Ghostbusters, the movie tie-in game, revealed by Activision – Busted?

Activision is taking a crack at the Ghostbusters license with another game. This one is simply titled Ghostbusters, and it’s launching on the same day as the so-far-polarizing flick, July 15, 2016.

This wasn’t necessarily bad news. Activision has tapped the likes of Platinum Games for titles like Transformers: Devastation and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan.

With the Ghostbusters license in tow, Activision could have tapped a storied developer for a movie tie-in. We have no idea who they brought on for the work, because they haven’t said.

We do know that this game features Ghostbusters rookies, and that it takes place after the events of the film. The rookies aren’t the movie’s main cast, either. They’re the B-team that stays and watches the Ghostbusters HQ.

Whether it’s the movie’s drama or the quality of the trailer, folks don’t seem too enthused about this one. The video is low on views, and the dislike ratio is high.

Is anyone even cautiously optimistic about this one?

source: technobuffalo

Medium gets blocked by China, just like Google, Facebook and Twitter

                         

Medium is the latest popular website to get the boot in China. According to multiple reports and firewall-tracking website Blocked in China, the popular blogging platform no longer works in the country.

Medium launched almost four years ago, so it’s unclear why it’s only being blocked now. The Next Web notes that the blogging site recently added a new feature making it possible for major publishers to move their sites onto its platform. This might have opened the door for some previously blocked websites to sneak into China through Medium.

China has a history of blocking major foreign websites. Facebook and Twitter aren’t officially available in the country, with home-grown companies like Sina Weibo filling the void. Google officially pulled out in 2011 over censorship issues, but is rumored to be planning a return.

SOURCE BLOCKED IN CHINA

Apple working with suppliers to install 4 gigawatts of new clean energy

                           

Apple published its 2016 Environmental Responsibility Report earlier this week. In it, the company discusses its environmental responsibility, climate change, renewable energy and more. And, speaking of clean energy, the company said that it plans to work with its partners and suppliers to “install more than 4 gigawatts of new clean energy worldwide.”

Apple has already been working in this direction and, in 2015, said that “93 percent of [its] energy came from renewable sources.” One example was a 32-megawatt installation in Singapore, where there are solar panels on “more than 800 rooftops.”

It’s these sorts of projects that Apple plans to continue to build around the globe – especially in places like China where clean energy isn’t as much of a priority for the industry. That’s where Apple says it is already building 170 megawatts of solar power, kick-starting its goal to install more than 2 gigawatts of new clean energy in China by 2020.

That’s just 4 years from now, which means the company is making quick work toward its goal. This stuff might seem intangible, too, like some “green energy” that you never touch. But you actually interact with it every day, whether you know it or not. Apple says that 100 percent of its data centers, the places that power Siri when you’re wondering what the score of the basketball game is, are already running on clean energy.

So, next time you use Siri, maybe you’ll know a bit more about where the energy that powers it is coming from.

SOURCE APPLE (PDF)

Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin reveal trailer, game set for iOS and Android

Square Enix has teased its recently announced Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin in a debut trailer, and as predicted, the game is heading for iOS and Android. No footage from the gameplay or cutscenes is shown, but a speech delivered by the game’s heroine gives a brief look into what the game’s story will be about.

Gods…

How long do you plan on continuing such a thing…

Do you wish to die?

Ending it… as it is?

Then come.

We shall walk ahead of death, together.

To the strongest heroes out there.

I shall take you in, as an Einharjar.

The most we can take from this is the title. If the game is an Origin tale, will it be an origin for the original PSOne Classic, or does Square Enix have plans to follow-up with another game that it worthy of its predecessor’s legacy?

Probably the former, but there is always room to hang on for hope. After all, we live in a “post-Final Fantasy VII Remake announcement” world.

source:  SILICONERA

This $4,999 NES will take your gaming back to the golden years

                       

If you have just about $5,000 just burning a hole in your pocket, Analogue Nt knows what’s best to do with it. Dip it in gold.

“To celebrate the Legend of Zelda‘s 30th anniversary, we are releasing ten limited edition 24K gold-playted Analogue Nts. Every unit includes an original, gold-colored Legend of Zelda cartridge,” the site says.

                     

You may remember Analogue Nt as the company that makes premium re-built NintendoEntertainment System consoles using original chips to get a more reliable, un-emulated experience without all the hassle that comes with the old toaster-style NES. The standard model has an aluminum shell and runs $499, already a tough sell, while this gold-plated, limited edition model is priced at ten times that.

                     

In addition to the Zelda cart, this gold NES comes with an HDMI or RGB hardware upgrade, premium box, and an HDMI cable. It’d better come with unlimited lifetime support, hand-delivery, and free hugs at that price, too.

                    

If you’re ridiculously wealthy and love gaming (in other words, you’re Minecraft creator Notch), then you definitely need at least one of these.

SOURCE ANALOGUE NT

Magic Mouse with Force Touch revealed in Apple patent

                       

Apple unveiled the most recent Magic Mouse 2 last October, but the company could be gearing up for yet another upgrade. A newly published patent suggests Cupertino may be planning to release a version of its mouse with Force Touch support.

                       

The patent for a “force sensing mouse” was published on Tuesday, but it was filed way back in February 2013. The document suggests putting force sensors inside the mouse so it can tell how much pressure you’re placing on it and react accordingly. The design would also include a haptic engine that provides feedback, simulating the experience of actually pressing a button.

                             

Apple already offers Force Touch in its Magic Trackpad 2, some MacBook models, the Apple Watch and new iPhones. Bringing the technology to its Magic Mouse series seems like an obvious option. It could also give the company a chance to relocate the awkward Lightning port placement on the Magic Mouse 2.

                         

Remember, this is just a patent and there’s no guarantee Apple will ever release the product described here. But in this case, we’d be surprised if a Force Touch Magic Mouse wasn’t already on the way.

                       

                             

SOURCE USPTO

Aliens: Colonial Marines “fixed” by mods, making it the game “it should have been”

It’s the gaming controversy that never dies. Aliens: Colonial Marines crawls back into the headlines this week with a brand new mod that allegedly “fixes” the game.

                        

What was wrong with it in the first place? Well, not much except that it wasn’t the game advertised to the world. This latest “ACM Overhaul” mod from TemplarGFX makes all the changes that SEGA and Gearbox made when they were hyping this game for the masses… only they’re doing it in reverse.

                         

TemplarGFX claims that it fixes the enemy AI, making the Xenomorphs just as smart as they were originally promised to be, and makes them far more aggressive as well. The mod also changes up the graphics, doubling down on the atmosphere and the realism, making it look like more than just a collection of blocky rooms with connecting hallways.

Other improvements include indefinite corpses that never disappear and reduced enemy health, allowing players to not have to grind out battles for longer than necessary.

                           

I haven’t played the mod yet, but if it turns Aliens: Colonial Marines into a decent game, then that could be good enough for fans. Think of it this way; can it get any worse?

SOURCE MODDB

Tokyo 42 is gorgeous, inspired by GTA and Syndicate

Tokyo 42 looks like an isometric action game soaked in the bubble gum flavors of J-Pop. It was announced today in pre-alpha form, and the news came with screenshots and a beautiful trailer.

                                   

Tokyo 42 is being developed by SMAC Games and published by Mode 7, the latter responsible for Frozen Synapse. We can’t find much about SMAC, but we’re digging around to see if we can find a pedigree for the studio.

                                   

Here’s how the exceptionally brief video description frames the game: “Tokyo 42 is an isometric action game inspired by classics such as Syndicate and GTA1.”

                                 

With open world gameplay, a gorgeous art style, seemingly fantastic soundtrack and bright dystopian setting, I’m absolutely keeping an eye on Tokyo 42. We’ll have more on this game as it comes.

source: technobuffalo

Overwatch to offer 60fps gameplay on PS4, Xbox One with 1080p dynamic resolution

                               

We all know that Blizzard is releasing Overwatch on the PC platform. The game will look and run fantastically, especially if your rig is up to the task. What about the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One?

Eurogamer was able to chat with Game Director Jeff Kaplan about how the game will run on the consoles. It turns out, according to Kaplan, that it runs quite well given the nature of the hardware.

                                   

“It’s using a scaling resolution system, so if you’re in [an] optimal environment, it’ll as max resolution as the system allows.”

That means 1080p at 60fps. Kaplan continues.

“It maintains those most of the time, you know? We’re constantly tracking how the performance is doing there. And then, obviously, if there’s a lot going on at once, you know, getting 12 Zaryas in the room and then all hit your Ultimate at the same time, it’ll scale down accordingly to make sure that it maintains that 60 frames per second.”

This all comes from a video, which you can watch at the base of this post.

Overwatch will hit the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on May 24, 2016. Which platform are you aiming to snag the shooter on?

source: technobuffalo

Google: Gmail encryption increases 25 percent, new features launching now

Privacy is more important than ever, particularly as companies and agencies such as Apple and the FBI spar in the face of the public. Google, like Apple, is working to secure customer information wherever and whenever possible, and the company recently added a security feature to Gmail that it says is being used more frequently than ever before. Now it’s adding even more.

Back in February, Google introduced a simple icon that lets users know if they’ve received an email that didn’t support encryption or wasn’t encrypted at all. The icon would suggest that, perhaps, you should be wary that the conversation you’re holding with someone isn’t as secure as it could be. Google says that it noticed a 25 percent increase in encrypted emails traveling through Gmail since the feature was introduced, which is awesome. Now it’s pushing even harder.

Google said today that it is working with Yahoo!, Microsoft and Comcast to create a “SMTP Strict Transport Security” specification that, it hopes, will be adopted by many other companies and encourage people to only send encrypted emails. Ultimately, that’ll help keep Gmail more secure. That’s not all, though. It’s also introducing new features.

Gmail now has a built-in Safe Browsing function that will alert users if a link they click could harm their computer by directing them to an unsafe site. Additionally, Google will alert users if they might be being targeted by a state-sponsored attack, otherwise known as an attack from a foreign government. “These warnings are rare—fewer than 0.1% of users ever receive them—but they are critically important,” Google explained. “The users that receive these warnings are often activists, journalists, and policy-makers taking bold stands around the world.”

Google said it will work to add new features in the future, but Gmail is definitely safer now than ever before.

SOURCE GOOGLE

Apple TV (4th-gen) gets its first jailbreak

Apple released tvOS 9.2 for the Apple TV (2015) earlier this week, but you may want to hold off on updating your set top box. The first jailbreak for the new Apple TV was just announced by trusted hacker group Pangu, and it only works if you’re still running tvOS 9.0 or 9.0.1.

Assuming you meet that qualification you’ll also need a Mac computer, a USB-C cable and a copy of Xcode to set up the jailbreak. Then just head to Pangu’s website and download the new file. From there jailbreaking your Apple TV should be easy enough, just remember that you’re installing unofficial third-party software at your own risk.

Jailbreaking makes it possible to download tons of unapproved apps on iOS. Most of the time that’s because they break Apple’s strict design guidelines, or change the way your device works on a fundamental level. This is a first for the Apple TV, though, so it could be a while before developers can come up with interesting new ideas for the jailbroken set top box.

SOURCE PANGU