Monthly Archives: February 2016
New Xbox One Update Adds Social Features and an Avatar Store
The latest Xbox One update will add new social features, usability, and an Avatar Store, and it's rolling out now.
Xbox owners will be able to view who else is in their friends' parties, check out leaderboards based on Gamerscore, rearrange Pins on the home screen, and a whole lot more.
Also coming to both the Xbox One and the Xbox PC and phone app is an Avatar Store. Here users can purchase add-ons for their Xbox avatars, and even preview the cosmetics in real time.
A full list of new features can be found on Major Nelson. These changes have been available in the Xbox preview program since last month. Starting tomorrow, however, they'll be available to all Xbox One owners. Xbox app users, meanwhile, should receive an update sometime today.
Mark Hamill, Robert Englund To Star in Master of Orion Reboot
WG Labs has announced a celebrity voice cast list for upcoming reboot of Master of Orion.
Star Wars' Mark Hamill will be joined by Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Kat Cressida (Haunted Mansion), John de Lancie (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), John Kassir (Tales from the Crypt), and Dwight Schultz (Babylon 5, The A-Team).
The cast is further complemented by seasoned video game voice artists Troy Baker (Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us) and Nolan North (Destiny, Uncharted).
"The original Master of Orion captured the hearts of gamers with solid gameplay and a rich, diverse universe where every choice makes a difference," said Chris Keeling, director of product vision at WG Labs. “Having some of the most iconic science fiction, horror and video game voice talent lending their skills to the game only helps us realize this amazing universe in even more exciting ways."
New Daredevil: Season 2 Art and Motion Poster Released
Ahead of its debut next month, Netflix has released new promo art and a motion poster for Daredevil: Season 2.
The character art—pictured below—teases the new troubles that lie ahead for Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), as the hero of Hell's Kitchen faces a new threat with the arrival of Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle/The Punisher.
Image via Marvel, Netflix
Valve-Approved Half-Life Fan Game Prospekt Is Out Today
The story of Half-Life continues today with the Valve-approved fan game Prospekt.
The $10 game was developed by Seacorp Technologies, consisting of just one person — Richard Seabrook. Seabrook got permission from Valve to use assets and characters from the Half-Life series.
Prospekt is a direct sequel to Half-Life: Opposing Force, an expansion to the original game told from the perspective of the game's less-than-trustworthy military. It was developed by Borderlands developer Gearbox Software, and ended with its hero getting put on ice by the Half-Life mystery figure G-Man.
This standalone expansion/sequel picks up with that protagonist — Adrian Shephard — being pulled into the setting of Half-Life 2. According to the Steam page the story is "comparable to Half-Life 2: Episode One in length."
Techland Pledges To Support Dying Light Until End of This Year
Dying Light publisher Techland has published an open letter to fans thanking them and pledging to support the survival game "at least" until the end of this year.
"While the launch of Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition is only a few days behind us, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for the support, feedback, and faith you have shown us," writes Techland CEO Paweł Marchewka. "We have received countless words of encouragement, praise and constructive criticism – I would like you to know we appreciate and listen closely to everything you have to say."
"We are also humbled by the immensely positive reception of the enhanced version of our game. We always had faith in the project, but seeing so many enthusiastic opinions among players and high review scores from the press is utterly heart-warming.
Craig Ferguson Is Looking to Start a Conversation
Craig Ferguson is returning to late night with his new History Channel series Join or Die. Framed as a game show but really an excuse to dive into an array of topics, the 22-episode, half-hour series is a bit of a passion project for the former Late Late Show host.
"I think discussion is a good thing," he explained during a recent sit-down interview. "It would be nice to think that something I did on television not only made some people laugh and entertained them but also stimulated a conversation or a thought process -- not necessarily one that I agree with, but just something that stimulates thought."
The Scooby Apocalypse Arrives in May
DC released their full solicitations for May 2016 this week. May could very vwell be the last month before the "Rebirth" relaunch, as the remaining original New 52 series hit the issue #52 mark and many series wrap up ongoing storylines.
New Series:
- Future Quest #1
- Scooby Apocalypse #1
Ending Series:
- Batman '66 Meets The Man From U.N.C.L.E. #6
- Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
- Last Gang in Town #6
- New Romancer #6
- The Omega Men #12
- Superman: American Alien #7
This Was Bill Gates’ Favorite XBLA Game
While Bill Gates doesn't play very many video games, the Microsoft co-founder does have a soft spot for one specific Xbox Live Arcade title: Zuma.
In this month's episode of IGN Unfiltered, XBLA creator Greg Canessa discussed Gates' involvement in Xbox Live Arcade, noting he was "personally interested" in the service because it was expanding the console's software portfolio and bringing with it new casual games.
"He personally was a casual gamer," Canessa explained. "He loved Zuma in particular. And so he wanted to actually give feedback on the experience. His kids were little at the time and so he said: 'This is actually something for the first time that I can play with my kids at home on the weekend.'"
OlliOlli 2, Not A Hero Announced for Xbox One
Roll7 has announced it is teaming with Worms developer Team17 to bring OlliOlli2: XL Edition and Not A Hero to Xbox One.
In the new XL Edition of OlliOlli 2, you'll be able to play the all new FreeSkate mode which allows you to practice your moves across five brand new levels. It also features five new worlds, 50 new amateur and pro levels, 250 new challenges, as well as Combo Rush, a local multiplayer split screen mode.
As for the Xbox One version of Not A Hero, it will feature exclusive content called "Me, Myself and Bunnylord," which has three new levels each with four unique side missions. You'll also be able to play as Bunnylord himself for the first time.
We don't have a set release date yet, but they will be coming to Xbox One later this year.
Rings Gets a New Release Date
Rings, the upcoming sequel to The Ring, has a new release date of October 28.
Rings was supposed to be coming out on April 1 after a delay from its original release date of November 13 last year.
We got our first look at the sequel, which takes place 13 years after the events of The Ring, back in March 2015.
The film is written by David Loucka, Jacob Aaron Estes, and Akiva Goldsman. F. Javier Gutiérrez is directing, and it will star Matilda Lutz, Alex Roe, and Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory).