Madden caps summer

After a summer of mostly PlayStation and big-title dominance, the usual NPD sales for August proved par for the course as the juggernaut that is Madden took the top spot for the month. The other juggernaut of our times, Minecraft continues to teach others how to tame horses as it sits smugly in second place.

The PlayStation 4 was once again the best-selling console for the month. Banking on the strength of the console, the PS4-exclusive Until Dawn posted a top 10 spot by coming in at number seven. Not to be outdone, however, the Xbox One-exclusives Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Rare Replay also claimed top 10 positions.

Here's your software top 10 for August 2015:

1. Madden NFL 16 (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3)
2. Minecraft (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4)
3. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (Xbox One)
4. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, PC)
5. Lego: Jurassic World (360, 3DS, Wii U, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, Vita)
6. Rare Replay (Xbox One)
7. Until Dawn (PS4)
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Combo Pack (360, PS3)
9. Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, Xbox One)
10. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, PC)

August 2015 NPD: PlayStation 4 and Madden are the kings of summer [VentureBeat]

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But there's a catch

If you are a fan of the Nuketown maps in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series, then you'll be happy to hear that Treyarch is bringing the popular map to Black Ops 3. However, this time it's got an edgy name and you'll need to preorder the game to play it on day one (modern gaming, am I right?). As for its availability if you don't preorder, well, I guess you'll have to wait.

For Black Ops 3, Nuketown is being renamed with the edgy moniker of Nuk3town. You know, because Activision and Treyarch are hip to that l33t lingo everyone is using now.

Here are the details:

Set in the year 2065 and refreshed for a new generation of gameplay, Nuk3town integrates Black Ops III's new momentum-based chained-movement system, taking players into intense close-quarters action that they've come to expect. Fans that preorder the game will receive the Nuk3town downloadable bonus map as an in-box download code, available with launch units of Call of Duty: Black Ops III for PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC.

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DDoS attacks are bad

Remember when our beloved Sony and Microsoft servers were continually down last year because some idiots sitting behind their keyboards thought it'd be cool to cripple an entire population of gamers? Well, the authorities haven't forgotten and continue to be on the case.

Announced today, six teens in the U.K. were arrested as suspects in distributed denial of service attacks to online servers of gaming companies, e-retailers, a British newspaper and a school. According to the BBC, the six are alleged to have gotten help from the group Lizard Squad, who claimed responsibility for much of the madness we all had to endure.

The teens are accused of using Lizard Squad’s Lizard Stresser tool, which allowed users to pay to take websites offline.

We don't yet know what will happen to these kids, but let's hope it's severe enough to deter them and any other half-wits from doing the same thing in the future.

Remember folks, it's all fun and games until someone fucks with our gaming lifestyle. No matter how smart you think you might be, chances are you're still gonna get caught. So, please, don't do this kind of stupid shit.

U.K. Cops Arrest 6 Teens Linked to Sony, Microsoft Cyber-Attacks [Variety]

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Top ten continues to look samey

There weren't a ton of surprises this month for the July NPD report. Even though Splatoon players might be a little sad their beloved paint shooter is no longer in the top ten, you gotta admit, it had a good run with the big boys.

For yet another consecutive month, the PlayStation 4 led hardware sales. Lego: Jurassic World jumped up two spots to number one thanks to bundled versions of PS4s that included Batman: Arkham Knight -- which don't count as individual game sales for the all-important NPD.

The big takeaway here, though, is that the video game business as a whole is doing quite well. New hardware, software and accessories generated $541.9 million in July, according to NPD. That accounts for a 6 percent bump from the $513.3 million made during the same period last year.

Here's your software top 10 for July 2015:

1. Lego: Jurassic World (360, 3DS, PS3, Xbox One, Wii U, PS4, Vita)
2. Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
3. Minecraft (360, PS3 ,Xbox One, PS4)
4. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, PC)
5. Rory Mcilroy PGA Tour (PS4, Xbox One)
6. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
7. Destiny (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3)
8. Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One)
9. FIFA 15 (PS4, 360, Xbox One, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS)
10. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, PC)

July 2015 NPD: Lack of new games doesn’t hurt industry — or PlayStation 4 [VentureBeat]

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Too little too late for Wii U?

Even though the Wii U hasn't captured that coveted soccer mom demographic with its followup to the Wii, Nintendo isn't giving up. Like any good company, you have to know your audience and you have to cater to that audience -- literally.

It looks like Nintendo has finally grabbed the reigns and is looking to boost the Wii U's sluggish sales with a special appearance on Cake Wars on July 20 on the Food Network.

With Nintendo's colorful past and present, making quality Nintendo-themed cakes seems like a no brainer for this kind of show. What kind of cake would you make?

TUNE IN to @FoodNetwork on Mon., July 20 at 8/7c to see @NintendoAmerica take over #CakeWars! pic.twitter.com/doUsRckHpx

— Super Delicious (@Super_D3) July 16, 2015

[Via Twitter]

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Splatoon remains at number five

June's NPD numbers were rather ordinary and predictable. That is, nothing terribly shocking happened. The PlayStation 4 was still the top console and Batman: Arkham Knight led the way for software (with the PS4 version the biggest seller).

For the Nintendo and paint-loving faithful, Splatoon remained in the number five spot. However, unlike last month, it sits alone as the lone Nintendo-only game to crack the top 10. Worrying? Probably.

For MMO fans, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited sneaked its way into the top 10 thanks to its recent console debut. Not bad for a game that most thought would be dead on arrival -- especially in the crowded PC space.

Here's your software top 10 for June 2015:

1. Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
2. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
3. Lego: Jurassic World (360, Xbox One, PS4, PS3, 3DS, Wii U, Vita)
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
5. Splatoon (Wii U)
6. Minecraft (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4)
7. Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)
8. Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One)
9. NBA 2K15 (360, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, PC)
10. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)

June 2015 NPD: PlayStation 4 beats Xbox One as Batman tops the software chart [VentureBeat]

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Because fuck you, pay me

As we've gotten knee-deep in the digital sales revolution, many us constantly wonder why we'll often see digital game prices for major titles either stay the same or remain higher for a longer period of time compared to their physical counterpart.

While smart shoppers will always be able to find the deal they want, for those that just want the convenience of digital it can be frustrating. For example, I recently got Driveclub. GameStop was selling the game for $20 while the digital version on the PlayStation Store was still more than $50. Annoying, right? I had to actually leave my house and enter the living world. Not fun.

Well, some execs at Ubisoft decided to give their perspective on the situation. CEO Yves Guillemot had this to say:

Digital is more reactive than what we put in stores, but at the same time, it doesn't react as fast on consoles than it does on PC. What we can say is that when games are older than one year, digital is a lot more dynamic on console because there are less units in stores. It's a new business, a new trend, and we think all this will get more in line with time ...

If you look at the PC [post-release discount] trend, I think you will see that on consoles, but you will have to wait a little bit of time for that to happen with the same speed.

Ubisoft CFO Alain Martinez put it even more bluntly:

On digital we will not sell [a game] for a lower price compared to physical. After a few weeks or few months things can change ...

We are actually more aggressive on the PC side where digital is very, very strong. We tend to be more conservative on the digital side for more console and more flexible on PC.

Basically, just like all other companies, it's a "fuck you, pay me" attitude. God bless capitalism.

Ubisoft Explains Why Digital Games Stay More Expensive Than Physical [GameSpot]

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Killing with friends is so much better

In order to continue the hype-train coverage that is so much of the norm for today's AAA mega franchises (and probably lesser games too), this hot-off-the-presses marketing video for Call of Duty Black Ops III will take you on a 13-minute tour of the "cooperative campaign with the Cyber Core tutorial."

Sit back, relax, and let the sounds of war bathe you in a warming glow.

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Paint nearly as rare as amiibo

If you were planning on enjoying tomorrow's first North American Splatoon Splatfest, then you'll have to tame that excitement. Due to a "matchmaking issue" that "was discovered in the first Japanese Splatfest that resulted in long wait times," Nintendo has decided to postpone Saturday's online event.

As usual, Nintendo and their online capabilities continue to set the standard. Oh well, at least they're trying ... right?

No rescheduled date has been announced. Nintendo only said that they are "working on a solution but will need a little more time."

We have decided to postpone the first North American Splatfest. We’ll have details on a new date soon!

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 19, 2015

[Via Twitter]

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PS4 software sales dominate the bone

After just a month in the top spot, the Xbox One gave way to the PlayStation 4 for the month of May, according to the latest NPD numbers released. But the PS4 didn't just sell hardware, the system also outsold the Xbox One for nearly all software in the top 10.

The software side saw two very good debuts. While Witcher 3 went ahead and claimed top honors for its first month (which we kind of expected), Splatoon also sneaked into the top 10 at number five after just a few days of sales for the month of May. Not too shabby for a brand new IP on an under-performing console.

Here's your software top 10 for May 2015:

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
2. Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One)
3. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, PC)
4. Minecraft (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4)
5. Splatoon (Wii U)
6. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (PS4, 360, Xbox One, PS3, PC)
7. NBA 2K15 (360, PS4, Xbox One, PS3, PC)
8. FIFA 15 (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3, Wii , 3DS, Vita)
9. MLB 15: The Show (PS4, PS3)
10. Super Smash Bros. (3DS, Wii U)

May 2015 NPD: PlayStation 4 tops console sales as The Witcher III has strong debut [VentureBeat]

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And nothing will ever change

The 2K sports franchises used to have a stellar reputation. NFL 2K and NBA 2K long-served as safe havens from the inconsistency and frustration that EA's counterparts offered.

While NFL 2K was put aside due to licensing deals, NBA 2K has been left with basically no competition. With the top basketball spot securely in place, the series has devolved into a microtransaction and story-driven mess. Instead of focusing on its online servers and actual game play issues that plague the title year after year, 2K confirmed today that the concerns of the faithful will continue to be ignored.

As evidenced with its newly revealed cover -- emblazoned with "A SPIKE LEE JOINT" across the top and the prominence of the text "BE THE STORY" along the bottom -- it appears the developer is more concerned with what kind of story you're going to play in a sports game and continues to want to treat the actual sports part as an afterthought.

Speaking with USA Today, 2K spokesman Ryan Peters said Spike Lee shot about 90 minutes of "cinematic narrative." A narrative that generates about 12 hours of in-game drama. Drama. 12 hours. In a sports game where your main goal is to play sports.

For a game that dominates sales charts every year, it would be nice if 2K used its resources to actually improve the game and not cater to meaningless celebrity shit that makes no difference in how most players want to actually enjoy the game.

I don't know what it's going to take for 2K to stop this. To stop focusing so much on that which doesn't matter to its core fans. Because of EA's ineptitude at creating a proper NBA rival, gamers have no choice when it comes to playing virtual basketball with their favorite players and teams. As a famous princess once said: Help us, EA. You're our only hope.

Spike Lee directs NBA 2K16 video game [USA Today]

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Is it finally happening?

Whether it's just another broken promise or an additional carrot on the end of the PlayStation Plus stick, the developers of Driveclub have announced that come June 1 the servers for the game will be replaced and upgraded as they "prepare for the PlayStation Plus Edition."

We still don't know when this mysterious version will arrive, but it would be fairly smart and kind to drop the not-really-free edition during E3 next month. Too much to ask? Probably.

In the meantime, this "significant server upgrade" that will come along with update 1.16 promises to deliver "better challenges and improve server performance across the game."

Please note that once the update and servers go live, challenges and event history will start over. Evolution Studios said players can continue to play and create challenges, but "any events that are still active during the update will not continue on the new servers."

Here's the full breakdown of what's coming with update 1.16:

• Challenges will be expanded to support an unlimited number of participants.
• Challenge notifications will be integrated into the Social Hub activity feed for easy access.
• The Challenge Menu will have a new interface to make it easier to join Challenges.
• Evolution Studios Challenges will be added to the Challenge Menu for direct and easy access.
• Invitation options will be optimised to focus on active players and reduce challenge notification spam.
• More of our favourite ‪#‎PS4share‬ pictures created by the community will be added to the Menus.
• Significant technical improvements will be made to enhance server connectivity and prepare for the PlayStation Plus Edition.

[via Facebook]

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Where there's a will, there's a whale

Whether we like it or not, mobile gaming has become huge. And for a publisher like NCSOFT that has long been an exclusive MMO provider, the company is making the smart move of shifting some of those dying genre resources over to a platform that can offer huge rewards for very little effort.

The company announced today that they are putting an increased focus on their new NCSOFT West mobile studio in San Mateo, Calif. While NCSOFT has yet to divulge what kind of specific titles and types of games we should expect, it did say that it plans on working to "develop high quality, innovative titles that are both new IP and also leverage NCSOFT’s existing game portfolio."

It's probably safe to assume we'll see our fair share of puzzle quests and battle card titles. Please be excited.

The post NCSOFT ready to get some of that mobile money appeared first on Destructoid.

Still no price for the actual unit

While we're still waiting for a final price on the retail version of the Oculus Rift, the company's CEO Brendan Iribe said that users will need to pony up about $1,500 for both a computer that will run the device and the actual unit itself.

"We are looking at an all-in price, if you have to go out and actually need to buy a new computer and you’re going to buy the Rift … at most you should be in that $1,500 range,” Iribe said at a tech conference Wednesday.

For most already interested in Oculus Rift, this really shouldn't be a big deal. However, if the company is attempting to make virtual reality more mainstream, then this estimated cost could prove to be quite the barrier for the general masses. As with most new tech, prices will go down, so there is hope for us plebes.

Oculus Rift Total Package Price: Around $1,500 [Re/code]

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Why wasn't this available already?

Twitch is pretty much the king of streaming and today the king announced that videos on demand are now available via your mobile device of choice. Considering how long Twitch has been around and how popular it has become, it's kind of odd that it wasn't available before, but now it is, so there you go.

Here's some important info from Twitch regarding the update:

You will now be able to watch highlights and past broadcasts from all Twitch Partners and a growing number of broadcasters whose videos are HLS enabled.

Available VODs are found on a channel’s Activity Feed. There are two ways to get there:

• If you’re watching a live channel, tap the Activity Feed icon located on the player. For iOS this is on the top left of the player, and for Android it’s on the bottom left.
• If you’re on the Search page or Following directory, tapping any offline channel will also take you directly to the Activity Feed.

Keep in mind, due to some security concerns, Twitch said Android users will need to download and install the app again.

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Sorry day one suckers

For those that generally loathe the idea of DLC and season passes, Sony is offering quite the incentive to jump on the extra content train. Set to run until May 25, the Extended Play Sale is marking up to 80% off for what is essentially a huge listing of AAA titles on the PS4 and PS3. The Vita gets a little love, but the majority of the sale is focused on the big boys.

While some of the sale items are strictly season passes, you'll find that most of the discounted games are the full and now-complete versions. For the complete list, just click here.

Extended Play Sale: Huge Deals Through 5/25 [PlayStation Blog]

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Moms around the world rejoice

For a long time, simple games like Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts have been beloved freebies that always come along with your Windows OS experience. In order to keep up with the times, it appears Microsoft is looking to upgrade that stable roster of quality time-wasters with Candy Crush Saga.

According to Microsoft, "... Candy Crush Saga will automatically be installed for customers that upgrade to or download Windows 10 for periods of time following the game launch. It will even include cross-play options for your iOS and Android devices."

If you ever needed a reason to upgrade to Windows 10, then here if your mom-approved excuse.

Candy Crush Saga is Coming to Windows 10 [Xbox Wire]

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Mortal Kombat X tops all software

According to April's NPD numbers, the Xbox One proved it has some legs as it claimed the top spot for the month's console sales by knocking the PlayStation 4 down a notch. While Sony may be leading the console race overall and worldwide, the Xbox One needs a month like this to continue to stay relevant and build its base brick by brick.

Here is what Microsoft's marketing had to say via Mike Nichols, corporate vice president of Xbox Marketing:

Xbox One console sales in the U.S. increased 63 percent in April 2015 compared to April 2014 and Xbox Live comparisons showed the number of active global users (Xbox One and Xbox 360) grew 24 percent.

As for the software side of things, NPD reported that Mortal Kombat X led all game sales for April. Below is a breakdown of the month's top ten (note that Bloodborne was bounced and Dark Souls II snuck itself in):

1. Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One) 
2. Grand Theft Auto V (PS4, Xbox One, PC, 360, PS3)
3. Battlefield: Hardline (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)
4. MLB 15: The Show (PS4, PS3)
5. Minecraft (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4)
6. NBA 2K15 (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)
7. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Xbox One, PS4, 360, PS3, PC)
8. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PS4, Xbox One, 360, PS3)
9. Super Smash Bros. (3DS, Wii U)
10. Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (PS4, Xbox One)

April 2015 NPD: Xbox One outsells PS4; Mortal Kombat X tops software chart [VentureBeat]

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So when is Skate coming back?

After years in hibernation, the next full iteration in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series is finally upon us and unfortunately it's not sounding (or looking) good. After months of rumors and hints, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 will finally be a thing -- whether it's what you want or not.

Developed by Robomodo, this version of Tony Hawk looks to take the series in an interesting direction. While claiming to stick to its old-school roots, the game is adding power-ups and the ability to shoot projectiles. Yes, it truly is the skateboarding experience we all have come to know and love -- rolling down the street while flinging light orbs out of your hands.

As for multiplayer, there will be online co-op and competitive play.

The game is set to be released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year, while the old-gen versions will creep out sometime after that.

Tony Hawk Returns – Exclusive First Look [Game Informer]

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It's good to be the king

City and civilization games on consoles are a rare thing. I'm not exactly sure why that is, but my guess would be that traditionally, these games only enjoy their moderate success on PC.

Whether it be the limitations of consoles themselves or the unwillingness to bring this genre over for fear of a lack of audience, those barriers are slowly withering away. This is evident in Tropico 5, which recently released on the PlayStation 4.

Just as deep and rich an experience as any simulation on the PC, Tropico 5 scratches an itch that a lot of console loyalists have been afflicted with for some time.

Tropico 5 (Mac, PC, PlayStation 4 [reviewed], Xbox 360)
Developer: Kalypso Media
Publisher: Kalypso Media
Released: April 28, 2015 (PS4)
MSRP: $59.99

Tropico 5 is a learning experience. How you choose to learn is completely up to you. There is a mission and campaign mode that will certainly steer you in the right direction, but that didn't appeal to me and I suspect most will want to do more than that as well.

As a Civ junkie, I don't like to be limited with my creations -- in that, when a specific mission ends, so does your island. For me, sandbox mode is where I spent most of my time and where I would imagine most players will.

Sandbox is the true meat and substance within Tropico 5. Not only can you set your win conditions, but you can choose between multiple economic and political difficulty levels, starting era, the money initially available (unlimited is also an option) and the number of citizens that start on your island.

But probably even more critical to your island's success is the land itself. While you will have plenty of pre-made islands to choose from, there is also a map generator that offers endless combinations of whatever creation you want -- for example, you can choose between different sized-islands and the amount of resources available.

Even if you skip much of the campaign, you will still be able to learn as you go. Within the game itself is a sort of quest function where specific tasks will need to be completed. Whether it be to build a library or extra military buildings, the game does an excellent job of teaching while doing.

For someone like me who hates to read directions or endless strategy guides (preferring to figure stuff out on my own), this is a perfect implementation.

But it's not just the quests that will guide you. The detailed faction and happiness statistics will help you be the leader you want to be. There are various factions all vying for greatness and it's your job as leader to finely balance what you want for your island and what your people actually want and need.

To help you lead, there is a dynasty system where you can name and set specific management roles to created characters that will give bonuses to buildings based on their specific abilities -- there are generic managers, but you can't level those up like you can dynasty members.

For example, you can have a celebrity manager that is best suited for hotels or you can have a magnate who works well with oil and mining buildings.

These dynasty members are part of El Presidente's extended family and can benefit you greatly within the game. Ignoring them or their abilities will only make your leadership that much more challenging.

Of course, it's not just your island you have to worry about. Tropico 5 is also a nation builder. Within it, you'll have to juggle the trade of exports and imports and appeasing the Russians while at the same time not pissing off the Americans. As time moves on from the Colonial Era to the Modern Era, you will have even more nations and scenarios to deal with.

There are many situations in your virtual island experience that feel like they mirror how a real nation and leader needs to function. Tropico 5 is a constant balancing act and a game filled with trial and error.

You should be warned, if you find yourself to be a Civ addict, then you will quickly find that Tropico 5 offers the same kind of grab. Hours melt away. As you complete one task, something else comes up that you feel drastically needs your attention. The amount of management, while it can seem overwhelming, is really the draw and appeal of the game.

There is a multiplayer component, but really, unless you want to build an island with a friend or desperately want to compete against others, you probably aren't going to bother. It works, so that's all most players can really ask for when it comes to multiplayer within nation builders.

The game is not without its minor faults or seemingly-impossible challenges.

While I do keep the pace of time in its most forward position, it never felt like I could appease or completely stop rebel attacks or uprisings. These occur when citizens are unhappy or you have specific constitution options active, but no matter what, I found myself dealing with this constant nuisance.

Also, there were occasional save issues. In fairness, I played the majority of my time with Spotify running in the background, so whether or not that sometimes caused games not to be saved, I don't know. It doesn't happen often, but it can be devastating if you're not paying attention and haven't saved in a while.

Even though there were no real issues with the controls themselves, perfectly placing roads can take some getting used to, but it doesn't strongly detract from the game.

While Tropico 5 isn't the game-of-the-year masterpiece of a generation, it's a more-than serviceable sim and strategy title that can satisfy a grossly under-served genre within the console community. If you love SimCity and Civilization and are dying for something similar on your PS4, then there really is no reason not to have and enjoy this game to its fullest extent.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Jay Leno says hi

The upcoming racing sim Project CARS has been on the radar for many of those who live and breathe the genre. Slated for release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on May 8, here is the full car list that we know about so far (65 of which will come with the standard edition).

Standard edition

• Alpine A450
• Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged
• Ariel Atom 500 V8
• Aston Martin Rapide S Hydrogen Hybrid
• Aston Martin Vantage GT3
• Aston Martin Vantage GT4
• Audi R18 TDI LMP1
• Audi R8 LMS Ultra
• Audi R8 V10 Plus
• BAC Mono
• BMW 1 M CoupÈ (E82)
• BMW 320 Turbo Gr.5 (E21)
• BMW M3 Gr.A (E30)
• BMW M3 GT (E92)
• BMW M3 GT4 (E92)
• BMW Z4 GT3
• Caper Monterey Stockcar
• Caterham Seven Classic
• Caterham Superlight R500
• Caterham SP/300R
• Ford Capri Zakspeed Gr.5
• Ford Escort RS1600
• Ford Focus RS
• Ford Mustang Boss 302R1
• Ford Mustang Cobra SCCA TransAm
• Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth Gr.A
• Formula Gulf 1000
• Ginetta G40 Junior
• Ginetta G55 GT3
• Ginetta G55 GT4
• Gumpert Apollo S
• Lotus 49 Cosworth
• Lotus 72D Cosworth
• Lotus 78 Cosworth
• Lotus 98T Renault
• Marek RP219D LMP2
• Marek RP339h (PM 06a) LMP1
• McLaren 12C
• McLaren 12C GT3
• McLaren P1
• Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 DTM
• Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.8 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
• Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ400
• Oreca 03 Nissan
• Pagani Huayra
• Pagani Zonda R
• Palmer Jaguar JP-LM
• Radical SR3 RS
• Radical SR8 RX
• Renault Clio Cup
• Renault MÈgane R.S. 265
• Ruf CTR3
• Ruf RGT-8
• Ruf RGT-8 GT3
• RWD P20 LMP2
• RWD P30 LMP1
• SMS Formula A
• SMS Formula B
• SMS Formula C
• SMS Formula Rookie
• SMS Kart 125cc (Kart01)
• SMS Superkart 250cc (Kart02)

Limited edition car pack

• Sauber C9 Mercedes
• Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe DTM
• McLaren F1
• Ford Mk. IV
• BMW M1 Procar (E26/1)

Modified car pack

• Ariel Atom Mugen
• Ruf CTR3 SMS-R
• Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster

Free car (there will be a free car each month)

• W Motors Lykan HyperSport

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Closed beta extended through weekend, ends May 3

If you haven't heard about Rocket League yet for the PlayStation 4, then let me sum it up for you in just three words: soccer with cars. The game is the sequel to the PlayStation 3's Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle Cars and it's just as you would expect, addictive and fun as hell.

Right now, there is a closed beta going on, but it has been extended until 10 p.m. Pacific on May 3. If you haven't signed up yet, you can do it right here: closed beta sign up.

While the beta, as of now, only supports up to 3v3 matches, the full game will go up to 4v4 and support up to four-player splitscreen. Oh yeah, you read that right, four-player local splitscreen. 

If you still need convincing that this game is worthy of your time, then check out this fantastic little montage:

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Multiplayer impressions coming soon

I'm a sucker for city-building and Civ-like games. Since the very early days of SimCity and SimTower, I've poured countless hours into building my virtual communities and empires. With Tropico 5 now ported over to the PlayStation 4, that sim addiction is even more accessible.

The game is challenging and surprisingly deep for a console game of this nature. For those who played Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution on the PlayStation 3, you know first-hand how a traditional PC port can be significantly gutted for its console brethren.

With Tropico 5 on the PS4, you can get just as deep an experience as you would want on PC. While it could use some tweaks to its balance and resource management (for example, the power plants and the related power needs of various buildings), the game isn't without its challenges and willingness to teach you the hard way how to properly rule an island empire.

Best of all, there is a sandbox mode where you can really experiment. Among other things, you can adjust your difficulty settings and win requirements. The UI is well-suited for the console. The placement of roads can be tricky, but once you start playing more, you become accustomed to their occasional stubbornness to not go perfectly straight when you want them to.

Because the game comes out Tuesday, I was not able to test out multiplayer, but that is a huge feature. I'll be getting you those impressions in the coming days for the full review. But for what it is, Tropico 5 on the PS4 is a sim-lover's dream that appears to be worth it for console owners looking for a serviceable empire-building game.

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Multiplayer campaign and more

Whatever you think you know about the Call of Duty franchise is about to change. As a series that is often criticized for offering more of the same, Black Ops developer Treyarch has made every attempt to alter that mindset with its most ambitious project to date, Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

Last week, I visited with the developer at its Santa Monica headquarters as it unveiled a game that has been in development for three years, but has been a lifetime in the making.

Coming out of a successful Black Ops II, Treyarch was granted a rare, generous three-year development cycle by Activision. For most established franchises of this nature, it's almost unheard of. But that opportunity was the catalyst for what Black Ops III is trying to do.

Treyarch has been able to completely scrap and rebuild what we have come to expect and want out of Call of Duty. It is attempting to give the most varied and in-depth experience to date. It's ambitious. It's bold. And as Treyarch puts it, it's all about risk versus reward, a theme that permeates every facet of Black Ops III.

Single player is no longer for singles

As Call of Duty continues to march into the modern era of gaming, Black Ops III will introduce the option of online co-op in its single player campaign. The main campaign will now support up to four players working together. Jason Blundell, campaign director and senior executive producer, said it will redefine how Call of Duty is played.

Set in the near-future, Black Ops III is all about bio augmentation and robotics. Something that will not only affect your single-player experience, but also multiplayer (but we'll get more into that later). Giving players the choice between male and female characters, the campaign will put you in the role of an enhanced cybernetic Black Ops soldier. 

The intensity and theme of the game were on full display as Treyarch showed us one of the levels of the campaign, called Cairo. At first, it seemed like one of your standard Call of Duty experiences. But as the level progressed, the world awoke and the retooled battlefield was on full display.

With the main fighting occurring in an open space, the ambition of Black Ops III was immediately apparent. There was an amazing scope to the level and the action within it. The world felt very alive and tangible with action happening in just about every space within the player's view. Planes flying overhead, bullets whizzing by, robots. It was hectic.

New devastating weapons, such as a spike launcher, were unveiled. Rolling balls of spikes looking to impale unsuspecting victims littered the battlefield. The reliance and added value of your co-op partners certainly played a part in a level where a new emergent AI was able to make intelligent decisions based on what your team was doing. According to Treyarch, the AI was a focus during development. The team added a new animation set and claim that the goal-oriented AI can now communicate and organize itself -- which is key with the variety of options that the campaign now offers with the availability of co-op.

Blundell stressed some key points Treyarch is trying to drive home with Black Ops III's campaign. Buzzwords such as cinematic intensity, epic action, a gritty narrative, and replayability are what the single-player experience is trying to be.

Customization is key

Allowing players to express themselves in a unique way has been a staple of the franchise for a number of years now. Treyarch is looking to build upon this by allowing players not only more set-up options, but a player experience system within the single-player that will allow extensive upgrades not only to your character and his or her abilities, but also to the weapons themselves.

Cyber Cores and Cyber Rigs are cybernetic modifications that will allow added layers of player customization. Cyber Cores will let players do things from remote hacking to controlling drones to chaining melee strikes, while Cyber Rigs are passive upgrades that allow advanced movement and defensive capabilities.

With the addition of the Safe House, customization and socialization options will be available. This is the area players will go between levels. The Safe House will have your own customizable bunk and provide access to a wiki with information related to the game. There will be collectibles and opportunities to purchase tokens, which can be used in your upgrades.

PC will not be ignored

Treyarch studio head and president Mark Lamia said a greater emphasis was placed on the PC version of Black Ops III. While not getting into a great amount of detail (such as anything server-related), Lamia said Treyarch worked closely with hardware companies to bring a high-end experience for those who have upper-tier machines and have adopted 4K. 

While catering to the high-end crowd, Lamia also said the team put a great deal of effort into optimization. The current recommended specs are as follows (but they are subject to change):

• Operating System: Windows 7 64-Bit / Windows 8 64-Bit / Windows 8.1 64-Bit
• Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-530 @ 2.93 GHz / AMD Phenom™ II X4 810 @ 2.60 GHz
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 470 @ 1GB / ATI® Radeon™ HD 6970 @ 1GB
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

But what about Zombies?

Treyarch remained silent on what exactly Black Ops III will offer for its fan-favorite zombie mode. What we were told, however, is that it will have its own player progression system, distinct storyline, more depth and will include all kinds of "mind-fuckery," as Lamia put it.

As with the main game and multiplayer, the social aspects of Black Ops III are set to play a key role in zombies as well.

Who cares about single player, tell me about multiplayer

Even with the inclusion of online four-player co-op, there still will be a faction of Call of Duty fans who only care about one thing: multiplayer. I got my hands on multiplayer, which is covered in-depth in a separate article, but I want to tell you what you should expect.

As mentioned, Black Ops III has its focus on risk versus reward. Nowhere is this more apparent than with multiplayer and the complete reworking of not only gun-play, but movement as well. To do this, the team changed some of the rules. For instance, players will now be able to shoot while doing all movements in the game -- this includes everything from jumping to wall running (yes, wall running) to climbing over ledges and, for the first time, swimming.

While still remaining true to three-lane map design philosophy with no buildings above two stories, the team has also added new movement abilities such as thrust jumping and power sliding, and as mentioned, wall running and swimming. Oh, and did I mention you can sprint for as long as you want? Treyarch said it wants to allow players to have full combat control with no pause in the action. 

While players won't be limited with their sprint, there will be limitations to the power slide and wall run. They aren't significant limitations, but they are present. These changes are immediately noticeable with the varied results that thrust jump, wall running, and the power slide provide. There is a fluidity now to the action.

While it seems overwhelming at first glance, the general simplicity and ease of use associated with Call of Duty is still in place. Dan Bunting, game director, said the philosophy is guns up, not down. They want omni-directional movement options in what he says will, "feel like a BLOPS II evolution." In all, it's about endless momentum and making the gameplay faster and more engaging.

This is my rifle

Through the Gunsmith menu, players will be presented with what is being billed as a whole new level of weapon customization. Here, players will be able to name their weapons, preview attachments on actual in-game models and of course, access a paint job option that will allow for near-limitless personalization. You will be able to equip up to five attachments and an optic.

The emblem creator is back in a new way, this time called Paintshop. Not only will the images that players create be more visible on their weapon of choice, but they will now have access to 64 layers for three paintable sides.

There are also material options such as carbon fiber and the ability to design gun camo.

Looking for someone special

Another significant shift within Black Ops III's multiplayer is the usage of what are being called Specialists. There will be nine total, but we were only shown four.  Each Specialist is essentially an archetype the player will choose from and develop over time. They have their own unique abilities and power weapons to choose from -- and of course their own look, personality and voice. The goal, Treyarch said, is to give every player the opportunity to become powerful within the game. 

If you were one of those people who have come to despise Call of Duty because of excessive and overpowered killstreaks or scorestreaks, Treyarch is attempting to balance the playing field with the inclusion of Specialists and their unique weapons and abilities. While the best players will still have advantages, the goal is to now let everyone get involved, not just the top tier. The first Specialist we were shown goes by the name Ruin (real name Donnie Walsh). This is a rusher/bruiser character that uses Gravity Spikes as his power weapon. He's pretty much the Titan from Destiny. Once the Gravity Spikes are used, an area-of-effect blast deals damage and eliminates all enemies within the vicinity. It's devastating, but must be timed and used smartly for best results.

Players will have to choose between Specialists' unique power weapon or ability. Ruin's ability, Overdrive, provides a burst of speed, making for a character that will thrive in Capture the Flag. The second specialist presented was Seraph (real name Zhen Zhen). She sports a hand cannon called the Annihilator that deals a single shot capable of taking out multiple enemies if lined up perfectly. Her ability, Combat Focus, will trigger a bonus multiplier to your score that will go toward your scorestreak for a short period of time.

The third specialist, and probably my favorite so far, is Outrider (real name Alessandra Castillo). She comes with the Sparrow, a compound bow that will explode enemies after sticking to them. But this isn't why I liked her. I always suck with bows in games, so the real draw of Outrider for me was her ability, Vision Pulse. The ability will ping the surrounding area and tag the location of all enemies within range. With it, you will essentially be able to see enemies through walls for a short amount of time. Perfect for campers, such as myself.

The fourth, Reaper (real name Experimental War Robot), is a combat robot with an arm that can transform into a minigun, called the Scythe. While it does take time to spin up, the results of it in action can be devastating. Reaper's ability is called Glitch. With it, Reaper can relocate about three seconds into the past to a previous position.

The Specialist power weapons and abilities are only available after a certain time or score threshold has been met. Charging over time, the refill rate is directly affected by your participation within the game. However, even if you sit and do nothing, you still will have at least one opportunity to use either option.  As with everything else in Black Ops III, the power weapon and ability are a choice. You can't have both. Depending on your play style, you will quickly find which is more effective for you. Just like your load outs, all of these options will be available pre-match.

To wrap it all up

The goal for Treyarch is to make the "deepest and richest Call of Duty ever," Lamia said. 

He said the intention is to make it easier for players to find each other, not just in multiplayer, but single player and zombies as well. While he wasn't willing to go into specifics, he said he wants players to be aware of what others are playing and allow them to do whatever they want to do at any time. Lamia asserted that the social aspect of Black Ops III is what will distinguish it from others.

Near the end of the presentation, Lamia revealed a couple of special opportunities for players to get their hands on the game and see for themselves how it plays. At this year's E3, Lamia said fans will have the chance to actually play multiplayer. But even if you aren't able to attend E3, those who pre-order the game will have access to the game's beta.

Black Ops III will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Overall, the promise for Black Ops III is there. This is a series that has extremely high expectations. It's obviously too early to say whether or not Black Ops III will come close to meeting those, but the foundation is there. The blueprint and makings of a great and varied experience that breaks the mold is evident. 

For now, all we can do is wait. 

The post What we know about Call of Duty: Black Ops III appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox One version currently $8

For those rare Xbox One owners that still haven't experienced Titanfall, Best Buy is running a sale that certainly limits your excuses for not owning the game.

As of now, the game is available for only $7.99. Seems like a good value to me, but I suppose if you hate fun, then it isn't.

Titanfall [Best Buy]

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Just look at him, so cute

For those that have lost faith that a proper Sonic game will ever come out again, please feel comforted in the fact that with videos like these, there is always hope. Honestly, wouldn't you rather play a game that looks like this than the horrors of Sonic Boom?

[Image]

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What a time to be alive

The Chinese can take gaming very seriously. So seriously in fact that they have created an entire industry revolved around keeping lonely gamers happy while grinding away in their virtual wastelands.

While in places like America we are relegated to finding our "escorts" on Craigslist and risk a plethora of potential problems, the Chinese have simplified things and made it so their escorts are virtual and best of all, helpful.

Not helpful in the sense that you have new STDs to categorize, but helpful in that the available online female escorts will not only enhance your virtual social life, but they'll also help guide you along the way (you can even do face to face chat if you're feeling daring).

The services the girls provide can range between $3 to $16 an hour. Much cheaper than your standard real-world hooker, I mean escort. Kidding aside, not only is this a great service for those stuck in the depths of online loneliness, but it also is a nice bit of scratch for the girls themselves. The female online escorts can pull in anywhere from $485 to $1,300 a month doing this.

So how long until America jumps on this trend? Any ladies want to help me slug through Bloodborne?

Female escorts for online gamers in vogue in China [Want China Times]

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