Tech Fetish Episode 221: Windows 10 Event Recap
The Tech Fetish crew is joined this week by returning guest member Adam Barenblat for a discussion about this week's Windows 10 announcements: we chat about Cortana, Continuum, and the newly announced HoloLens augmented-reality headset, as well as other things like Microsoft's history of breaking hearts.
(For Xbox/PC gaming discussion, we ran out of time - so tune into Podcast Unlocked next week, when Alaina makes her first guest appearance!)
Flash Sale Discounts Indie Games on PS4, PS3, Vita
Starting today and ending on Monday, January 26 at 9am PT, several indie games will be available at discounted prices during the PlayStation Network's flash sale.
Resogun, Shadow Warrior, Contrast, Costume Quest 2, and Fez are some of the games available for the PlayStation 4, while Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Castle Crashers, Dead Nation, OlliOlli, and Tokyo Jungle are a handful of the games currently discounted on PlayStation 3.
Several games on PlayStation Vita are on sale as well, including Guacamelee!, The Unfinished Swan, When Vikings Attack, and OlliOlli.
To see the full list of games in the flash sale, visit the PlayStation Blog.
Borderlands 3 Announcement Teased At PAX South
Gearbox is going to have something to say about the next full title in the Borderlands franchise at their Borderlands panel this Sunday at PAX South.
This comes straight from Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, who teased the announcement when answering a fan's question during Gearbox's Q&A panel earlier today. No details were given, and he didn't even confirm the game as being called "Borderlands 3," so we still don't know where or when in the Borderlands timeline it takes place, but perhaps we'll get some more clues this weekend.
The panel at which the announcement will take place will happen at 5:00pm Central Time. We'll be there filming it, so check back at IGN to get the skinny.
Microsoft’s HoloLens Headset Feels Like Science-Fiction Come to Life
Demos by nature are carefully aimed at razzling and dazzling attendees. But after years of exposure to jazz handing, I’ve developed an automatic immunity to it. Even as impressive as sessions with devices like Oculus’ Crescent Bay virtual-reality prototype have been, I’d yet to experience a flash of genuine awe when sampling virtual-reality and augmented-reality tech.
So I was surprised when I donned Microsoft’s newly announced augmented-reality HoloLens headset right after Wednesday’s Windows 10 press conference. As I stood on a 3D representation of Mars stitched together from photos taken by the Curiosity Rover, I found myself thinking: “I’ll never get to actually set foot on this planet during my life, but I’m getting a taste of what it would be like. Right now. On earth.”
Nintendo Voice Chat: Our Nintendo Direct Wrap-up
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IGN's Nintendo podcast transformed into your favorite characters from Majora's Mask.
True Blood Star Joins Hannibal: Season 3
Another character from Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel has been added to the mix for Hannibal: Season 3.
It should only follow, going by the book, that with Richard Armitage joining as killer Francis Dolarhyde someone would play the role of "Reba McClane" - the blind woman who catches his eye - portrayed by Emily Watson in 2002's Red Dragon and Joan Allen in 1986's Manhunter.
Sony Sending Out PSN Discount Codes Today
If you're a PSN member, you might have a nice email from Sony in your inbox right now.
Earlier this week, Sony said it would offer a free five-day extension to every PS+ member's subscription as a thanks for their patience with recent PSN issues. That offer comes alongside a free 10% PSN discount code available to all PSN members.
No action is necessary on your part to receive the PlayStation Plus extension. The 10% discount code will be made available on the PlayStation Store home page, according to Sony's email below.
Julia Roberts to Star in/Produce Batkid Movie
Julia Roberts will star in and adapt the dramatic feature film version of the Batkid story, based on the documentary Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World. The crowd-funded doc is making its debut at the Slamdance festival in Park City, Utah, this weekend.
Batkid, of course, is Miles Scott, the young boy and leukemia survivor who became a superhero for a day in 2013 when thousands of volunteers helped fulfill his Make-A-Wish event and transform San Francisco into Gotham City. Scott became a social media sensation along the way.
Check out our Batkid slideshow above.
Roberts is attached to star in and produce the remake of the doc with her Red Om Films partners Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill. Batkid Begins director Dana Nachman will executive produce, as will Submarine’s Josh Braun and Dan Braun.
Roman Reigns Talks Royal Rumble, Daniel Bryan, More
Roman Reigns is ready to rumble. At the Royal Rumble, that is, which goes down this Sunday, January 25th on the WWE Network.
Last year, Roman came close to winning, only to be last eliminated by Dave Bautista (or "Batista", as he's known in the WWE). In the process though, he threw 12 competitors out of the ring, breaking the record for single Rumble eliminations. Many believe that 2015 will be Roman's year, though there are several other WWE Superstars who could also be tasked with carrying the torch - including Daniel Bryan, who was left out of last year's Rumble (while still making it into the WrestleMania main event).
I had the chance to speak to Roman Reigns about being sidelined this past fall due to emergency surgery, his ideal WrestleMania opponent (should he win himself a spot in the main event this Sunday), working with Big Show, video games, and his thoughts on "Deflate-gate."
NightCry Could Get a PC Port
NightCry, the spiritual successor to Clock Tower, could get a PC port.
In an interview with Polygon, NightCry director Hifumi Kono revealed that the game would need a Kickstarter campaign to make PC a viable option, but that PC is the version he most wants to make.
It's the version fans of Kono want most as well, according to the man himself.
"The fans' reaction was basically, 'Yeah, we've been waiting for this. Great. But is this only for Vita or only for mobile?'" Kono told Polygon. "There were a lot of disappointed voices."
NightCry was announced first for PlayStation Vita and mobile devices, platforms that some fans find unfit for a modern survival horror experience from the creator of Clock Tower.