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June 22, 2015

Does Nintendo's Wii U pricing mistake give us an idea of what NX will cost?

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Shigeru Miyamoto has been honest in his assessment of the Wii U, telling NPR's All Things Considered that the platform launched at too high a price.

"So unfortunately with our latest system, the Wii U, the price point was one that ended up getting a little higher than we wanted," admitted Miyamoto.

So does this give an indication of what price Nintendo's next system the NX will launch at?

Despite its mistakes with the Wii U, Miyamoto insists Nintendo will continue with its inclusive policy.

"What we are always striving to do is to find a way to take novel technology that we can take and offer it to people at a price that everybody can afford," he explained.

Wii U launched in the UK at £250/£300, so it's possible we could see the NX hit stores at under the £250 price point. There's also likely to be increased price pressure from both the PS4 and Xbox One which aren't too far away from hitting the sub-£250 mark themselves.

Miyamoto also indicated that with NX Nintendo won't go all out to create the most powerful gaming system.

"Rather than going after the high-end tech spec race and trying to create the most powerful console, really what we want to do is try to find a console that has the best balance of features with the best interface that anyone can use," he explained.

"And the reason for that is that, No.1, we like to do things that are unique and different from other companies, but we also don't want to just end up in a race to have the highest-tech specs in a competition to try to find how we get these expensive tech specs to the lowest price of the other systems.

"And so there's different ways that we can approach it, and sometimes we look at it just from the sense of offering a system that consumes less power and makes less noise and generates less heat, or sometimes we may look at the size of the media and the size of the system and where it fits within the home."

He concluded: "But really what's most important to us is, how do we create a system that is both unique and affordable so that everyone can afford it and everyone can enjoy it."

VideoGamer.com Analysis

An affordable system is certainly important, but we're pretty sure even some of Nintendo's most supportive of fans would start to waiver should the NX focus on being quiet and energy saving.

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June 19, 2015

First three Batman Arkham games get 75% discount on Steam

Batman: Arkham Knight screenshot

With the forthcoming launch of the highly-anticipated Batman: Arkham Knight, the prices of the first three games in the Arkham series have been slashed on Steam.

You can now grab Arkham Asylum, City and Origins for just £3.74 each. The season pass for Arkham Origins is also available, but still costs £14.99.

Simon Miller is a big Batman fan, and recently posted his review of Arkham Knight, which you can read right here.

You can also check out Miller's video review below:

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June 18, 2015

Horizon: Zero Dawn won't be 'tutorialised'; RPG systems detailed

Horizon Zero Dawn screenshot

Guerrilla won't be 'tutorialising' Horizon: Zero Dawn, the developer has explained, instead encouraging players to study enemy behaviour and learn how to defeat robos themselves.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com earlier today, art director Jan-Bart van Beek revealed that there is "a lot of interplay between the different weapons and ammo types, and there is a sort of creative aspect there where you need to find the right way to use weapons for particular robos. And that counts for a lot of the game. We don't tutorialise the game, we don't go and tell you how to hunt these robos or how they interact. You really have to go out there and explore these things by trial and error.

"And it's the same case for learning about how the robos interact between themselves; who's protecting who and how they are all interconnected. You're always a little bit like David Attenborough where he's sitting in the bushes and studying these creatures trying to learn their behaviour, seeing how you can exploit that behaviour from them."

Guerrilla is taking a similar approach to Horizon's storytelling as well.

"You won't find us in any interviews explaining what the robos are, why they are there or how they came to be," van Beek continued. "This is something for the player to find out themselves. By exploring the world, going to the ruins and learning as much as possible about our game, everything will reveal itself."

Horizon Zero Dawn screenshot

Van Beek also provided details on Horizon's RPG systems, explaining that throughout the game players will be able to gain XP to unlock new perks, giving them a greater chance to take down some of the larger enemies.

"There is a skill tree," he continued. "There are two basic character development systems. First of all you're getting XP and you can use that XP to gain new perks. So that's the big one. One of the perks that you saw being used [in the demo] is the Precision Shot where you slow down time and that allows you to [aim] the arrows a little more precisely. Without that it's actually really hard to hit certain weak spots. [The character in the demo] is already an advanced character about level 12, I think.

"But there's also basically a secondary way of upgrading your character, and that is through the harvesting and crafting system. By going into nature and defeating bigger and stronger robos you'll get better armour-plating, better weaponry and slowly but surely you'll develop your character in a more naturalistic way."

Horizon: Zero Dawn launches on PS4 in 2016.

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The Last Guardian won't be given a visual upgrade on PS4

The Last Guardian screenshot

The Last Guardian has made the jump to PS4, but many fans have noted that the game looks very similar to how it appeared back in 2009 when targeting a release on PS3. So the obvious question is will the game be given a visual upgrade now it has the extra power of PS4? The short answer is no.

Shuhei Yoshida, Sony Worldwide Studios boss told Engadget: "The vision hasn't changed since the PS3 era. It's just that we couldn't achieve that on PS3. [Fumito] Ueda-san doesn't view the need for any changes."

As for why the game was canned on PS3, Yoshida explained: "Making the game on PS3 was super difficult so basically we gave up. Because it was too slow, the progress. And the team did an amazing job porting the code onto the SPUs. But still the game didn't perform to the required levels and some features are still missing."

VideoGamer.com Analysis

Perhaps we should be glad we're seeing the game released and not worry about whether the visuals are of PS4 quality.

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June 17, 2015

Dogmeat cannot die in Fallout 4

Fallout 4 screenshot

Fallout 4 dog companion Dogmeat can't be killed, Bethesda Game Studios game director Todd Howard has confirmed.

Since Dogmeat was revealed fans have been seeking information on the dog.

From @BethesdaStudios' Todd Howard: Dogmeat cannot die #Fallout4 #BE3 pic.twitter.com/0hSaF42xoD

— Bethesda Softworks (@Bethblog) June 16, 2015

In Fallout 4 it will be possible to issue commands to Dogmeat, including asking him to fetch items.

Fallout 4 launches November 10.

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June 16, 2015

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided in-game trailer offers first look at gameplay

A brand-new in-game trailer for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has been released by Squre Enix and Eidos Montreal.

Although largely made up of cinematic elements from the game, the new trailer does feature segments of gameplay.

The year is 2029, and mechanically augmented humans have now been deemed outcasts, living a life of complete and total segregation from the rest of society. Now an experienced covert-agent, Adam Jensen is forced to operate in a world that has grown to despise his kind. Armed with a new arsenal of state-of-the-art weapons and augmentations, he must choose the right approach, along with who to trust, in order to unravel a vast worldwide conspiracy.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is coming early in 2016 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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June 15, 2015

Xbox 360 Kinect games will never be backwards compatible with Xbox One

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Xbox 360 games that require the original Kinect sensor will not be backwards compatible on Xbox One due to hardware restrictions, Microsoft has confirmed.

The restriction means that multiple first-party games likes Kinect Sports, Kinect Star Wars and Kinectimals will never be supported by the service, and is due to the console offering a software-based solution to backwards compatibility.

USB-based Xbox 360 peripherals won't be supported on Xbox One either, meaning that players likely won't be able to use Xbox 360 fight sticks or steering wheels even when playing backwards compatible titles.

Xbox 360 backwards compatibility launched to Xbox One Preview members earlier today, with the service due to roll out fully to all Xbox One users later this year.

The initial line-up of backwards compatible titles includes Mass Effect, Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo and Banjo-Kazooie.

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Try nine Nintendo indies for free and save 15% off full release

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Nintendo has launched the Nindies@Home programme, giving players the chance to try preview versions of nine indie games, and incentivising downloads by offering a 15% discount for those who download the demo.

Players have until June 22 to download the free trials of the nine games, doing so will entitle them to the 15% discount on the full digital release. The nine games included in the programme are:

  • Runbow Event
  • RIVE
  • Mutant Mudds Super Challenge
  • Soul Axiom
  • forma.8
  • Typoman
  • Extreme Exorcism
  • Freedom Planet
  • Lovely Planet

Head over to the Nintendo eShop to download the trials and be entitled to the discounts on these games.

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June 12, 2015

Tearaway Unfolded release date set for September 11

Tearaway screenshot

Tearaway Unfolded is coming to PS4 on September 11, Sony has announced. That's just two weeks after Sony's other big PS4 exclusive Until Dawn goes on sale.

The PS4 port of 2013's top PS Vita game features enhanced 1080p/60fps graphics and an extended storyline, while cramming in additional features that take advantage of the DualShock 4's functionality.

Multiple versions of the game will be available, too, including the Tearaway Unfolded: Special Edition, which includes the full game, alternate cover art and the Torn Away Pack containing papercraft costumes inspired by characters from LittleBigPlanet, God of War, inFamous, The Last of Us and Killzone; and The Messenger Edition, which includes a "rare and extremely adorable" Atoi plushie.

Images of the two SKUs have yet to be revealed.

A Pop-Up Pack containing a Gold Leaf headband and decorations from Lemmings, Gravity Rush, No Man's Sky and The Order: 1886 will also be available, although it isn't yet clear how you'll be able to get hold of it. Presumably it's some kind of pre-order bonus.

Expect much more on Tearaway Unfolded at E3 next week.

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June 11, 2015

Watch the Oculus Rift live stream here at 6pm BST

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Today at 6pm GMT you'll be able to tune in to an Oculus Rift live stream direct from San Francisco, where Oculus VR promises to discuss the "future of virtual reality, gaming, the Rift, and more".

Let's hope Oculus has some news on a release date, and information on some of the applications which will make use of the VR headset once it does launch.

Watch live video from oculus on www.twitch.tv

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Ninja Theory's Hellblade to explore mental health; first gameplay trailer revealed

Ninja Theory has released the first gameplay trailer for Hellblade, an upcoming third-person action game that puts players in the role of a character suffering from mental illness.

Developed in conjunction with the University of Cambridge's Psychiatrist and Professor of Health and Neuroscience, Paul Fletcher, and with support from the Wellcome Trust, Hellblade will tell the story of Senua, a Celtic warrior left traumatised following a Viking invasion, and her journey "into a vision of hell that is the manifestation of her own mental illness".

"True understanding of mental health is not simply about books, lectures or verbal descriptions but from deeper engagement on all levels," said Professor Fletcher. "Working with Ninja Theory has shown me the potential that gaming has for sharing in a character's experiences and engendering empathy in ways that go well beyond those offered by simple academic descriptions. Maybe this approach will contribute powerful new ways of challenging stigma."

The game is being described by Ninja Theory as an "Independent AAA", combining the creative freedom of indie development with the production values of a blockbuster title.

Hellblade screenshot

"In Hellblade we are pursuing creative independence in order to explore a compelling subject matter and gaming experience that would not be possible under the current retail model," said Ninja Theory's chief creative director Tameem Antoniades. "In movie terms, this would be a quality independent film, not a Hollywood blockbuster.  Digital self-publishing means that we can offer a smaller, but high quality game at around half the price of retail games."

Ninja Theory previously developed 2013's DmC: Devil May Cry, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and PS3 exclusive Heavenly Sword. Hellblade, meanwhile, is being developed by a small team of just 15 people.

"More and more, games have an exciting and innovative role to play in giving us new perspectives on health and mental health challenges," added Iain Dodgeon, creative partnerships manager at the Wellcome Trust. "Rather than being a didactic game teaching us about psychosis, Hellblade allows us to explore it through the creation of a compelling and complex character, and the world that she inhabits."

Hellblade releases on PS4 and PC in 2016.

Hellblade screenshot
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