1.92GB Xbox 360 Battlefield 3 multiplayer patch live

March 13th, 2013, 01:47 Posted By: wraggster

A Schwarzenegger-sized Battlefield 3 multiplayer patch - 1.92GB - has appeared on Xbox Live.Multiplayer Update 6 "contains improvements to the multiplayer portions of the game", the Xbox.com blurb reads. "We strongly advise you download it."The patch arrives on the same day as End Game, Battlefield 3's fantastic new dirt bike-featuring DLC. (It's out for BF3 Premium members on PC and 360, just to be clear.)I wouldn't be surprised if the patch contained the bulk of the End Game content, and that the 1200 Microsoft Point DLC itself was a key to unlock it with. (Apparently all previous Xbox 360 Battlefield 3 patches contain the DLC.)It's a bit cheeky but it shouldn't matter too much because End Game is well worth your while. Our Dan Whitehead just planted a sloppy 9/10 kiss on End Game's lips, calling it, among other things, "fun"!How better to sum it up than with this incredible video of an End Game player zooming across the map on a dirt bike, launching into the air, swivelling quickly to loose a rocket at a nearby helicopter, landing and then reaping the just rewards.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...yer-patch-live

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DLC helps Skyrim soar at retail

March 12th, 2013, 23:22 Posted By: wraggster

It’s over a year old, but Bethesda says it’s still not done with Skyrim at retail.
Far from being just a hit at launch, the RPG has been a mainstay in the Top 20 since November 2011.
The company has been using the High Street to help push the game’s DLC (Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn) on Xbox 360, which it says has helped maintain Skyrim’s longevity. And European MD Sean Brennan says the DLC will be available on shelves for PC and PS3, too.
“We’ve already brought Dragonborn on PC to retail and we’re looking into Dawnguard,” he told MCV. “Skyrim fans will also be able to purchase all PS3 add-ons in-store throughout the next few weeks.”
Bethesda has also been raising awareness of Skyrim and its DLC with Twitter and Facebook activity.
“We plan to continue promoting the game throughout the rest of the year through all our social channels, and through special initiatives at retail – both digital and brick-and-mortar,” Brennan said.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/dlc-h...retail/0112273

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Microsoft shares Kinect source code

March 12th, 2013, 14:47 Posted By: wraggster

Source code initially offers face tracking, depth of field and more

Microsoft has shared the source code for some elements of the PC version of Kinect, its motion control hardware.
Until now, developer and hobbyist’s wanting to use Kinect had to work from an official software toolkit that covered the underlying code.

The software maker has posted 22 code samples used in Kinect for Windows to CodePlex.
The Kinect for Windows sample code is available in C#, C++ and Visual Basic. Some of elements it offers include colour basics, face tracking, depth of field, skeleton basics and audio capture.
Developers who wish to use the software will need to download Visual Studio, .NET and the Kinect for Windows SDK before getting started.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...ct-source-code

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Microtransactions for ‘Customization Items’ Come to Black Ops 2 on Xbox 360

March 12th, 2013, 14:40 Posted By: wraggster

Beginning Wednesday, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will begin offering "personal customizations" on the Xbox 360, the game's community manager said this morning. The items don't affect gameplay—they're items like weapon skins, targeting reticles, and player calling cards. Moreover, the multiplayer mapNuketown 2025, originally a preorder incentive back in November, will be made available for free.
"This content contains either personal customizations or nice little luxuries that I've seen players request," Amrich wrote on his official site. "None of them affect gameplay, but they are small, specific ways to enhance your online experience."
The content comes in themed packs for 160 Microsoft Points each, and will contain a weapon camo, three targeting reticles, and a Calling Card.
Additionally, Nuketown 2025 goes free for everyone on Wednesday, and Nuketown Zombies now comes as a standalone purchase for 400 Microsoft points. (It had originally been included with limited editions of the game.).
Players may also purchase 10 more create-a-class slots for 160 Microsoft points, and Flags of the World Calling Cards. They're grouped by region and available for 80 Microsoft points per pack.
"At the end of the day, all of these items are completely optional, and were created for players who've asked for more customization options," Amrich wrote. "If that's not you, that's fine; everybody gets Nuketown 2025 for free, so definitely take advantage of that."
More information will be available on the official Call of Duty website tomorrow, Amrich said.

http://kotaku.com/5990098/microtrans...-2-on-xbox-360

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'Hacking the Xbox' book released as free PDF

March 12th, 2013, 13:44 Posted By: wraggster

An open letter from bunnie, author of Hacking the Xbox:

Dear Reader,

No Starch Press and I have decided to release this free ebook version of Hacking the Xbox in honor of Aaron Swartz. As you read this book, I hope that you’ll be reminded of how important freedom is to the hacking community and that you’ll be inclined to support the causes that Aaron believed in.

I agreed to release this book for free in part because Aaron’s treatment by MIT is not unfamiliar to me. In this book, you will find the story of when I was an MIT graduate student, extracting security keys from the original Microsoft Xbox. You’ll also read about the crushing disappointment of receiving a letter from MIT legal repudiating any association with my work, effectively leaving me on my own to face Microsoft.

The difference was that the faculty of my lab, the AI laboratory, were outraged by this treatment. They openly defied MIT legal and vowed to publish my work as an official “AI Lab Memo,” thereby granting me greater negotiating leverage with Microsoft. Microsoft, mindful of the potential backlash from the court of public opinion over suing a legitimate academic researcher, came to a civil understanding with me over the issue.

It saddens me that America’s so-called government for the people, by the people, and of the people has less compassion and enlightenment toward their fellow man than a corporation. Having been a party to subsequent legal bullying by other entities, I am all too familiar with how ugly and gut-wrenching a high-stakes lawsuit can be. Fortunately, the stakes in my cases were not as high, nor were my adversaries as formidable as Aaron’s, or I too might have succumbed to hopelessness and fear. A few years ago, I started rebuilding my life overseas, and I find a quantum of solace in the thought that my residence abroad makes it a little more difficult to be served.

While the US legal system strives for justice, the rules of the system create an asymmetric war that favors those with resources. By and far one of the most effective methods to force a conclusion, right or wrong, against a small player is to simply bleed them of resources and the will to fight through pre-trial antics. Your entire life feels like it is under an electron microscope, with every tiny blemish magnified into a pitched battle of motions, countermotions, discovery, subpoenas, and affidavits, and each action heaping tens of thousands of dollars onto your legal bill. Your friends, co-workers, employers, and family are drawn into this circus of humiliation as witnesses. Worse, you’re counseled not to speak candidly to anyone, lest they be summoned as a witness against you. Isolated and afraid, it eventually makes more sense to roll over and settle than to take the risk of losing on a technicality versus a better-funded adversary, regardless of the justice.

The US government is far and away the best-funded and fearsome enemy in the world, and copyright law has some unusually large, if not cruel, penalties associated with it. I never knew Aaron, but I feel that the magnitude of the bullying he was subjected to is reflected in his decision to end his life.

I echo Larry Lessig’s notion that the US legal system needs a sense of shame. To an outsider like me, it seems that certain prosecutors in the US government are obsessed with making a name for themselves at the expenses of the individuals they pursue. Winning cases gains them the recognition and credibility needed for promotions and assignments to ever higher profile cases. For them, it’s not about justice—it’s about victory and self-aggrandizement.

This system of incentives contributes to the shameless bullying of individuals and small entities who have the guts to stand up and do something daring. Individuals are robbed of the will and strength to fight for what they feel is right, as the mere act of prosecution can be as much a punishment as the verdict. As a result, I fear that the era of civil disobedience may be coming to a close.

As people, as individuals, as hackers, we need to oppose this trend and continue to do what we feel deep down in our hearts is right. While Aaron's story came to a tragic end, I hope that in this book you will find an encouraging story with a happy ending. Without the right to tinker and explore, we risk becoming enslaved by technology; and the more we exercise the right to hack, the harder it will be to take that right away.

bunnie
Singapore, March 2013

Download Link:

- HackingTheXbox_Free.pdf

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Star Wars 'Battlefront 3 predecessor' leaked in screenshots

March 12th, 2013, 00:20 Posted By: wraggster

Star Wars: First Assault, the unannounced action game leaked via Xbox.com last year, is a "predecessor" to Battlefront III, a report claims.

The LucasArts downloadable FPS was originally slated for release this spring, claims a

Kotaku

source, and pits teams of eight Stormtroopers against eight rebels in iconic Star Wars locations such as Bespin and Tatooine.The Unreal Engine-powered title was being treated as "step zero" to a full Battlefront III instalment, it's claimed, with LucasArts said to have vehicle prototypes up and running in the event that First Assault were to sell strongly.However, the title - like Star Wars 1313 - is said to have been affected by the recent Disney buyout of Lucasfilm, Kotaku reports.Since September LucasArts employees are said to have been working on the game "with no knowledge as to whether or not it will actually come out."Originally it had planned to launch a closed beta by the end of September, it's said, with a full release this spring.

If fans want to see the game released, the report adds, Star Wars fans should offer their vocal support for the project online."Fans should tell Disney/Lucas loud and clear they don't want shitty titles from random developers; they want games to be taken seriously, and they will only pay for quality," the source said."I believe that if Disney/Lucas lets LucasArts die, it means the death of Star Wars as a storied game franchise is right behind it."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...n-screenshots/

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Free Xbox 360 game Happy Wars scores 2m players

March 11th, 2013, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster

Xbox Live’s first free-to-play title Happy Wars has amassed over 2m players worldwide since launch.
Developer Toylogic announced the figure as it rolls out a new content update designed to secure even more players.
“I’m so excited that more than two million people love Happy Wars. I hope all of our players enjoy this update,” said Happy Wars game director Yoichi Take.
“We always continue to make improvements on improvement to have millions Happy Wars fans be happy. We’d like to continue to deliver additional updates in the future.”
Happy Wars debuted in October as Xbox Live’s first microtransaction-based title. The game costs nothing to play, though players can purchase “Happy Tickets” with real money to upgrade the equipment and appearance of characters.
An Xbox Live Gold subscription is required to play.
More free-to-play titles are launching on consoles this year, while the free-to-play business model is already a possibility on Sony's next machine, and probably Microsoft's next Xbox, too.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/free-...layers/0112202

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BioShock Infinite will be 'talked about for a long time to come', says 2K

March 11th, 2013, 22:31 Posted By: wraggster

2K Games proudly claims that BioShock Infinite will live long in the memory of gamers and the industry.
The publisher has faith in the quality of its new shooter and it’s backing the title with a monster marketing campaign.
“BioShock Infinite is like no other shooter out there,” Simon Turner, UK marketing boss at 2K Games told MCV.
“Not only does it demonstrate the technical quality that gamers expect, but the story and characters invite you into a world so rich and immersive that people will be talking about it for a long time to come.”
2K has sponsored the new series of Spartacus on Sky 1 with BioShock Infinite, and it has booked a month-long campaign through lifestyle channels.
TV spots will also appear during Champions League matches and the World Cup qualifier between England and Montenegro on March 26th.
There will also be a broad mobile campaign directing fans to a BioShock microsite. By the March 26th launch, there will be billboards around the London Underground, print ads in specialist magazines and an insert in Shortlist.
2K has already promoted Infinite with a talkSPORT and cinema campaign, with ads around The Hobbit and Jack Reacher.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/biosh...ays-2k/0112207

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Squirt Programmer V2 coming soon

March 11th, 2013, 10:44 Posted By: wraggster

After a long silence for several months, the team behind the leak Squirt or RGH hack v2.0 comes with a new product, Squirt Programmer v2.

The team is pleased to present the SQUIRT PROGRAMMER V2. This new version adds a simple but very useful 8BIT 3.7V to 1.8V transformer. This simple micro-controller opens the doors to Squirt to connect to its port FTDI n ' matter what devices. 's release date has been announced for end of March 2013 for only 5 € more. With this new version, the chip can connect to the bus POST Xbox360 for debugging and optimizing the RGH (as CR3Pro). AuttoGG by through blakcat will soon have to support this feature. It is also possible to connect to any devices that have a communication port 8 BIT. Squirt The program is now one of the cheapest and most complete " bridges "USB. Anyone can develop its own application and communicate in many different ways from a PC to a device. 's team will post more information to developers soon. thank-green for the information. official website: 360squirt.com

http://x360.gx-mod.com/modules/news/...p?storyid=4159

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J-Runner Core Pack 0.2.288

March 11th, 2013, 10:43 Posted By: wraggster

Team Xecuter updates its application rgh / jtag while one called J-Runner which allows you to create / read / write nand xbox 360 from Xebuild.

New / fixed: - Added XSVF files for conversion to RGX DGX - Adding files ECC Tx to retrieve the key on the CPU than 14,719 Dashboards - Removed options DGX now flashed the ECC is based on Nand loaded / selected - Added option to write Nand no good if ECC is loaded - Ability to write files LPT XSVF x128 - Checking when using JR-Programmer to prevent the flash with CR3Pro XSVF one example - Trinity moved RGH2 Button - Fixed a bug to create an image without nanddump.bin - Fixed a bug on custom orders XeBuild J-Runner Core Pack 0.2.288 Official website: Team-Xecuter. com

http://x360.gx-mod.com/modules/news/...p?storyid=4158

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F3 Rev 735, LiNK Beta 3 including WebUI

March 11th, 2013, 01:06 Posted By: wraggster

TeamFSD has made some awesome additions to F3 teamFSD_zpsb19c1170.jpg Quote: Today we are releasing F3 Rev735, LiNK Beta 3 including WebUI.
Here are just a few of the new features.
**** Freestlye 3 Beta Rev 735 – Released March 5th, 2013 ****
**** Thanks go out to our dedicated beta testers and the community!
**** Quick Change Info: Streamlined Plugin for less overhead
**** Quick Change Info: Notes in WebUI
**** Quick Change Info: In game Screenshots
**** Quick Change Info: Better user Management
**** Quick Change Info: Now scan and launch NxE Containers
**** Quick Change Info: Can create rooms in HUD
**** Quick Change Info: RSS Feed in HUD.
**** Enjoy!
NOTE: If your link isn't working check the settings there were some database changes and may have defaulted your link settings to disabled.
NOTE: If your plugin won't load properly it could be a conflict when updating. Try deleteing the plugin turning your xbox off and turning it back on then updating the plugin again
NOTE: BE Sure to Cold Boot or Unload and Reload plugin after update.
NOTE: Be Sure to update your kernel, users with dashboard versions lower then 15xxx will have issues with plugin
Full Change Log:
******** F3.0.735 *********
[Fixed] Fixed TU Pause on startup.
(Added) live.json and assets to show in WebUI
(Added) paramters on WebUI for local testing
(Added) support for custom genres on WebUI
(Fixed) invalid access crash in http server for incorrect arguments
[ Fixed ] TU Issue with it deleteing tus when it shouldn't
[ Updated ] New and improved link web. To many updates to list.
(Fixed) DashLaunchInfo boolean was switched in plugin
(Changed) DashLaunchInfo settings enumerator in plugin
(Added) DashLaunchInfo in WebUI (ticket:7)
(Fixed) Invaliud urls in notes will no longer link, check with regex
(Fixed) Load screencaptures properly (ticket:91 & ticket:76)
(Fixed) Show error when screencapture not loaded (ticket:80)
(Added) Note is added without clicking a position first (ticket:72 & ticket:78)
[ Fixed ] Not downloading XML Files.
[ Added ] A sound when launching From Details Screen.
(Fixed) Incorrect date format in notes (ticket:77)
(Fixed) Disable screenshot hotkey on fancybox popup (ticket:71)
(Added) Placeholder text on notes fields (not in IE) (ticket:74)
(Added) Set notes author to first signed in gamertag (ticket…
[ Added ] Enable Kinect Option.
[ Update ] We don't scan any DLC except for Indie Games. Regardless of path.
[ Fixed ] Typo in Loading Engine
[ Fixed ] Unable to go up to APIKey from Search button for weather.
[ Fixed ] Title Text changes when you change favorites
(Added) titleID Override to WebUI ScreenCapture API (Fixed) START + BACK screenshot triggers opening keyboard twice
(Added) Notes beta 1 (ticket:6 & ticket:4)
(Added) JQE username and API key to system tab
(Changed) Switched all paths from forward to backward slash (ticket:13)
(Added) Total upload / download LiNK (ticket:43)
(Fixed) Incorrect tab highlig…
[ Fixed ] Doesn't copy empty folders
[ Fixed ] no Title in non coverflow views
[ Fixed] Focus bug in Plugin settings
[ Update ] Disable Activator and Trigger Buttons when screenshot commands are disabled
[ Changed ] Default buttons for Screenshot
(Fixed) Screenshot Set Buttons
[ Added ] User must add their own APIKey
[ Added ] Settings added for Screenshot trigger
(Added) upstream/downstream totals to getSystemLinkBandwidth response
(Updated) /getScreenCaptures to return an json array [ ... ]
[ Fixed ] OnBoardMU for corona and trinity not getting serial number
(Removed) Kai menu and plugins tab from menuconfig xui
(Added) Gamepad Exports – GamepadEnableTriggers & GamepadSetTriggers
(Fixed) PlayerInfo button flags (Fixed) Back + Start screenshot combo
(Fixed) No Saved Games Display by adding a text element
(Fixed) No Games Found Text in game list when moving last game out of scene
(Fixed) FileBrowser Selection Bug
(Fixed) File Browser File Selection Bug
(Revered) Game Drive name back to 'Game'
(Updated) ConnectX KeyboardUI to display Remote PC Name to be consistent with labeling
(Renamed) "Game" to "Current Game" to reduce confusion in HUD file browser
(Fixed) Verify LINK Scene Cancel button to show back when complete
(Added) New Credits
(Fixed) Issue Graphics Glitch with Skin in Plugin Settings
(Updated) postLiveData and postUserData code to use titleid function
(Added) getGameFile http command to retrieve any file in the game:\\ directory
(Added) live.json overrides for webui display. Place live.json in the root game dir and it will be loaded over the file from microsoft
(Fixed) Http PW Hashing on fresh install
[ Fixed ] Humidity spelling in weather Scene
[ Fixed ] Entering incorrect information in APIKey now clears it and reports correctly.
[ Added ] Scanning NxE Games into gamelist.
(Added) New Mount Path "Game:\\"
(Added) Build Dependent Log in HTTP
(Updated) Ingame screenshot to be Hold Start + Press Back
(Fixed) Chrome not scrolling back to first tab on refresh (ticket:19)
[Added] Ingame Screenshots using Hold Back + Start Press
(Cleaned) Up some code
(Added) Useranme and ApiKey to /getSystemLinkInfo
(Added) Missing JSON Files
[Fixed] WebUI / to use the correct/consistent \\
[Added] getDashLaunchInfo webUI command
(Removed) NOTES version from getPluginInfo
(Fixed) getScreenCaptureCount spelling
(Added) getDashLaunchInfo stub
(Fixed) Screencapture list showing filesize in bytes, changed to readable
(Added) Screencapture list including viewer ([ticket:5 Ticket 5])
(Fixed) WebUI bytestoreadable when bytes = 0 (Fixed) WebUI bytestoreadable use proper units
(Added) WebUI Track max bandwitdh with system link bandwidth graph
(Changed) WebUI System page layout (sections)
[Added] – Many SystemLink Optimizations in the LINK Core- basic Syslink needs to be tested for problems
[Added] – System Link Bandwidth monitoring code for WebUI Output ( mattie provided updated html code )
[Updated] – PlayerInfo Scene by s…
(Added) System LiNK bandwidth graph
(Added) Support for Celcius / Fahrenheit switching
(Added) nested template parsing
(Added) NOREPORT Flags for USERFLAGS
(Fixed) Disabling Reports
(Added) Automatic HUD Dismissal when game launched through HTTP API
(Fixed) System Link not enabling during f3 boot or during plugin reload
(Added) /getScreenCaptureCount
(Added) WebAPI version to /getPluginInfo
(Adjusted) Location of Buttons in HomeTab Scene
(Added) "celsius" var to /getTemperat…
(Added) Temp Settings to FreestyleSync
(Fixed) FreestylePlugin Settings Imports
(Added) Hashed HTTP and FTP Passwords (no more plain english passwords)
[Fixed] – URLEncode issue that could cause some usernames to fail url validity (MaesterRo)
[Added] – New Method of Handling Xbox1 Games- single lobby filtered by xbox1 titleid (MaesterRo)
[Added] – On/Off flags for System Link Enable to hav…
(Fixed) Many Little Graphical Bugs
(Fixed) Dashlaunch Not Found Bug
(Added) getLaunchGame command for HTTP
(Added) Dynamic Game Detection
(Fixed) SetLeader typo
(Fixed) Falsely launchable containers
(Added) RSSFeed Scroller Code
(Updated) About Section
(Added) Icon Toolbar
(Added) FileSystemWatcher to monitor for changes to open file and gives the option to reload
(Updated) Request Lobby To actually work and provide feed back
(Added) FileBrowser code
(Added) Passcode Entry
(Added) Proper Version file for plugin tester
(Added) Passcode Template XUI
(Added) Null object check to dumping code
(Added) Password Module (Test with (Y) on Lobby Tab)

http://team-xecuter.com/f3-rev-735-l...cluding-webui/

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March is last month of Dance Central 3 DLC 'for the near future'

March 10th, 2013, 23:23 Posted By: wraggster

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Battlefield 4 reveal on March 26, teases EA

March 10th, 2013, 22:33 Posted By: wraggster

An EA teaser has sparked speculation that it could be planning to unveil Battlefield 4 at a press event on March 26.

EA has sent invites to members of US press - including

IGN

- for an event in San Francisco on March 26, coinciding with the Game Developers Conference.The event is to take place at a movie theatre at 7pm.While the invite holds off disclosing the subject of the event, IGN notes that the background image, showing what appears to be street lights blurred by heavy rain, features a similar tone and colour palette to that of the iconic Battlefield 3 box art, which made heavy use of dark blues offset with striking shades of orange.So far, EA has revealed nothing of the game other than its numerical title, and that early beta access would be granted to those who pre-ordered Medal of Honor: Warfighter.It's reveal this month is speculation, but given that Battlefield 4 is expected for a late 2013 launch, and considering it has recently been demonstrated to members of the retail business, a big reveal would certainly seem due.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-26-teases-ea/

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Dead Space 3 Awakened DLC out next week

March 10th, 2013, 21:30 Posted By: wraggster

Dead Space 3’s Awakened DLC is set to arrive next week across all platforms, EA has announced.
The previously announced content pack will arrive on Tuesday, March 12th. The add-on will go for $9.99/800 MS Points, and release on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
What’s described by Visceral as the “darkest chapter” in the Dead Space saga, Awakened continues the plot onward from the end of the game – where protagonists Clack and Carver were marooned on Tau Volantis.
Earlier this week, EA squashed a false report that an already in the works Dead Space 4 had been canned.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/dead-...t-week/0112126

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Xbox 360 isn't maxed out yet, Gears of War dev argues

March 10th, 2013, 21:26 Posted By: wraggster

Xbox 360 may be currently in what we suspect to be the last year of its life, but developers People Can Fly and Epic reckon there’s more juice waiting to be squeezed out of its seven-year-old innards.
"Yeah, there'll always be something more we can figure out, do better," Gears of War: Judgment’s art director Waylon Brinck told OXM.
Epic's lead level designer Jim Brown added: "I'm trying to remember if it was the transition between Gears 1 and Gears 2 or the transition between Gears 2 and Gears 3, there was like a million different changes to Unreal Engine 3 to get to that point.
"When we first released Gears of War, the first one, people were like 'woah, they're pushing the Xbox to its limits, they're doing crazy things' – and every single time we've been able to step it up and find some corner of the 360 that no one was aware of and more areas for us to push."
The pair unsurprisingly think that their latest title – due out on March 22^nd – provides a new benchmark for what’s possible on Xbox 360.
"Right off the bat there were two pillars of the game that we had to support by optimising like crazy," Brinck added. "We wanted this to be the most intense game ever. More enemies on screen, more action, more dense action, less of that sort of downtime in between. We had to get those enemies in there, we had to stream them fast.
"We're pushing way more enemies, way more particles, the environments are a lot more dense than on previous games. Our rendering engine, we've even added a few new features that allow us to do richer lighting, more dynamic lighting, darker darks, brighter brights.
"So yeah, it was all hands on deck optimising this thing, we squeezed a lot more out of it."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/xbox-...argues/0112140

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Braid dev concerned by Microsoft's next-gen strategy

March 10th, 2013, 21:25 Posted By: wraggster

The creator of indie hit Braid admits that the idea of working with Microsoft on its new Xbox console fills him with “a certain amount of dread”.
Jonathan Blow’s experiences with PS4, on the other hand, have been overwhelmingly positive. That’s why his next game, The Witness, is scheduled to be a timed PS4 exclusive.
“I think Sony realise that downloadable games are going to be bigger than they ever have been, and I think they realise that part of success in that area is having developers who are making the most interesting games want to be on their platform,” Blow told Edge.
But Sony’s praiseworthy strategy isn’t the only reason for his decision. Concerns about Microsoft’s next-gen plans and, indeed, the mystery that still surrounds the machine, also played a part.
“There were a lot of reasons why it was a good choice,” he continued. “Some were technical – we haven’t officially been disclosed on Microsoft’s next console, but we do see the same leaks as everyone else has, and they seem plausible.
“To me they talk about a console that is not strictly about games. It’s trying to be the centre of the living room device, which is fine and maybe it’s the right thing for Microsoft to do, business-wise. I don’t know; I actually don’t think it is, but they’ve certainly thought about it more than me!
“As a place to put the best, highest performing version of our game on, it doesn’t seem as good a choice.”
Then of course there are the issues that Blow faced personally with his hit release Braid, which appeared first on Xbox Live.
“I’ve had a bad time working with Microsoft in the past,” he admitted. “Maybe not super bad, but a moderately bad time in terms of business relationships. Other developers who are friends of mine have had a horrible time, so the idea of signing up again with Microsoft isn’t something I’d have ruled out, but there’s a certain amount of dread I have about doing that again.
“I don’t have that with Sony. Who knows, maybe it’ll turn out to be just as bad at the end! But I don’t think so. The people we’re talking to on a daily basis there are just really good people, and we’re happy to work with them.”
Writing on his blog, Blow also revealed that he was not paid for PS4 exclusivity, but instead felt a single-platform launch was strategically prudent.
“Because we are a small developer, we only have the ability to launch on a small number of platforms at once,” he explained. “We liked the idea of being on a console, and originally we thought we might be on the PS3 or Xbox 360, but eventually we decided not to target either of those, due to the relatively low system specs and the work required to do the ports.
“After some more time went by, and our release date drifted further into the future, we realized that the next-generation console launch time might be a good time to release the game.”
None of which is to say that an Xbox 720 release has been ruled out. Far from it.
“Our deal with Sony is a limited-time exclusivity that applies to competing console platforms,” Blow said. “Basically it is that you will see the game on the PlayStation 4 for a while before you will see it on the Wii U or the rumoured next Microsoft console. This exclusivity does not prevent us from being on the PC or iOS at launch, for example.
“To launch a high-spec version of the game on a console, it came down to a choice between the next Microsoft console or the next Sony console. There were people at Sony who really liked the game and were keeping in touch with us about it, and so we naturally started going to their PS4 developer events, got a dev kit, and started playing with it.
“I don’t have good communication with anyone at Microsoft right now, but all our technical people like the PS4 specs a lot more than the leaked Durango specs, and we like the positioning of the PS4 (it’s about games) more than what we perceive Microsoft’s positioning is going to be.
“So we just found ourselves doing a PS4 port. And once we are doing that, it is not practical for us also to think about another console port. We were going to be a de facto console exclusive for Sony no matter what. As I mentioned, there are people at Sony who are very interested in The Witness, so they somehow percolated up through the ranks the idea of showing the game in the launch show.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/braid...rategy/0112145

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Ubisoft responds to PETA 'whaling' complaint in Assassin's Creed 4

March 8th, 2013, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster

Ubisoft has issued a response to PETA after the animal rights group criticised the game maker for "glorifying" the hunting of whales in its upcoming sequelAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.

PETA issued a complaint against Ubisoft

on Wednesday, labelling the harpooning of whales in-game as "disgraceful."An Ubisoft spokesperson responded to the claims with the following statement:"History is our playground in Assassin's Creed. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is a work of fiction that depicts the real events during the golden era of pirates. We do not condone illegal whaling, just as we don't condone a pirate lifestyle of poor hygiene, plundering, hijacking ships, and over-the legal-limit drunken debauchery."Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was officially unveiled on Monday following several leaks last week.As we revealed in our Assassin's Creed 4 preview, the game is being developed Ubisoft Montreal, the studio behind Far Cry 3, a title which also lets players hunt numerous animals.PETA has previously attacked Pokémon by likening the way Pokémon are treated to the abuse of animals, and made what it subsequently labelled a "tongue-in-cheek" call for attention byattacking Mario for "sending the message that it's OK to wear fur".

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ssins-creed-4/

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Aliens: Colonial Marines Xbox 360 update released

March 8th, 2013, 00:39 Posted By: wraggster

Gearbox Software has released a new patch update for Aliens: Colonial Marines on Xbox 360.

The patch targets several glitches and errors spread over both the single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. The patch notes - posted in full below - make no mention of a fix

for a save file-erasing glitch

that, according to Sega, is affecting a 'small number' of players.Gearbox has said updates for the PC and PS3 versions "are on the way as well", but offered no ETA.Here are the full patch notes:General

• Addressed an issue that could sometimes cause co-op player revival to not work under certain circumstances.
  
  
• Addressed issues with players not spawning into a level properly.
  
  
• Fixed a marine player invincibility exploit.
  
  
• Resolved several instances where players could walk or fall outside of maps.
  
  
• Fixed an issue that could cause localized text to sometimes display incorrectly.
  
  
• Addressed an issue where weapon ammunition was not always highlighted properly.
  
  
• Addressed some issues where multiplayer / co-op clients could see interactive objects displayed in a different state.
  
  
• Fixed a bug affecting voiceovers with the Firing Range bonus content.
  
  
• Addressed an issue where Ripley's Flamethrower (bonus content) would sometimes fire continuously without player input.
  
  
• Addressed a rare issue that could cause Achievements to not unlock properly.
  
  
• General user interface improvements.
  
  
• Miscellaneous bug fixes.

Campaign

• Addressed some issues that could cause improper warping for co-op players.
  
  
• Various tweaks to address instances where NPC characters would not always properly navigate to objectives.
  
  
• Added safeguards to prevent players from using a weapon in the weapons-suppressed portion of "One Bullet."
  
  
• Modified Bella and Reid's behavior in "No Hope in Hadley's" to prevent them from spawning at the wrong point.

Versus

• Fixed issues that could clients to report inaccurate results and statistics.
  
  
• Addressed instances where a map would appear to "pop in" when loading into a new match.
  
  
• Addressed an issue that was could cause stutter when opening the multiplayer scoreboard.
  
  
• Switching profiles while in a lobby now returns players to the title screen immediately.
  
  
• Multiplayer teams should now correctly auto-balance between rounds.
  
  
• New Xeno appearance customization added.
• http://www.computerandvideogames.com...date-released/

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Kinect Can Detect Clenched Fist

March 8th, 2013, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster

Microsoft Research is currently having a Techfest at Redmond where it is showing off a lot of new work. The latest work on the Kinect uses the same sort of machine-learning approach to distinguish between an open hand and a clenched fist. Although there are no details, its general method was to use a large number of images of people's hands and supervised training to distinguish between open and closed hands. The learning algorithm is based on a forest of decision trees, which is the same general method used to implement the skeleton tracking. Being able to detect an open or closed hand might not seem to be much of an advance, and certainly not as good as a multi-gesture touch screen interface, but it is enough to allow the user interface to distinguish a "pick up" or "grip" gesture. So you can move the hands within an image, close both hands to grip the image points and move apart to zoom. You can't get the software at the moment, but it has been promised for the next version of the Kinect SDK for Windows along with the long awaited 3D scanner Kinect Fusion.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/13/0...-clenched-fist

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Microsoft cancels Gore Verbinski's 'Matter' for Kinect

March 7th, 2013, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster

Matter, a Kinect game expected to launch on Xbox Live Arcade in 2013, has been cancelled by Microsoft. It was to be the first game developed in partnership with film director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Rango) and Blind Wink Games.

"Microsoft Studios is no longer pursuing this title," says a company representative. "We have no further details to share at this time."

Phil Spencer, Corporate VP of Microsoft Studios, told Joystiq in June last year that Verbinski had pitched Matter as a means to instill and demonstrate emotion in typically motionless game players. A futuristic metal sphere, seen moving through a futuristic landscape in the game's E3 2012 trailer, represented an active control surface implemented through Kinect.

"To a lot of people who haven't played games for a long time, somebody standing completely stationary with a controller in their hands kind of seems emotionless, even though we know that we'll be sweating or twitching," Spencer said. "And [it was] his feeling, that with motion and movement, that the connection of the emotion that's happening on screen and how the player feels would be more natural."

Blind Wink, which is attached to a film production company partnered with Universal Studios, has not yet responded to requests for comment.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/06/mi...er-for-kinect/

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