its layout is unconventional and its form is unfamiliar, but more importantly, it makes games feel like they’re under the control of a mouse.
In short, limited bursts, I played Epic Games’ latest Unreal Tournament, Monolith’s Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and Croteam’s The Talos Principle using the new hardware. Some succeed much better than others.
The Talos Principle relies on logic to navigate its world, so casually navigating its environments with the left analog stick, and looking around with the right track-pad, felt about as natural as expected. The track-pad operates like a trackball in flat, soft form, so a quick swipe on the rubbery pad sends the camera spinning, depending on your thumb’s aggression. It’s easy to make precise movements, like looking up at a turret, or to grab objects in the world, but there’s still a twitchy sense to the “looking” part of playing. The movement of the camera looked like it might if you used a mouse with low DPI features, or on a small mousepad. Adjusting sensitivities could solve this, but I had limited exposure to modified settings while using the device.
Star Wars: Building a Better EU
One of the great things about Star Wars is that it's become so much bigger than just the movies. There are countless novels, comics, and games that comprise the Expanded Universe. Star Wars: The Clone Wars and its successor, Star Wars: Rebels, have done a great job of growing the universe on the small screen. And with Disney's purchase of the franchise and the establishment of the Lucasfilm Story Group, there's no longer a need for the term "Expanded Universe." Everything going forward - the film sequels, the TV shows, the novels and comics - is all part of one Disney-approved whole. However, as Disney sets about building their unified Star Wars universe, they need to take care to avoid the mistakes of the old Expanded Universe.
Plague Knight Changes Everything About Shovel Knight
The new expansion for Shovel Knight, called Plague of Shadows, is exactly what we want from Shovel Knight. As one of our favorite games from 2014, any add-on would get us excited, but playing as one of the original game's bosses is really exciting.
Playing as Plague Knight makes Shovel Knight feel totally different -- he throws potions, double-jumps, and super-jumps to traverse more effectively than our original hero. And, without a shovel to bounce around with, the platforming is fundamentally different than we're used to.
For more on Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows, stay tuned to IGN.
Rock Band 4 Boss: Expect a ‘Top-Tier’ Soundtrack
Harmonix Music Systems Chief Creative Officer and co-founder Alex Rigopulos is in a good mood when he answers my phone call. And despite the unseasonably terrible winter he’s stuck in the middle of in his studio’s Boston suburb of Cambridge, he has every reason to be jovial – it’s just over a week before Rigopulos and his team will unveil Rock Band 4 to the world, returning the beloved music game series to the stage for the first time in five years. As an equally excited consumer of Rock Band, my first question was the most obvious one: why now?
“We’ve been waiting until the new generation of consoles reached a critical mass for it to make sense for us to bring the franchise back,” Rigopulos explains, citing the record-setting sales pace of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. “It’s a huge bet for us as a company.”
Mary Elizabeth Winstead on the Dead Coming Back in The Returned
Debuting Monday, A&E's The Returned follows what happens in a small town when people who have been dead for years suddenly return without explanation, looking exactly as they did before they died. The series comes from executive producers Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel, The Strain) and Raelle Tucker (Supernatural True Blood) and is a remake of thee acclaimed French series, Les revenants.
Among the stars of the series is Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Smashed, A Good Day to Die Hard), who plays Rowan, a woman whose late fiancé, Simon (Mat Vairo), died when they were both very young, and who is among those who return. Winstead only appears briefly in the show’s premiere episode, but it leaves quite an impression, as we see Rowan’s initial encounters with Simon and how she simply can’t process what is occurring. And as the show continues, we’ll see much more of her and how Simon’s return impacts her and those she loves.
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Lives On In New Extend Version
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend is coming to North America this summer, Aksys Games has confirmed.
The updated version of Arc System Works' 2D fighter will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and Vita. Aksys has also confirmed the game will be purchasable both in stores and as a downloadable.
The original Chrono Phatasma arrived in North America last year. This summer's Extend edition adds new features that include a revamped Guard Gauge system and new features in Stylish Mode. It also introduces Remix Heart, a new "heart-warming comedic" addition to the story mode.
This Test Video of the World’s Tallest Giga Coaster is Insane
A test video showing off the world's tallest giga coaster in action has been released, and it's making us feel a little bit queasy.
Fury325 is a ride currently under construction at the Carowinds amusement park between North and South Carolina, and has the enviable accolade of being the tallest and fastest giga coaster in existence, with plans for it to eventually reach speeds of up to 95 mph. For the uninitiated, giga coasters are a subset of roller coasters slightly less terrifying than strata coasters, which are the tallest.
Though the video below is pretty awe-inspiring from start to finish, special mention has to go to the initial 81-degree, 325 foot drop, which is pretty much guaranteed to make your stomach feel like it's on the ceiling.
Theft, Murder and Burglary Arrive in The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online has just received its Update 6 patch, adding the long-awaited Justice and Champion Systems to the game.
A new trailer, which you can see above, shows how the Justice System works, with pickpocketing, burglary and murder all now available in the game. The basic premise seems to be similar to what we've seen before in the single-player titles. Guards will seek out criminals and you'll need to pay off your bounty if you want to move around the world uninhibited.
The Champion System, meanwhile, offers extended progression through unlocking additional passive abilities. Once you hit max level and start working your way through Veteran ranks, your character will unlock Champion Points to further increase your strength.
See RiffTrax Do The Room, Sharknado 2, More
Fathom Events and RiffTrax are giving IGN readers a chance to purchase pre-sale tickets for RiffTrax LIVE 2015 exclusively today from 9 am to 12 noon ET.
The following showings will take place nationwide on the dates listed. Just click on your selected date in order to purchase pre-sale tickets:
- RiffTrax Live: The Room - First Showing (May 6), Second Showing (May 12)
- RiffTrax Live: Sharknado 2: The Second One - First Showing (July 9), Second Showing (July 16)
Toy Story 4 Isn’t a Continuation, Will be a Romantic Comedy
Toy Story 4 won't continue the previous trilogy and will be pitched as a romantic comedy, rather than exploring the relationships between kids, their toys and growing up.
That's according to Pixar studio president Jim Morris, who told Disney Latino (via Slashfilm) that there was no suggestion this would mark the beginning of a new trilogy, as that would depend on the director's vision.
"The third movie ended in a beautiful way and completed a trilogy," he said. "I think this movie is not part of this trilogy. It is a separate story, which in turn I do not know if will be continued. Never begin a project with that in mind.