Dark Souls III’s game guide includes an Estus Flask

                              

Everyone’s got a different perspective on collector’s editions. Some people hate them, others find them impossible to resist. Sometimes one hits, though, that ticks all the boxes for a fan of the property.

For Dark Souls III fans, that might be the special edition of Prima Games’ Dark Souls III strategy guide. The special edition, called the Estus Flask Edition, retails for $129.99 and features a hardcover edition of the guide, an electronic copy of the guide, a journal, a metal bookmark made to look like one of the greatswords featured in the game and finally, of course, is the Estus Flask.

For fans of the series, this is a familiar item. A well-timed tug of the Estus Flask has brought countless warriors back from the brink of un-death, while poorly timed drinks have doomed just as many to sit through another You Died screen. This healing item is a crucial part of the series in both gameplay and lore.

It’s not another statue, a cloth map, or artbook. Those things are cool, but we have plenty. This is something you could put in your liquor cabinet or otherwise display without it having to be another action figure, but it’s still a very visible reminder of a beloved game. The flask is made from resin, so I’m not sure it’s safe to drink from. We’ll probably want to wait on filling it with any kind of “healing potions.” Save that for the other kind of flask.

The bookmark, electronic guide, and journal are all nice touches that could, conceivably, be useful for a committed Souls fan, as well.

The guide hits shelves the same day as the game itself, which releases for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 12.

ORDER THIS FROM AMAZON

SOURCE TWITTER

Nvidia Feeds Android 6.0 Marshmallow to Shield Android TV, Adds Vulkan API

Mmm, Marshmallow!

Nvidia updated its Shield tablet to Android 6.0 Marshmallow earlier in the month, and now it’s doing the same for its Shield Android TV device via an over-the-air (OTA) roll out, the company announced this week.

Marshmallow alone brings several enhancements to Shield Android TV, though the update also includes some other feature upgrades. They include:

• Upgradable storage and home screen customization
• Quick access to the power menu on the home screen by long pressing the “Back” button
• Seamless switching between surround sound and headset audio in Netflix app
• Wireless support for SHIELD controller when charging via USB, including headset audio and voice search
• Improved color support for YUV 4:2:0 video playback
• Option to set 1080p 60Hz resolution on Ultra HD TVs
• Option to set RGB Full Range via Settings > HDMI > Dynamic Range
• Improved support for Denon receivers and CEC volume control for more audio receivers

In addition to all that, Nvidia is rolling out fully conformant Vulkan drivers to its Shield Android TV platform. That makes it the first Android consumer platform to ship with support for the Vulkan API, which gives developers low-level access to CPU and GPU resources.

The update is a little over 800MB.

source: technobuffalo

Ubisoft Disputes EA Trademark for "Ghost" [UPDATE]

[UPDATE] A NeoGAF forum member has discovered that EA has withdrawn its trademark application for "Ghost." However, it is unclear what impact this may have on EA's Ghost Games, the developer of Need for Speed. We will update this post with new information as we learn more.

The original story is below.

Ubisoft has taken issue with the fact that Electronic Arts sought to trademark "Ghost" for its new studio over claims and concerns that it would "cause confusion" with Ubisoft's Ghost Recon franchise.

As spotted by a NeoGAF user, Ubisoft filed a notice of opposition against EA on January 29 over the company's two trademark applications for the word "Ghost." These are serial numbers: 86568852, 86568854. Ghost Games is the name of the EA-owned Need for Speed developer based in Sweden that put out the new Need for Speed game in November.

In fact, Ubisoft began its action against EA last summer, only just now publishing its official notice of opposition. In the notice, Ubisoft points out that it has used its Ghost Recon trademark since at least as early as 2001, while EA filed its initial trademark applications for Ghost in March 2015.

Ubisoft is referred to as "Opposers" in the document, while EA is known as "Applicant." Here's a particularly noteworthy section from the notice of opposition:

"Applicant's Mark so resembles Opposers' GHOST RECON marks alleged herein as to be likely, when used in connection with the goods and services identified in the Applications, to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive. Consumers are likely to believe, mistakenly, that the goods and services Applicant offers under Applicant’s Mark are provided, sponsored, endorsed, or approved by Opposers, or are in some way affiliated, connected, or associated with Opposers, all to the detriment of Opposers. Registration of Applicant's Mark, therefore, should be refused under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1052(d) and 1063."

EA apparently has until March 9 to respond to Ubisoft's claims, while the trial schedule--should there be a trial--is outlined below.

source: gamespot

Disgaea launches on Steam with bugs and glitches, NipponIchi is fixing it

NipponIchi’s hilarious strategy RPG Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is available now on Steam. However, reports are pouring in from fans and gaming publications alike that it is riddled with crashes, performance issues, graphical glitches, and framerate problems.

You know, the whole nine yards with any botched PC launch these days.

In a situation very similar to Tales of Symphonia a few months back, Disgaea’s Steam page has been blasted with polarizing reviews with the hardcore forgiving fans balancing out those who demand it to be fixed. Currently, 375 out of 526 reviewers recommend the game as is, so it is not without its supporters who are just happy it’s there.

Still, the backlash has been loud enough to garner a response from NipponIchi, whose tone comes off as a little peeved with some of the accusations made by fans.

We spent a total of ten months on researching and developing this game for PC users, two months of which were spent on rigorous testing. However, we have been made aware of the fact that some of our customers have been experiencing issues when playing the game.

According to the research we have done, it seems as if most of the issues are graphics related.

Right now, we at NISA and NIS are trying to gather as much information from all over the world as possible in order to pinpoint what is causing these problems.

Whether it gets fixed soon or not, we should be pleased about the greater presence of JRPGs on Steam in general. However, I’m not sure how many launch controversies,looking at you too Final Fantasy XIII, the crowd is willing to endure.

If we want the PC to be a safe home for the genre in the future, we need launches to be smoother. It’s no different than the AAA crowd.

SOURCE: STEAM

Rockstar and 2K owner Take Two will be at E3 “in a big way”

One of gaming’s biggest publishers – if not the most prolific, then certainly one of the most profitable – has a big presence planned for E3 this year.

Take Two, the publishing house that owns studios like 2K games and Grand Theft Autodev Rockstar games, is not in the habit of revealing things before they’re ready. We know they have Mafia III on the way from Hangar 13, as well as Battleborn from Gearbox. What else could be coming? We don’t really know.

In an interview with MCV, though, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said Take Two “will be there in a big way.”

Again, most of what that presence will be is a mystery. Mafia III certainly will make a big showing, but the few things we know about from Take Two aren’t enough to make for a big showing. Hopefully this means something fresh from Rockstar, like Grand Theft Auto V expansions, the long-awaited Red Dead game, or something equally big.

SOURCE: MCV

Firewatch is already a success, passing the developer’s “wildest expectations”

So far, 2016’s biggest indie smash has been the first-person adventure game, Firewatch. Campo Santo’s exploration of the Wyoming frontier has left its stamp on the gaming universe, and everyone who has played it loves sharing their experiences and even photos with one another. What’s more, they can even get them printed physically and mailed to their homes!

Fans will be happy to know that the developers have also declared the game to be a hit, stating in a Twitter post that sales have exceeded their “wildest expectations.”

Regardless of whether or not this game doesn’t sell as many copies as The Witness, Firewatch never got center stage air-time at E3, and it blazed out of nowhere to become just one of those “lightning in a bottle” sensations.

With the money raised from Firewatch, the team will be financially sound enough to create another game. Hopefully, some of that cash will be put towards a rocket-launcher death-match mode before it moves on to a follow-up game.

SOURCE TWITTER

Star Ocean 5 character trailer for Relia – Do those clothes weigh more than her?

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is back with another character introduction, this time looking at its pint-sized priestess, Relia.

This twerp fills the amnesia quota as required by every JRPG storyline. She indeed has no idea where she is from or who she is, but she joins Fidel and Miki on their intergalactic quest to bring these memories back. She speaks in a childish manner, comforting those around her, but she also lacks emotions, filling yet another important anime void.

It would also appear from the trailer that someone is out to get her. I can’t imagine how she might blend into a crowd, though. Her pursuer could spot that outfit from seven star systems away, and the weight of such heavy robes would bring her crashing to the ground should she be forced to run.

But, hey! JRPG logic! Just accept it, and move on.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness launches on the PlayStation 4 later in 2016.

source:  GEMATSU

Xbox Live Downtime Drags Past 12-Hour Mark [Update]

Xbox One users have reported faults with Microsoft's Xbox Live service for more than twelve hours, with the service down and unable to allow customers to use apps, buy content, or play games online.

Throughout the early hours on Tuesday morning Pacific Time, Microsoft battled to restore its flagship games service, but connections have been up and down for some 14 hours at the time of writing.

Xbox Live Status web pages across North America, the UK, and Australia have flickered between green and red lights; telltale signs that the company's engineers are working to fix the issue but problems are persisting.

[Update: 02:56 am Pacific - Microsoft has said the Xbox Live service has been restored for now.]

As a result of a suspected DDoS attack, Xbox Live has been knocked offline on numerous occasions for more than seven days. At the time of writing, Microsoft's status page is reporting that core services are back online, though notifications have yet to be sent to customers, suggesting that the corporation is still verifying that the service has been restored.

A Microsoft spokesperson was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

source: gamespot

The Future of Mobile Game Graphics, As Demonstrated by Epic Games

This week at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2016 event, during which the company announced the Galaxy S7 and more, Epic Games showcased what mobile games might look like in the future. This was done by way of a video for ProtoStar, a real-time 3D "experience" built using the Unreal Engine 4. It's one of the first publicly demonstrated applications using the new Vulkan API, which has a number of gaming-specific features.

First, check out the video below.

"The new industry-standard Vulkan API brings key elements of high-end console graphics technology to mobile devices, and Samsung is leading the way with the amazing new Galaxy S7," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said in a statement. "As the first engine supporting Vulkan, Unreal Engine 4 provides a solid foundation for developers joining in the mobile graphics revolution."

According to Epic, Unreal Engine 4's use of the Vulkan API is capable of delivering a number of improvements, including more dynamic onscreen objects and faster performance overall.

Here's a list of some of the technologies used in the ProtoStar video and available with Vulkan in Unreal Engine 4.

• Dynamic planar reflections (high-quality reflections for dynamic objects)
• Full GPU particle support on mobile, including vector fields
• Temporal anti-aliasing (TAA)
• High-quality ASTC texture compression
• Full scene dynamic cascaded shadows
• Chromatic aberration
• Mobile dynamic light refraction
• Filmic tonemapping curve
• Improved mobile static reflections
• High-quality mobile depth of field
• Vulkan API support with thousands of dynamic objects onscreen

The new Samsung Galaxy S7 (and the S7 Edge model) comes with a water-cooling system, a "No Alerts" setting, and the ability to record and broadcast gameplay footage. Check out this post for more on the phone's gaming features. Preorders for the new device (pricing has not been announced) open on February 23 and come with a free Gear VR headset.

source: gamespot

BioWare Producer Asks If You'd Play a Dragon Age "Tactics" Game

Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah has a question for you: "Would you play a Dragon Age Tactics game?" He's launched a Twitter poll asking fans to weigh in. Something to note here is that by "tactics" he says he means something along the lines of tactical franchises like XCOM or Fire Emblem. 

Your options are "Yes," "No," "Only on PC," and "Only mobile/handheld." Voting closes later today, so if you want your voice heard, now is the time to submit your response.

There is no guarantee that BioWare will indeed make a turn-based Dragon Age tactics game, of course, but it's still interesting to think about.

Darrah also clarified that if this game were to happen, it would not replace the mainline Dragon Age series, something fans will probably enjoy hearing.

This would also be a "full game," he mentioned.

Like the first Dragon Age, 2014's Dragon Age Inquisition allowed you to play from a top-down view for some portions, which amounted to something of a more tactical experience.

Inquisition is the latest entry in the main series; no new games have been announced.

source: gamespot

Hyper Light Drifter’s Wii U version is “currently in limbo”

While we all “patiently” wait for Kickstarter sensation Hyper Light Drifter to finally make its way onto shelves and change our lives forever, the word is out that Wii U owners might not get the chance to experience the sting at all.

Developer Heart Machine explains in an update on the game’s Kickstarter page, detailing why the Nintendo build of this highly anticipated indie game is “currently in limbo.”

We had information about our engine, two years back, when we announced support for the platform. This had assured us we could port to the Wii U with relatively little hassle by now. However, due to ongoing internal contractual issues beyond our control between the platform holder and engine developer, we just don’t know when or if this situation will have a good resolution. We are looking into the options available and doing what we can to help push the issue, including posting about it here.

It sounds as if the whole situation is out of Heart Machine’s hands. The update says that it will keep the Wii U version on the table should the problem resolve itself. However, if Hyper Light Drifter is forever doomed to not grace a Nintendo platform, then Heart Machine will happily give Wii U owners a code for another version.

The cynic in me says that they’ll have nothing to worry about. Hyper Light Drifter will no doubt be delayed into 2017, and hopefully the whole situation will resolve itself by then. Afterwards, a new issue will arise when all of the Wii U owners have moved onto the NX.

When does it ever end?! Hyper Light Drifter is scheduled for a release in Q1 2016 for the PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, and PC.

SOURCE:  KICKSTARTER

PlayStation offering free online multiplayer this coming weekend!

Thanks to a little game called Street Fighter V, Sony is dropping the pay-wall and opening its multiplayer for the public this weekend.

Staring Friday, 12:01 AM PT and running until Sunday at 11:59 PT, you will be able to access the multiplayer content on any game without a PlayStation Plus subscription. Keep in mind that this deal doesn’t just extend to Street Fighter V. Any and all games are free to come to the party including Call of Duty:Black Ops III, Star Wars: Battlefront, and whatever else the kids are playing these days.

Hopefully, this will give plenty of others a chance to enjoy Street Fighter V, since the offline components have been panned as “lacking” so far. Jump online for free this weekend, and maybe it will be the game to convince you that paid-multiplayer is an okay investment.

SOURCE: PLAYSTATION BLOG

Google Play Games gets new feature that should have been there all along

Google Play Games received a small but important update recently that delivers a feature most might argue should have been there all along. That’s right, you can now create a custom gamertag for your Google Play Games account. Previously, the service would just show your first and last initial.

“Over the next few weeks we’re rolling out Gamer IDs to Google Play Games,” Google product manager Ben Frenkel said. “Gamer IDs give you the ability to create a gaming persona, so you too can embrace your inner gaming hero. You can customize a unique Gamer ID and select a Gamer Picture to create a whole new gaming identity.”

Gamers will receive a prompt to set their Gamer ID when they log into a new game, which will kick off a whole customization process. You’ll be able to choose from more than 40 avatars for your picture, for example, and can set specific privacy settings to allow people to view your gameplay activity or not.

Act fast if you have a particular Gamer ID in mind – they’re all unique, so no two can be alike. Open the Google Play Games app on your Android device to get started.

SOURCE: GOOGLE

Sega’s giving away Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe and more on Steam for free right now

Well, thanks, Sega! The company has tossed up a bundle of games on Steam right now for absolutely nothing. If you were to buy the games separately, you’d pay almost $35. Snag the bundle now, and they’re free.

How long? We’re not sure.

The bundle includes Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit(two of its DLC releases) and Sega Classics.

This giveaway comes as the first prize for Sega’s Make War Not Love 3 event. Play any of Sega’s war games on steam (Company of Heroes 2, Total War Attila or Dawn of War 2, all of which are 75% off), and your action is added to the tally.

Basically, the world at large wins because players are partaking in the event. This prize was meant for then players of these games, but it’s open to everyone with a Steam account.

So, grab your free games! Go to that link, click into any of the games in the bundle and click install. That will give you access to all the games featured. You’ll need a Steam account, obviously.

SOURCe:  STEAM

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana’s setting sounds like an absolute nightmare

Nihon Falcom has pushed out a new batch of screenshots and concept art to detail its upcoming fantasy action-RPG, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. The company recently delved into long-time protagonist Adol Christin’s newest companions, Raksha and Sahad, and this new gallery gives a look into the horrors of the game’s setting, Siren Island.

Nothing good ever comes from Siren Island. Local legends paint a dark picture of the place with some saying sailors sink their own boats after a monstrous voice destroys their will to live. Others call it an “Eternally Cursed Island” and claim that not a soul goes there on their own free will.

Naturally, Adol Christin finds himself stuck in the middle of this setup in Ys VIII. It makes sense, too, because he’ll be shipwrecked there, as is often the case with poor Adol, and he definitely does not go on his own free will.

The creatures on Siren Island are called “Ancients,” and they come in many forms. From birds and fish to dinosaurs and other enormous abominations, some are violent and will attack Adol, and others will passively ignore him.

No man knows what Adol Christin is bound to discover on his latest adventure. No doubt a blue haired anime girl is waiting at the finish line, though.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana will be released for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita in Japan this summer. No word on an English localization just yet.

source:  SILICONERA

Need for Speed coming to PC in March

EA has confirmed that the most recent Need for Speed is ready for launch on PC and will see a release on March 17. Those who pay subscription fees for Origin and EA Access will be able to pick up the game a week early on March 10.

The PC port of Need for Speed was delayed for visual performance reasons after it released on consoles last fall. EA claims that on top of fixing the performance issues, it has also added other improvements detailed in the reveal trailer above.

These improvements, like manual transmission, will eventually be making their way to the console versions. You know, just because we don’t want people feeling left out.

Need for Speed will release for the PC on March 17. Get low, EA!

source: technobuffalo

New World War 2 Xbox/PS4/PC Game Passes Funding Milestone

 With more than two weeks still to go in its Kickstarter funding campaign, new console and PC World War 2 shooter Battalion 1944 has passed $300,000 in funding. The game was a quick success on Kickstarter, having raised its initial target of £100,000 ($142,000) after just two days.

At press time, funding stands at around £215,728 ($307,579) from more than 7,000 backers. Developer Bulkhead Interactive already spent £100,000 ($145,000) of its own money to get the game off the ground

With Battalion 1944 now well above its initial funding target, fans may be wondering about stretch goals. None were announced when the campaign began, and though Bulkhead has teased they will be "awesome," we still don't know anything more specific--but that could change soon.

"Stretch goals are just around the corner," the developer said in a Kickstarter update. "We've had them planned for a while, and we're sticking to our original plan. We don't do empty promises at Bulkhead; which is why we are working on in-game assets to show you all exactly what we're working towards before we announce all of Battalion 1944's stretch goals."

You can guarantee yourself a copy of the game, which is expected to launch in May 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, by pledging at least £15 ($21). Head to the Kickstarter page to see all of the other pledge tiers and rewards.

The multiplayer shooter aims to capture the "core of classic multiplayer shooters" while using the "most advanced industry technology." You can see some early gameplay footage here or check out some images in the gallery below.

source: gamespot

Ubisoft confirms a new Watch_Dogs and South Park game in 2017

Watch_Dogs 2 is no longer mere speculation. It might seem like it had already done so a long time ago, but today marks the first time Ubisoft has officially confirmed the game for a release in 2017.

In its official financial report for the year, Ubisoft confirmed an entire fiscal 2017 line-up with”the next installment of Watch_Dogs” as the obvious big fish. South Park is another stand out, announced last year at E3 2015.

“For Honor, South Park: The Fractured but Whole, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: WildLands, the next installment of Watch Dogs, and a new high-potential AAA brand with strong digital live services.”

There is little question that the official presence of a new Watch_Dogs played into the decision to back off Assassin’s Creed for a year. Open-world Ubisoft fans need that fix.

Watch_Dogs was one of the first games announced for the most recent console generation. It rode the hype train for several years, but response to the final product proved to be underwhelming and controversial. What can Ubisoft do to make sure the sequel doesn’t fall into the same trap?

source:  EUROGAMER