http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:41:50 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-publishers-now-understand-importance-of-rentals/1100-6420830/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581397" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581397"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">You might think that video game rentals hurt publishers like Activision or Electronic Arts because if you can rent a game, why buy it? But the reality is rentals--including those sold by kiosk-based rental company Redbox--actually add incremental revenue for publishers. That's according to Redbox director of video games Ryan Calnan, who shared some new data with GameSpot recently.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Redbox launched its video game rental program in the summer of 2011, and recently commissioned a survey by Interpret to track user engagement. According to this study, 50 percent of Redbox customers will only buy a game if they can try it first. "That was a big number to have come across," Calnan said. "We've been talking to our customers for the last couple of years, and that's the aggregate result that we got."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Depending on the game, Redbox reports a 20-50 percent conversion rate from rental to sale, Calnn said. This is an "extremely healthy" figure that is "good for the industry," he said.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581399" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581399"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">"So what we're seeing is publishers supporting the notion of the recreational gamer bringing incremental revenue to the publishers and that this trial is leading to a conversion," Calnan explained. "Very importantly, with that marketing reach that Redbox has, Redbox has become a very powerful information source to these customers. And Redbox is able to keep these customers engaged and keep the industry very healthy because of it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">According to Calnan, publishers see the value in Redbox's reach--after all, the company has some 36,000 kiosks across the United States in high-volume places like grocery stores and gas stations. But not only does Redbox have thousands of physical kiosks by which it can reach customers, the company also has an email database of 33 million people, 4.5 million people on its SMS text list, 24 million Redbox app users, and 5.5 million fans on Facebook.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's these relationships that allow Redbox to deliver "hyper-targeted relevant information" to customers, Calnan says. And it's why publishers want to work with Redbox, he argues.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He called out a pair of publisher relationships that were particularly impactful in the past year, the first of which was with Deep Silver to promote open-world action game <a href="/saints-row-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Saints Row IV</a>. Calnan says Deep Silver came to Redbox because they knew the rental company could help the game reach a wider audience. The two-month week marketing plan included putting stickers on Redbox kiosks ("the best billboard you can possibly imagine," Calnan says), as well as sending out game details and review scores over email and text. According to Calnan, it worked.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Redbox and Deep Silver believe that the program they put together with Redbox was instrumental in the success of Saints Row IV both at Redbox and at retail sales," he said.</p><p style="">Redbox also partnered with Square Enix to offer a similar program for <a href="/thief/" data-ref-id="false">Thief </a>with similar results. "Thief has been a stellar success story at Redbox in 2014," Calnan said. He's also hopeful that more publishers will jump on board in the future, pointing out that, "[Redbox has] direct relationships with all the publishers" and could offer similar marketing programs in the future.</p><p style="">To go deeper on Redbox's unique role in the gaming industry, we also spoke with Calnan about what kind of impact <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">streaming services like PlayStation Now might have on Redbox's business</a> and when we can expect to see <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U games</a> in kiosks around the country.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-publishers-now-understand-importance-of-rentals/1100-6420830/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581447" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581447"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Kiosk-based movie and game rental company Redbox is not worried about streaming services like <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-playstation-now-open-beta-launches-on-ps4-july-31/1100-6420289/" data-ref-id="1100-6420289">PlayStation Now</a> or the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-prototype-of-cloud-powered-streaming-game-service-report/1100-6415053/" data-ref-id="1100-6415053">secret tech demo Microsoft is working on</a> impacting its business. That's because, according to Redbox director of video games Ryan Calnan, people still prefer physical discs. And even if streaming does become mainstream, both can live together in peace, he argues.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I don't see [streaming] as a challenge," Calnan told us. "I think that both can live side-by-side. We're expanding the edges of gaming, and I think that customer is very much attached to that physical product still."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Calnan added, "There's obviously this emotional relationship to the physical disc." Indeed, a recent NPD Group study found that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-majority-of-core-gamers-in-the-us-prefer-discs-over-digital/1100-6419625/" data-ref-id="1100-6419625">74 percent of American gamers</a> would choose a physical copy of a game over a digital unit if pricing was the same.</p><blockquote data-align="left"><p dir="ltr" style="">"There's obviously this emotional relationship to the physical disc" -- Ryan Calnan</p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="">When PlayStation Now was originally announced in January during the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestop-shares-plummet-after-sony-announces-playstation-now/1100-6416991/" data-ref-id="1100-6416991">shares of retailer GameStop tumbled</a>, though they have since rebounded.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Also during our interview with Calnan, we quizzed him about when we might see Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U games in Redbox kiosks nationwide. He said Redbox has already launched a pilot program in 10 markets (Denver, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta are a few), and the response has been positive.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We are testing new-generation product in select markets. We're encouraged by our success so far where we've been testing this product," Calnan said. "We're excited to be rolling this product out over a period of time as our customers transition from the current gen over to the new-generation systems."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">While the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have shown positive signs right out of the gate in the test regions, the same can't be said for the Wii U, Calnan said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been very happy with the success of Xbox One and PS4; I think we've had a little bit slower [uptake] on the Wii U, much like the retail marketplace," Calnan said. It's no secret that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">the Wii U has struggled</a>, but Nintendo <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-wii-u-on-the-brink-of-success-no-plans-to-drop-the-gamepad/1100-6420610/" data-ref-id="1100-6420610">sees better times ahead</a>, thanks in part to the release of marquee titles like<a href="/mario-kart-8/" data-ref-id="false"> Mario Kart 8</a> last month and mascot brawler <a href="/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u/" data-ref-id="false">Super Smash Bros. </a>this fall.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581454" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581454"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">So when will Xbox One, PS4, and Wii U games be rolled out to a wider market at Redbox? Right now, it simply makes more business sense to keep the kiosks stuffed with last-generation games because the install base is so much larger than it is for current-generation systems. But Calnan expects that, over time, this will shift.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"For us, it's about adoption to that [new-generation console]," Calnan said. "We obviously have an incredible base of customers that already own the [last-generation consoles] and we're just waiting as they transition over. But we want to make sure that we can offer the current-gen product to all those customers who have not yet transferred over."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Redbox rolled out its video game rental program in 2011, and the company has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">no plans to slow down anytime soon</a>. Why is it that Redbox has found success where others haven't? According to Calnan, Redbox hits two major notes better than anyone else out there: convenience and price.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"You don't have to make a dedicated trip to find a Redbox. If you're going to pick up milk and bread or you're putting gas in your car, Redbox is there," Calnan said. "And that really gives the opportunity to go ahead and try out the product. A dedicated trip is obviously something where you have to think, 'Oh, I've got to go out and do this.' Redbox is on the way, and very, very convenient because of that. And that $2/day to try out a game, it's a pretty compelling argument for somebody who may not know everything about the latest title that's come out and wants to try it out."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k15-cover-announced-john-cena-check-out-the-cover-update/1100-6420839/ <p style="">UPDATE:</p><p style="">And it's official; John Cena is the cover star of <a href="/wwe-2k15/" data-ref-id="false">WWE 2K15</a>. You can check out the cover below from the official <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEgames/statuses/483764143661387776" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">WWE twitter account</a>!</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583020" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583020"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style=""><em>The original story appears below:</em></p><p style=""> </p><p style="">If you've been wondering which wrestler is going to grace the cover of WWE 2K15, you're not going to have to wait much longer.</p><p style="">According to a tweet from WWEGames the reveal is happening tonight during RAW.</p><div data-embed-type="html"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p style="">Tonight is the Night: Tune in to Monday Night <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAW?src=hash" rel="nofollow">#RAW</a> where <a href="https://twitter.com/StephMcMahon" rel="nofollow">@StephMcMahon</a> will reveal the cover Superstar for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWE2K15?src=hash" rel="nofollow">#WWE2K15</a>. <a href="http://t.co/TL5osBt7vl" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/TL5osBt7vl</a></p> — WWE 2K (@WWEgames) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEgames/statuses/483731937308053504" rel="nofollow">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote><script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async=""></script></div><p style="">We'll update this story with the announcement when it goes live later tonight, but who do you think it's going to be? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></p> Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:20:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k15-cover-announced-john-cena-check-out-the-cover-update/1100-6420839/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-ps4-last-of-us-is-60fps-nintendo-doesn-t-c/2300-6420004/ Nintendo says they don't compare their games to others, Naughty Dog teases Last of Us Remastered in 60fps and Steam passes 8 million concurrent users! Mon, 30 Jun 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-ps4-last-of-us-is-60fps-nintendo-doesn-t-c/2300-6420004/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor-now-playing/2300-6420002/ Justin Haywald travels through time with the latest addition to World of Warcraft. Watch as he explores the new zones, updated character models and new additions! Join the chat and let us know if Warlords of Draenor offers enough to bring you back! Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:55:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor-now-playing/2300-6420002/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-s-exclusive-comic-con-2014-collectibles-announced/1100-6420835/ <p style="">Blizzard may save their big gaming news for their own personal convention, Blizzcon, but like every year, San Diego Comic-Con is the place where the company reveals their new game-based toys and figurines.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Straight from Blizzard itself, here are the item descriptions. You can click on any image to see a larger version.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"> </th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Funko Pop! Vinyl—Primal Kerrigan</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm/" data-ref-id="false">StarCraft II</a></p><p style="">Back from her vacation on Zerus, Kerrigan has got her groove back and gone primal! Primal Kerrigan is an SDCC-exclusive variant of her Pop! Vinyl figure and is limited to 2,500.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581476" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581476"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Cute But Deadly Cloaking Zeratul</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm/" data-ref-id="false">StarCraft II</a></p><p style="">He's cute. He's deadly. He's invisible-ish (and so is his box). Blizzard's Cute But Deadly figure line continues with this comical cloaked variant of the not-so-comical Dark Templar (limited to 2,500 pieces).</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581477" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581477"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Whimsyshire Treasure Goblin Plush</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/diablo-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Diablo III</a></p><p style="">Trapped among the rainbows and unicorn meadows of Whimsyshire, this Treasure Goblin's gone (adorably) native! Catch one for a lifetime of snuggles . . . or don't and regret it forever. This Whimsyshire variant is limited to 3,500 pieces.</p><p style=""><i>Standard Treasure Goblin coloring coming to the Blizzard Gear Store</i></p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581479" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581479"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td>The following items will be available at the con, but you'll also be able to purchase them at the Blizzard online store</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Cute But Deadly Shirt for Men and Women</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583015" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583015"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">StarCrafts Zergling Plush Keychain</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581486" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581486"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Hearthstone Plush with Light and Sound Effects</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581487" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581487"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Blizzard Heroes and Villains Lanyard</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581488" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581488"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="">Anything you're looking forward to buying first-hand (or from second-hand sellers when they put it up on ebay)?</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-s-exclusive-comic-con-2014-collectibles-announced/1100-6420835/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-island-epidemic-beta-code-giveaway/1100-6419062/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419949" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419949/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Did you miss your chance to get in on the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dead-island-epidemic/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Island: Epidemic</a> beta back in April? Well, now's your chance to finally check out the world's first ZOMBA (Zombie MOBA).</p><p style="">GameSpot is giving away a second wave of beta codes to Dead Island: Epidemic, a fast-paced action game where players will duke it out over supply points, using an arsenal of crafted weaponry, a bevy of devastating powers, and good old-fashioned teamwork.</p><p style="">Enter your email address below to receive a Steam key while supplies last. These keys do not have any territory restrictions so invite any friend from any where to play!</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div id="woobox-root"> </div><script type="text/javascript">/* <![CDATA[ */ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//woobox.com/js/plugins/woo.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'woobox-sdk')); // ]]></script><div class="woobox-offer" data-offer="rkqisd"> </div></div><p style=""> </p><p style=""><strong>How to Redeem Your Code: </strong></p><p style="">In order to activate this key, you will need to <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/about/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">download the Steam client</a> if you haven't already. </p><p style="">Once installed, you will need to create an account before you can log in to Steam. When you have logged in, please follow these instructions to activate your key on Steam:</p><ol><li>Launch the Steam client software and log into your Steam account.</li><li>Click the Games Menu.</li><li>Choose Activate a Product on Steam.</li><li>Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.</li></ol><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-island-epidemic-beta-code-giveaway/1100-6419062/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-dev-hoping-for-a-modern-warfare-style-new-era/1100-6420833/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6419441" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419441/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The release of <a href="/call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare</a> in 2007 was not only a major moment for the series and publisher Activision, but the industry as a whole--it's proven to be one of the most influential games of the last decade. With <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/2014-s-call-of-duty-described-as-the-best-ever-created/1100-6417578/" data-ref-id="1100-6417578">three years of work</a> going into this year's <a href="/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare</a>, the game's developer is hoping to create something similarly special.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We looked back at the history of Call of Duty, and I don't know if you remember when Modern Warfare came out, for those of us in the industry who weren't at Activision at the time, it really blew us away," said Sledgehammer Games co-founder Glen Schofield in an interview with <a href="http://www.totalxbox.com/78741/sledgehammer-wants-cod-advanced-warfare-to-be-a-modern-warfare-style-series-reboot/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Official Xbox Magazine</a>. "To us it really ushered in a new era of Call of Duty," he continued. "It puts you in the shoes of a Tier 1 soldier, in the Middle East--it was realistic, the sound, the audio, the look of it was just unbelievable. We wanted to try and capture that same feeling in this game."</p><blockquote data-size="small" data-align="right"><p dir="ltr" style="">"We're really trying to usher in something pretty special here." -- Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey</p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="">It's easy to forget now, both because it's been the better part of a decade and because Call of Duty has been such a huge part of the industry ever since, but prior to Call of Duty 4, the series wasn't the big deal it is today. Of the series' early games, <a href="/call-of-duty-2/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 2</a>, in particular, was acclaimed for its take on World War II, but back then it was <a href="/halo-2/" data-ref-id="false">Halo</a> that was still viewed by many as the predominant first-person shooter on the market. That all changed with Call of Duty 4, which moved the series to the modern day and established the franchise as one of the biggest the games industry has ever seen.</p><p style="">Schofield is arguably putting a lot of pressure on Advanced Warfare by bringing up what some feel remains Call of Duty's best game, but fellow Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey also has high expectations, as he said, "[W]e're really trying to usher in something pretty special here."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The full three years gave us the time to develop the technology, to focus on the creative, to do the research, to really maximize the experience, and again to push this new generation, to get every last ounce of horsepower out of it, and not to be in any way constrained by tech or in terms of ideas, by the previous generation of hardware," Condrey said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is the first time a new generation of consoles has come along since Call of Duty hit it big, as well as the first time Sledgehammer has led development on a title. Last year's <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a> was released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in addition to last-generation systems, but Advanced Warfare is being built with the former more firmly in mind.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Its developer hasn't shied away from building up excitement for the game prior to this, either; we know it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-wants-call-of-duty-to-be-talked-about-as-much-as-game-of-thrones/1100-6419503/" data-ref-id="1100-6419503">wants a Red Wedding-level moment</a>, and, ahead of the event earlier this month, Sledgehammer said Advance Warfare's showing at E3 would be "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-e3-2014-showing-will-be-incredibly-special/1100-6419696/" data-ref-id="1100-6419696">incredibly special</a>." Whether or not you feel it lived up to that claim, what we have seen does look promising, and we know the story (which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advance-warfare-s-story-took-over-two-years-to-write/1100-6419699/" data-ref-id="1100-6419699">took more than two years to write</a>) is a point of emphasis.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Advance Warfare is scheduled for release on November 4 on Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. (The last-gen versions are being <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-xbox-360-ps3-made-by-transformers-dev/1100-6420138/" data-ref-id="1100-6420138">made by High Moon Studios</a>.) For more, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-three-things-i-learned-after-seeing-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare/1100-6420376/" data-ref-id="1100-6420376">check out our latest preview</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-dev-hoping-for-a-modern-warfare-style-new-era/1100-6420833/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/blackpaw-orcs-must-die-unchained-gameplay/2300-6420000/ Check out this Beta footage of the hero BlackPaw from the game Orcs Must Die! Unchained. Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:11:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/blackpaw-orcs-must-die-unchained-gameplay/2300-6420000/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-3-finished-in-less-than-24-minutes-for-new-world-record/1100-6420831/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT4t9EHIneo" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FYT4t9EHIneo%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYT4t9EHIneo&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">As an open-world Bethesda game, <a href="/fallout-3/" data-ref-id="false">Fallout 3</a> is one of those games that provides you with a huge number of options in terms of how to play it. As it turns out, one of those options is to blow through the whole thing in about the same amount of time as it takes to watch an episode of<em> South Park</em> or cook a piece of chicken.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As the above video (via <a href="http://kotaku.com/fallout-3-beaten-in-under-24-minutes-a-new-world-recor-1598084611" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Kotaku</a>) demonstrates, speedrunner <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BubblesDelFuego" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">BubblesDelFuego </a>managed to complete a run of Fallout 3 in just 23 minutes and 55 seconds. As an "any percentage" run, the only real objective is to make it to the game's ending in as little time as possible. 23:55 is reportedly a world record for Fallout 3.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">If you watch the full video (it won't take long!), you'll notice some unusual techniques for getting through the game so quickly. As detailed in <a href="http://kraflab.com/fallout3.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">this FAQ</a> on Fallout 3 speedruns, these include pushing NPC characters along so that they reach their destinations faster and skipping dialogue by using quick saves and quick loads.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In other words, the run you see above will likely look a great deal different from how the game ordinarily plays. Perhaps most notably, at least in my mind, is how effective running in a mostly straight line can be--it sure does make those well-equipped Enclave soldiers look like a bunch of doofuses.</p><p style="">You can keep track of the top times for Fallout 3 speedruns in <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eXydI6YOExBzwLuVC6Le3F50YTRwIdMx9YKtp9gj4IU" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">this document</a>. You likely won't see BubblesDelFuego setting many new times, as the description of this world record video reads, "Pretty solid, I won't try to improve unless something big is found, or if the record is taken by some good competition."</p><p style="">For more mind-blowing speedruns, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-2-completed-in-20-minutes/1100-6420071/" data-ref-id="1100-6420071">Dark Souls II being completed in 20 minutes</a> or the original <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-someone-beat-super-mario-bros-in-under-5-minutes/1100-6420775/" data-ref-id="1100-6420775">Super Mario Bros. being tackled in less than five</a>. Let us now if you've ever attempted one before in your gaming career in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-3-finished-in-less-than-24-minutes-for-new-world-record/1100-6420831/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-concert-series-begins-touring-in-august/1100-6420829/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2581389" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581389"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Pokémon fans will have the opportunity to experience the music from the series' handheld RPGs in a new way later this year, as The Pokémon Company today announced a live orchestral concert tour that begins with a show in Washington, D.C. in August.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Entitled Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions, the concerts will feature music from games spanning the full series, beginning with <a href="/pokemon-red-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Red</a> and <a href="/pokemon-blue-version/" data-ref-id="false">Blue</a> and running up through <a href="/pokemon-x/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon X </a>and <a href="/pokemon-y/" data-ref-id="false">Y</a>. Today's announcement notes that Symphonic Evolutions is bringing together some of the key producers of the The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert series, which toured during 2012 and 2013.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The list of games whose music has been confirmed to be featured in the concerts (alongside "carefully timed visuals") are as follows:</p><ul><li dir="ltr">Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, <a href="/pokemon-yellow-version-special-pikachu-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Yellow</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-gold-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Gold</a> and <a href="/pokemon-silver-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Silver</a>, <a href="/pokemon-crystal-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Crystal</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-ruby-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Ruby</a> and <a href="/pokemon-sapphire-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Sapphire</a>, <a href="/pokemon-emerald-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Emerald</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-diamond-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Diamond</a> and <a href="/pokemon-pearl-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Pearl</a>, <a href="/pokemon-platinum-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Platinum</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-black-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Black</a> and <a href="/pokemon-white-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon White</a></li><li dir="ltr">Pokémon X and Pokémon Y</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="">The first of these concerts will be held on Friday, August 15 in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (<a href="http://concerts.livenation.com/event/15004CDB1416CE1C?dma_id=364" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Get tickets here</a>.) This date is significant because the following two days are when the 2014 Pokémon World Championships will be held in Washington, D.C., making it an opportune time for Pokémon fans to pay the capital of the United States a visit.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A second performance will be held in Philadelphia, PA, on September 19 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. (<a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02004CDAC7AB6FEC" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Get tickets here</a>.) Ticket prices for the announced shows range from $50-$82.25 for the first show, and $14.50-$79.50 for the second--not counting those damnable service fees.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">More details on additional shows will be made available through <a href="http://PokemonSymphony.com" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">PokemonSymphony.com</a> in the months to come.</p><p style="">Pokémon fans also have a pair of games to look forward to later this year, as remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are scheduled to be released for 3DS <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-pokemon-omega-ruby-alpha-sapphire-launching-november-21/1100-6420325/" data-ref-id="1100-6420325">on November 21</a> as <a href="/pokemon-alpha-sapphire/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:10:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-concert-series-begins-touring-in-august/1100-6420829/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/analog-3-games-to-play-after-super-time-force/2300-6419992/ Travel in time on a retro rampage as Lisa Foiles suggests some games to whiz through once you're done with Super Time Force. Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/analog-3-games-to-play-after-super-time-force/2300-6419992/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-veteran-developer-cliff-bleszinski-coming-out-of-retirement/1100-6420828/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Veteran <a href="/gears-of-war/" data-ref-id="false">Gears of War </a>designer Cliff Bleszinski, who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-out-at-epic-games/1100-6397630/" data-ref-id="1100-6397630">left Epic Games in late 2012 after 20 years with the company</a>, is "coming out of retirement," and will reveal his new project sometime in the next week.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581384" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581384"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I'm officially coming out of retirement to make video games again," Bleszinski <a href="https://twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/483650607211765761" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. "Stay tuned here for details in the next 7 days!" This tweet was accompanied by the hashtag "#DontCallItAComeback."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He drummed up further anticipation for his announcement by <a href="https://twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/483669589817950209" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">adding</a>, "It's going to be a blast to finally tell the story of what brought me back."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Though Bleszinski has been "retired," he's not left the gaming industry altogether. He's attended various industry events like PAX East and E3 in the past year. He also made headlines when he called <a href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft </a>creator Markus "Notch" Persson a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-calls-notch-a-pouty-kid-for-canceling-minecraft-vr/1100-6418579/" data-ref-id="1100-6418579">pouty kid</a>" when he canceled the virtual reality version of Minecraft after<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/facebook-buys-oculus-rift-company-in-a-massive-deal-worth-an-estimated-2-billion/1100-6418540/" data-ref-id="1100-6418540"> Facebook bought Oculus VR in March</a>. Bleszinski was an early investor in Oculus VR, saying in March that he stands to make a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-calls-notch-a-pouty-kid-for-canceling-minecraft-vr/1100-6418579/" data-ref-id="1100-6418579">very sizable chunk of money</a>" from Facebook's acquisition of the company.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for what Bleszinski's new game might be, he's previously talked about starting a studio and working on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-wants-to-redefine-his-legacy/1100-6401537/" data-ref-id="1100-6401537">new IP called Silverstreak</a>. This project (potentially a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-has-a-pitch-for-a-new-first-person-shooter-and-it-doesn-t-sound-like-gears-of-war/1100-6416681/" data-ref-id="1100-6416681">fast-paced arena shooter</a>) has reportedly been "gestating slowly" for some time. He also <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bleszinski-teases-new-project/1100-6412359/" data-ref-id="1100-6412359">released some concept art last year</a>, but it's unknown if it's related to whatever he is going to announce in the next week.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear what form this new game might take, but Bleszinski said previously that he <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-wants-to-redefine-his-legacy/1100-6401537/" data-ref-id="1100-6401537">wants to redefine his legacy</a>. What do you think Bleszinski's next gaming project will be? Let us know in the comments below!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-veteran-developer-cliff-bleszinski-coming-out-of-retirement/1100-6420828/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-boss-addresses-virtual-reality-s-dork-factor-origin-vs-steam/1100-6420827/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2581368" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581368"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Electronic Arts didn't launch Origin--what many would simply describe as a Steam competitor--simply to compete with Valve's digital distribution service. Instead, it did so because of the type of future it expects to see, according to a recent interview with COO Peter Moore, who also discussed one of the major hurdles--what he calls the "dork factor"--that VR headsets like the Oculus Rift will have to overcome.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I think Steam does a fabulous job," Moore told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-30-ea-hopes-to-benefit-from-great-fight-among-consoles-moore" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="2014-06">GamesIndustry International</a>. "They have a great catalog of games. It's got a broader catalog than we do, and a different focus on the business model than we have. We didn't go into business to compete with Steam. We went into business because we saw the future being direct-to-consumer."</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2581379" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581379"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg"></a><figcaption>One of several games given away through Origin.</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Origin is one of several services that some gamers write off as being Steam clones which offer nothing more than Valve's platform. Despite the naysayers, Origin has established a sizable user base of more than 50 million users. And although a number of those users likely signed up only because certain games (such as <a href="/simcity/" data-ref-id="false">SimCity</a>) require Origin, EA has made commendable moves to encourage people to use it by choice. Moore points to two examples in particular: the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-space-free-on-origin-as-the-first-title-in-ea-s-on-the-house-promotion/1100-6418601/" data-ref-id="1100-6418601">"On the House" program</a> that gives away copies of games for free (including <a href="/battlefield-3/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 3</a>, <a href="/plants-vs-zombies/" data-ref-id="false">Plants vs. Zombies</a>, and <a href="/dead-space/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Space</a>), and the policy of allowing unsatisfied customers to return a digital game within 24 hours of purchase.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Many companies are accused of regarding PCs as an afterthought: Microsoft's support has been questioned for years (despite its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-pc-gaming-we-re-very-dedicated-to-that-space/1100-6417683/" data-ref-id="1100-6417683">proclamations</a>), Ubisoft often releases its games <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-explains-why-assassins-creed-launches-last-on-pc/1100-6415282/" data-ref-id="1100-6415282">later on PC than on consoles</a>, and countless companies have <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-pc-port-was-half-assed-says-director/1100-6406838/" data-ref-id="1100-6406838">released subpar versions of their games on PC</a>. EA, on other hand, has made a strong investment in PC gaming over the years, according to Moore.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been making games for the PC platform before [Valve managing director] Gabe Newell was graduating high school," Moore said. "And we've been the number one publisher forever, and have been the one developer/publisher that has supported the PC platform even more than Microsoft over the years. Yeah, you may say that's a low bar, but that's who we are, and our roots."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for whether virtual reality could be the next area EA makes a big investment in remains to be seen. We've already heard EA is hesitant to do much with VR <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-battlefield-or-mass-effect-in-virtual-reality-anytime-soon/1100-6419469/" data-ref-id="1100-6419469">until it has a sizable install base</a>, a sentiment Moore reiterated. "We keep looking at it," he said, "but there's not much to jump on board towards right now."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He did go on to make an interesting note about one problem that companies like Oculus VR, maker of the Oculus Rift, will be faced with as they attempt to turn VR headsets into the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-vr-aspires-to-create-an-mmo-world-with-1-billion-people-in-it/1100-6419518/" data-ref-id="1100-6419518">mainstream products they aspire to be</a>. "It's an incredibly immersive experience, but it's you," Moore said. "You're inside this world and you're oblivious and of course, you can't see. You hope it doesn't get what I'll call the Segway effect: incredible technology that kinda looks dorky. Or the Google Glass effect, which is the dork factor that goes with that."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This isn't to say Moore is down on VR, but he simply foresees this as being a challenge. "And that's what we have to overcome, because I think the tech is great," he continued. "These things done right, commercialized so they can be truly a consumer device with plenty of innovative content to go with it, feel like a blast."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Do you think the way VR headsets look will stop you from picking one up once they begin being sold to consumers, or do you only care about whether the VR experience is any good? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:27:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-boss-addresses-virtual-reality-s-dork-factor-origin-vs-steam/1100-6420827/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-trailer-gets-a-shot-for-shot-real-life-remake/1100-6420826/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YThkirVXzoU" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FYThkirVXzoU%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYThkirVXzoU&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FYThkirVXzoU%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Rockstar Games <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-grand-theft-auto-has-not-been-made-into-a-movie-yet/1100-6416692/" data-ref-id="1100-6416692">isn't making a Grand Theft Auto movie anytime soon</a>, but some superfans have now shown us what <a href="/grand-theft-auto-v/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto V</a> might look like in real life. A group of Spanish filmmakers called Zapruder Pictures have created an epic shot-for-shot remake of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/videos/announcement-trailer-break-down-grand-theft-auto-v/2300-6343662/" data-ref-id="2300-6343662">GTA V's first trailer</a>, which originally debuted in late 2012.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The live-action video is a meticulous remake of the trailer, featuring appropriately clothed actors, similar camera angles, and a recreation of the crop dusting flyover scene. Of course, there's some CG featured in the video that is used for car crashes and helicopter scenes. But it's still impressive all the same.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Writing on Twitter, Rockstar Games called the video "<a href="https://twitter.com/RockstarGames/status/483656454331576320" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Awesome!</a>" For more on the live-action GTA V trailer remake, check out this special <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8dUflecxlw&list=PLzmsRNDVB6512BrH4TBtos2qk-eD8uzP-" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">behind-the-scenes video</a>, but be aware that it's in Spanish. Zapruder Pictures has also created short movies based on franchises like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6AlWv-DvoU&list=UUwCbPN0cMU8yNIklhWhi9Dw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZz5hFrQrrw&list=PLzmsRNDVB653Nw3keNqzz7BG9XZN77Naz" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Max Payne</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">GTA V launched in September 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-v-sales-reach-1-billion-in-three-days/1100-6414762/" data-ref-id="1100-6414762">generated $1 billion in 72 hours</a>, and went on to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-ships-33-million-copies-as-take-two-posts-record-annual-profit/1100-6419609/" data-ref-id="1100-6419609">ship more than 33 million copies</a>. That figure is likely to grow, as the game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-gta-5-for-xbox-ps4-pc-has-increased-draw-distances-better-resolution-new-wildlife/1100-6420302/" data-ref-id="1100-6420302">will be released for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC</a> this fall--and don't worry, your Grand Theft Auto Online characters will carry forward.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-trailer-gets-a-shot-for-shot-real-life-remake/1100-6420826/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:41:50 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-publishers-now-understand-importance-of-rentals/1100-6420830/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581397" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581397"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2581397-redbox1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">You might think that video game rentals hurt publishers like Activision or Electronic Arts because if you can rent a game, why buy it? But the reality is rentals--including those sold by kiosk-based rental company Redbox--actually add incremental revenue for publishers. That's according to Redbox director of video games Ryan Calnan, who shared some new data with GameSpot recently.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Redbox launched its video game rental program in the summer of 2011, and recently commissioned a survey by Interpret to track user engagement. According to this study, 50 percent of Redbox customers will only buy a game if they can try it first. "That was a big number to have come across," Calnan said. "We've been talking to our customers for the last couple of years, and that's the aggregate result that we got."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Depending on the game, Redbox reports a 20-50 percent conversion rate from rental to sale, Calnn said. This is an "extremely healthy" figure that is "good for the industry," he said.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581399" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581399"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581399-redboxkiosk.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">"So what we're seeing is publishers supporting the notion of the recreational gamer bringing incremental revenue to the publishers and that this trial is leading to a conversion," Calnan explained. "Very importantly, with that marketing reach that Redbox has, Redbox has become a very powerful information source to these customers. And Redbox is able to keep these customers engaged and keep the industry very healthy because of it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">According to Calnan, publishers see the value in Redbox's reach--after all, the company has some 36,000 kiosks across the United States in high-volume places like grocery stores and gas stations. But not only does Redbox have thousands of physical kiosks by which it can reach customers, the company also has an email database of 33 million people, 4.5 million people on its SMS text list, 24 million Redbox app users, and 5.5 million fans on Facebook.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's these relationships that allow Redbox to deliver "hyper-targeted relevant information" to customers, Calnan says. And it's why publishers want to work with Redbox, he argues.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He called out a pair of publisher relationships that were particularly impactful in the past year, the first of which was with Deep Silver to promote open-world action game <a href="/saints-row-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Saints Row IV</a>. Calnan says Deep Silver came to Redbox because they knew the rental company could help the game reach a wider audience. The two-month week marketing plan included putting stickers on Redbox kiosks ("the best billboard you can possibly imagine," Calnan says), as well as sending out game details and review scores over email and text. According to Calnan, it worked.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Redbox and Deep Silver believe that the program they put together with Redbox was instrumental in the success of Saints Row IV both at Redbox and at retail sales," he said.</p><p style="">Redbox also partnered with Square Enix to offer a similar program for <a href="/thief/" data-ref-id="false">Thief </a>with similar results. "Thief has been a stellar success story at Redbox in 2014," Calnan said. He's also hopeful that more publishers will jump on board in the future, pointing out that, "[Redbox has] direct relationships with all the publishers" and could offer similar marketing programs in the future.</p><p style="">To go deeper on Redbox's unique role in the gaming industry, we also spoke with Calnan about what kind of impact <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">streaming services like PlayStation Now might have on Redbox's business</a> and when we can expect to see <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U games</a> in kiosks around the country.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-publishers-now-understand-importance-of-rentals/1100-6420830/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581447" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581447"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2581447-redbox1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Kiosk-based movie and game rental company Redbox is not worried about streaming services like <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-playstation-now-open-beta-launches-on-ps4-july-31/1100-6420289/" data-ref-id="1100-6420289">PlayStation Now</a> or the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-prototype-of-cloud-powered-streaming-game-service-report/1100-6415053/" data-ref-id="1100-6415053">secret tech demo Microsoft is working on</a> impacting its business. That's because, according to Redbox director of video games Ryan Calnan, people still prefer physical discs. And even if streaming does become mainstream, both can live together in peace, he argues.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I don't see [streaming] as a challenge," Calnan told us. "I think that both can live side-by-side. We're expanding the edges of gaming, and I think that customer is very much attached to that physical product still."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Calnan added, "There's obviously this emotional relationship to the physical disc." Indeed, a recent NPD Group study found that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-majority-of-core-gamers-in-the-us-prefer-discs-over-digital/1100-6419625/" data-ref-id="1100-6419625">74 percent of American gamers</a> would choose a physical copy of a game over a digital unit if pricing was the same.</p><blockquote data-align="left"><p dir="ltr" style="">"There's obviously this emotional relationship to the physical disc" -- Ryan Calnan</p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="">When PlayStation Now was originally announced in January during the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestop-shares-plummet-after-sony-announces-playstation-now/1100-6416991/" data-ref-id="1100-6416991">shares of retailer GameStop tumbled</a>, though they have since rebounded.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Also during our interview with Calnan, we quizzed him about when we might see Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U games in Redbox kiosks nationwide. He said Redbox has already launched a pilot program in 10 markets (Denver, Seattle, Chicago, and Atlanta are a few), and the response has been positive.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We are testing new-generation product in select markets. We're encouraged by our success so far where we've been testing this product," Calnan said. "We're excited to be rolling this product out over a period of time as our customers transition from the current gen over to the new-generation systems."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">While the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have shown positive signs right out of the gate in the test regions, the same can't be said for the Wii U, Calnan said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been very happy with the success of Xbox One and PS4; I think we've had a little bit slower [uptake] on the Wii U, much like the retail marketplace," Calnan said. It's no secret that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">the Wii U has struggled</a>, but Nintendo <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-wii-u-on-the-brink-of-success-no-plans-to-drop-the-gamepad/1100-6420610/" data-ref-id="1100-6420610">sees better times ahead</a>, thanks in part to the release of marquee titles like<a href="/mario-kart-8/" data-ref-id="false"> Mario Kart 8</a> last month and mascot brawler <a href="/super-smash-bros-for-wii-u/" data-ref-id="false">Super Smash Bros. </a>this fall.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581454" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581454"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581454-redbox2.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">So when will Xbox One, PS4, and Wii U games be rolled out to a wider market at Redbox? Right now, it simply makes more business sense to keep the kiosks stuffed with last-generation games because the install base is so much larger than it is for current-generation systems. But Calnan expects that, over time, this will shift.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"For us, it's about adoption to that [new-generation console]," Calnan said. "We obviously have an incredible base of customers that already own the [last-generation consoles] and we're just waiting as they transition over. But we want to make sure that we can offer the current-gen product to all those customers who have not yet transferred over."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Redbox rolled out its video game rental program in 2011, and the company has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/?preview=1/" data-ref-id="1100-6420832">no plans to slow down anytime soon</a>. Why is it that Redbox has found success where others haven't? According to Calnan, Redbox hits two major notes better than anyone else out there: convenience and price.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"You don't have to make a dedicated trip to find a Redbox. If you're going to pick up milk and bread or you're putting gas in your car, Redbox is there," Calnan said. "And that really gives the opportunity to go ahead and try out the product. A dedicated trip is obviously something where you have to think, 'Oh, I've got to go out and do this.' Redbox is on the way, and very, very convenient because of that. And that $2/day to try out a game, it's a pretty compelling argument for somebody who may not know everything about the latest title that's come out and wants to try it out."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/redbox-not-worried-about-streaming-eating-away-at-rental-business/1100-6420832/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k15-cover-announced-john-cena-check-out-the-cover-update/1100-6420839/ <p style="">UPDATE:</p><p style="">And it's official; John Cena is the cover star of <a href="/wwe-2k15/" data-ref-id="false">WWE 2K15</a>. You can check out the cover below from the official <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEgames/statuses/483764143661387776" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">WWE twitter account</a>!</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583020" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583020"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2583020-bras7npcyaaknsi.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style=""><em>The original story appears below:</em></p><p style=""> </p><p style="">If you've been wondering which wrestler is going to grace the cover of WWE 2K15, you're not going to have to wait much longer.</p><p style="">According to a tweet from WWEGames the reveal is happening tonight during RAW.</p><div data-embed-type="html"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p style="">Tonight is the Night: Tune in to Monday Night <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RAW?src=hash" rel="nofollow">#RAW</a> where <a href="https://twitter.com/StephMcMahon" rel="nofollow">@StephMcMahon</a> will reveal the cover Superstar for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWE2K15?src=hash" rel="nofollow">#WWE2K15</a>. <a href="http://t.co/TL5osBt7vl" rel="nofollow">pic.twitter.com/TL5osBt7vl</a></p> — WWE 2K (@WWEgames) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEgames/statuses/483731937308053504" rel="nofollow">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote><script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async=""></script></div><p style="">We'll update this story with the announcement when it goes live later tonight, but who do you think it's going to be? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></p> Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 17:20:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k15-cover-announced-john-cena-check-out-the-cover-update/1100-6420839/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-ps4-last-of-us-is-60fps-nintendo-doesn-t-c/2300-6420004/ Nintendo says they don't compare their games to others, Naughty Dog teases Last of Us Remastered in 60fps and Steam passes 8 million concurrent users! Mon, 30 Jun 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-ps4-last-of-us-is-60fps-nintendo-doesn-t-c/2300-6420004/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor-now-playing/2300-6420002/ Justin Haywald travels through time with the latest addition to World of Warcraft. Watch as he explores the new zones, updated character models and new additions! Join the chat and let us know if Warlords of Draenor offers enough to bring you back! Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:55:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/world-of-warcraft-warlords-of-draenor-now-playing/2300-6420002/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-s-exclusive-comic-con-2014-collectibles-announced/1100-6420835/ <p style="">Blizzard may save their big gaming news for their own personal convention, Blizzcon, but like every year, San Diego Comic-Con is the place where the company reveals their new game-based toys and figurines.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Straight from Blizzard itself, here are the item descriptions. You can click on any image to see a larger version.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"> </th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Funko Pop! Vinyl—Primal Kerrigan</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm/" data-ref-id="false">StarCraft II</a></p><p style="">Back from her vacation on Zerus, Kerrigan has got her groove back and gone primal! Primal Kerrigan is an SDCC-exclusive variant of her Pop! Vinyl figure and is limited to 2,500.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581476" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581476"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581476-kerrigan.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Cute But Deadly Cloaking Zeratul</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/starcraft-ii-heart-of-the-swarm/" data-ref-id="false">StarCraft II</a></p><p style="">He's cute. He's deadly. He's invisible-ish (and so is his box). Blizzard's Cute But Deadly figure line continues with this comical cloaked variant of the not-so-comical Dark Templar (limited to 2,500 pieces).</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581477" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581477"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581477-zeratul.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Whimsyshire Treasure Goblin Plush</strong></p><p style=""><a href="/diablo-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Diablo III</a></p><p style="">Trapped among the rainbows and unicorn meadows of Whimsyshire, this Treasure Goblin's gone (adorably) native! Catch one for a lifetime of snuggles . . . or don't and regret it forever. This Whimsyshire variant is limited to 3,500 pieces.</p><p style=""><i>Standard Treasure Goblin coloring coming to the Blizzard Gear Store</i></p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581479" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581479"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581479-goblin.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td>The following items will be available at the con, but you'll also be able to purchase them at the Blizzard online store</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Cute But Deadly Shirt for Men and Women</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583015" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2583015"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2583015-unnamed.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">StarCrafts Zergling Plush Keychain</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581486" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581486"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581486-starcrafts.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Hearthstone Plush with Light and Sound Effects</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581487" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581487"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581487-hearthstone.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr><tr><td><p style="">Blizzard Heroes and Villains Lanyard</p></td><td><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581488" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581488"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2581488-lanyard.jpg"></a></figure></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="">Anything you're looking forward to buying first-hand (or from second-hand sellers when they put it up on ebay)?</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a></strong></p><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 14:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/blizzard-s-exclusive-comic-con-2014-collectibles-announced/1100-6420835/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-island-epidemic-beta-code-giveaway/1100-6419062/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419949" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419949/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Did you miss your chance to get in on the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dead-island-epidemic/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Island: Epidemic</a> beta back in April? Well, now's your chance to finally check out the world's first ZOMBA (Zombie MOBA).</p><p style="">GameSpot is giving away a second wave of beta codes to Dead Island: Epidemic, a fast-paced action game where players will duke it out over supply points, using an arsenal of crafted weaponry, a bevy of devastating powers, and good old-fashioned teamwork.</p><p style="">Enter your email address below to receive a Steam key while supplies last. These keys do not have any territory restrictions so invite any friend from any where to play!</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div id="woobox-root"> </div><script type="text/javascript">/* <![CDATA[ */ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//woobox.com/js/plugins/woo.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'woobox-sdk')); // ]]></script><div class="woobox-offer" data-offer="rkqisd"> </div></div><p style=""> </p><p style=""><strong>How to Redeem Your Code: </strong></p><p style="">In order to activate this key, you will need to <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/about/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">download the Steam client</a> if you haven't already. </p><p style="">Once installed, you will need to create an account before you can log in to Steam. When you have logged in, please follow these instructions to activate your key on Steam:</p><ol><li>Launch the Steam client software and log into your Steam account.</li><li>Click the Games Menu.</li><li>Choose Activate a Product on Steam.</li><li>Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.</li></ol><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-island-epidemic-beta-code-giveaway/1100-6419062/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-dev-hoping-for-a-modern-warfare-style-new-era/1100-6420833/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6419441" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419441/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The release of <a href="/call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare</a> in 2007 was not only a major moment for the series and publisher Activision, but the industry as a whole--it's proven to be one of the most influential games of the last decade. With <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/2014-s-call-of-duty-described-as-the-best-ever-created/1100-6417578/" data-ref-id="1100-6417578">three years of work</a> going into this year's <a href="/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare</a>, the game's developer is hoping to create something similarly special.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We looked back at the history of Call of Duty, and I don't know if you remember when Modern Warfare came out, for those of us in the industry who weren't at Activision at the time, it really blew us away," said Sledgehammer Games co-founder Glen Schofield in an interview with <a href="http://www.totalxbox.com/78741/sledgehammer-wants-cod-advanced-warfare-to-be-a-modern-warfare-style-series-reboot/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Official Xbox Magazine</a>. "To us it really ushered in a new era of Call of Duty," he continued. "It puts you in the shoes of a Tier 1 soldier, in the Middle East--it was realistic, the sound, the audio, the look of it was just unbelievable. We wanted to try and capture that same feeling in this game."</p><blockquote data-size="small" data-align="right"><p dir="ltr" style="">"We're really trying to usher in something pretty special here." -- Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey</p></blockquote><p dir="ltr" style="">It's easy to forget now, both because it's been the better part of a decade and because Call of Duty has been such a huge part of the industry ever since, but prior to Call of Duty 4, the series wasn't the big deal it is today. Of the series' early games, <a href="/call-of-duty-2/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 2</a>, in particular, was acclaimed for its take on World War II, but back then it was <a href="/halo-2/" data-ref-id="false">Halo</a> that was still viewed by many as the predominant first-person shooter on the market. That all changed with Call of Duty 4, which moved the series to the modern day and established the franchise as one of the biggest the games industry has ever seen.</p><p style="">Schofield is arguably putting a lot of pressure on Advanced Warfare by bringing up what some feel remains Call of Duty's best game, but fellow Sledgehammer co-founder Michael Condrey also has high expectations, as he said, "[W]e're really trying to usher in something pretty special here."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The full three years gave us the time to develop the technology, to focus on the creative, to do the research, to really maximize the experience, and again to push this new generation, to get every last ounce of horsepower out of it, and not to be in any way constrained by tech or in terms of ideas, by the previous generation of hardware," Condrey said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is the first time a new generation of consoles has come along since Call of Duty hit it big, as well as the first time Sledgehammer has led development on a title. Last year's <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a> was released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in addition to last-generation systems, but Advanced Warfare is being built with the former more firmly in mind.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Its developer hasn't shied away from building up excitement for the game prior to this, either; we know it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-wants-call-of-duty-to-be-talked-about-as-much-as-game-of-thrones/1100-6419503/" data-ref-id="1100-6419503">wants a Red Wedding-level moment</a>, and, ahead of the event earlier this month, Sledgehammer said Advance Warfare's showing at E3 would be "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-e3-2014-showing-will-be-incredibly-special/1100-6419696/" data-ref-id="1100-6419696">incredibly special</a>." Whether or not you feel it lived up to that claim, what we have seen does look promising, and we know the story (which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advance-warfare-s-story-took-over-two-years-to-write/1100-6419699/" data-ref-id="1100-6419699">took more than two years to write</a>) is a point of emphasis.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Advance Warfare is scheduled for release on November 4 on Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. (The last-gen versions are being <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-xbox-360-ps3-made-by-transformers-dev/1100-6420138/" data-ref-id="1100-6420138">made by High Moon Studios</a>.) For more, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-three-things-i-learned-after-seeing-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare/1100-6420376/" data-ref-id="1100-6420376">check out our latest preview</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-dev-hoping-for-a-modern-warfare-style-new-era/1100-6420833/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/blackpaw-orcs-must-die-unchained-gameplay/2300-6420000/ Check out this Beta footage of the hero BlackPaw from the game Orcs Must Die! Unchained. Mon, 30 Jun 2014 13:11:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/blackpaw-orcs-must-die-unchained-gameplay/2300-6420000/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-3-finished-in-less-than-24-minutes-for-new-world-record/1100-6420831/ <div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT4t9EHIneo" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FYT4t9EHIneo%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYT4t9EHIneo&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">As an open-world Bethesda game, <a href="/fallout-3/" data-ref-id="false">Fallout 3</a> is one of those games that provides you with a huge number of options in terms of how to play it. As it turns out, one of those options is to blow through the whole thing in about the same amount of time as it takes to watch an episode of<em> South Park</em> or cook a piece of chicken.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As the above video (via <a href="http://kotaku.com/fallout-3-beaten-in-under-24-minutes-a-new-world-recor-1598084611" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Kotaku</a>) demonstrates, speedrunner <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/BubblesDelFuego" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">BubblesDelFuego </a>managed to complete a run of Fallout 3 in just 23 minutes and 55 seconds. As an "any percentage" run, the only real objective is to make it to the game's ending in as little time as possible. 23:55 is reportedly a world record for Fallout 3.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">If you watch the full video (it won't take long!), you'll notice some unusual techniques for getting through the game so quickly. As detailed in <a href="http://kraflab.com/fallout3.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">this FAQ</a> on Fallout 3 speedruns, these include pushing NPC characters along so that they reach their destinations faster and skipping dialogue by using quick saves and quick loads.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In other words, the run you see above will likely look a great deal different from how the game ordinarily plays. Perhaps most notably, at least in my mind, is how effective running in a mostly straight line can be--it sure does make those well-equipped Enclave soldiers look like a bunch of doofuses.</p><p style="">You can keep track of the top times for Fallout 3 speedruns in <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eXydI6YOExBzwLuVC6Le3F50YTRwIdMx9YKtp9gj4IU" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">this document</a>. You likely won't see BubblesDelFuego setting many new times, as the description of this world record video reads, "Pretty solid, I won't try to improve unless something big is found, or if the record is taken by some good competition."</p><p style="">For more mind-blowing speedruns, check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-2-completed-in-20-minutes/1100-6420071/" data-ref-id="1100-6420071">Dark Souls II being completed in 20 minutes</a> or the original <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-someone-beat-super-mario-bros-in-under-5-minutes/1100-6420775/" data-ref-id="1100-6420775">Super Mario Bros. being tackled in less than five</a>. Let us now if you've ever attempted one before in your gaming career in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/fallout-3-finished-in-less-than-24-minutes-for-new-world-record/1100-6420831/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-concert-series-begins-touring-in-august/1100-6420829/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2581389" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581389"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2581389-pokemon+symphony.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Pokémon fans will have the opportunity to experience the music from the series' handheld RPGs in a new way later this year, as The Pokémon Company today announced a live orchestral concert tour that begins with a show in Washington, D.C. in August.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Entitled Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions, the concerts will feature music from games spanning the full series, beginning with <a href="/pokemon-red-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Red</a> and <a href="/pokemon-blue-version/" data-ref-id="false">Blue</a> and running up through <a href="/pokemon-x/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon X </a>and <a href="/pokemon-y/" data-ref-id="false">Y</a>. Today's announcement notes that Symphonic Evolutions is bringing together some of the key producers of the The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert series, which toured during 2012 and 2013.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The list of games whose music has been confirmed to be featured in the concerts (alongside "carefully timed visuals") are as follows:</p><ul><li dir="ltr">Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue, <a href="/pokemon-yellow-version-special-pikachu-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Yellow</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-gold-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Gold</a> and <a href="/pokemon-silver-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Silver</a>, <a href="/pokemon-crystal-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Crystal</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-ruby-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Ruby</a> and <a href="/pokemon-sapphire-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Sapphire</a>, <a href="/pokemon-emerald-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Emerald</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-diamond-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Diamond</a> and <a href="/pokemon-pearl-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Pearl</a>, <a href="/pokemon-platinum-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Platinum</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/pokemon-black-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Black</a> and <a href="/pokemon-white-version/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon White</a></li><li dir="ltr">Pokémon X and Pokémon Y</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="">The first of these concerts will be held on Friday, August 15 in Washington, D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (<a href="http://concerts.livenation.com/event/15004CDB1416CE1C?dma_id=364" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Get tickets here</a>.) This date is significant because the following two days are when the 2014 Pokémon World Championships will be held in Washington, D.C., making it an opportune time for Pokémon fans to pay the capital of the United States a visit.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A second performance will be held in Philadelphia, PA, on September 19 at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. (<a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02004CDAC7AB6FEC" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Get tickets here</a>.) Ticket prices for the announced shows range from $50-$82.25 for the first show, and $14.50-$79.50 for the second--not counting those damnable service fees.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">More details on additional shows will be made available through <a href="http://PokemonSymphony.com" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">PokemonSymphony.com</a> in the months to come.</p><p style="">Pokémon fans also have a pair of games to look forward to later this year, as remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire are scheduled to be released for 3DS <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-pokemon-omega-ruby-alpha-sapphire-launching-november-21/1100-6420325/" data-ref-id="1100-6420325">on November 21</a> as <a href="/pokemon-alpha-sapphire/" data-ref-id="false">Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:10:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-concert-series-begins-touring-in-august/1100-6420829/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/analog-3-games-to-play-after-super-time-force/2300-6419992/ Travel in time on a retro rampage as Lisa Foiles suggests some games to whiz through once you're done with Super Time Force. Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/analog-3-games-to-play-after-super-time-force/2300-6419992/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-veteran-developer-cliff-bleszinski-coming-out-of-retirement/1100-6420828/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Veteran <a href="/gears-of-war/" data-ref-id="false">Gears of War </a>designer Cliff Bleszinski, who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-out-at-epic-games/1100-6397630/" data-ref-id="1100-6397630">left Epic Games in late 2012 after 20 years with the company</a>, is "coming out of retirement," and will reveal his new project sometime in the next week.</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581384" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581384"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2581384-cliff.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I'm officially coming out of retirement to make video games again," Bleszinski <a href="https://twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/483650607211765761" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. "Stay tuned here for details in the next 7 days!" This tweet was accompanied by the hashtag "#DontCallItAComeback."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He drummed up further anticipation for his announcement by <a href="https://twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/483669589817950209" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">adding</a>, "It's going to be a blast to finally tell the story of what brought me back."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Though Bleszinski has been "retired," he's not left the gaming industry altogether. He's attended various industry events like PAX East and E3 in the past year. He also made headlines when he called <a href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft </a>creator Markus "Notch" Persson a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-calls-notch-a-pouty-kid-for-canceling-minecraft-vr/1100-6418579/" data-ref-id="1100-6418579">pouty kid</a>" when he canceled the virtual reality version of Minecraft after<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/facebook-buys-oculus-rift-company-in-a-massive-deal-worth-an-estimated-2-billion/1100-6418540/" data-ref-id="1100-6418540"> Facebook bought Oculus VR in March</a>. Bleszinski was an early investor in Oculus VR, saying in March that he stands to make a "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-calls-notch-a-pouty-kid-for-canceling-minecraft-vr/1100-6418579/" data-ref-id="1100-6418579">very sizable chunk of money</a>" from Facebook's acquisition of the company.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for what Bleszinski's new game might be, he's previously talked about starting a studio and working on <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-wants-to-redefine-his-legacy/1100-6401537/" data-ref-id="1100-6401537">new IP called Silverstreak</a>. This project (potentially a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-has-a-pitch-for-a-new-first-person-shooter-and-it-doesn-t-sound-like-gears-of-war/1100-6416681/" data-ref-id="1100-6416681">fast-paced arena shooter</a>) has reportedly been "gestating slowly" for some time. He also <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/bleszinski-teases-new-project/1100-6412359/" data-ref-id="1100-6412359">released some concept art last year</a>, but it's unknown if it's related to whatever he is going to announce in the next week.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's unclear what form this new game might take, but Bleszinski said previously that he <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-wants-to-redefine-his-legacy/1100-6401537/" data-ref-id="1100-6401537">wants to redefine his legacy</a>. What do you think Bleszinski's next gaming project will be? Let us know in the comments below!</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-veteran-developer-cliff-bleszinski-coming-out-of-retirement/1100-6420828/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-boss-addresses-virtual-reality-s-dork-factor-origin-vs-steam/1100-6420827/ <figure data-ref-id="1300-2581368" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg" data-size="large" data-align="center" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581368"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2581368-oculus.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Electronic Arts didn't launch Origin--what many would simply describe as a Steam competitor--simply to compete with Valve's digital distribution service. Instead, it did so because of the type of future it expects to see, according to a recent interview with COO Peter Moore, who also discussed one of the major hurdles--what he calls the "dork factor"--that VR headsets like the Oculus Rift will have to overcome.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I think Steam does a fabulous job," Moore told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-30-ea-hopes-to-benefit-from-great-fight-among-consoles-moore" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="2014-06">GamesIndustry International</a>. "They have a great catalog of games. It's got a broader catalog than we do, and a different focus on the business model than we have. We didn't go into business to compete with Steam. We went into business because we saw the future being direct-to-consumer."</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2581379" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2581379"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/123/1239113/2581379-pvz.jpg"></a><figcaption>One of several games given away through Origin.</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Origin is one of several services that some gamers write off as being Steam clones which offer nothing more than Valve's platform. Despite the naysayers, Origin has established a sizable user base of more than 50 million users. And although a number of those users likely signed up only because certain games (such as <a href="/simcity/" data-ref-id="false">SimCity</a>) require Origin, EA has made commendable moves to encourage people to use it by choice. Moore points to two examples in particular: the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dead-space-free-on-origin-as-the-first-title-in-ea-s-on-the-house-promotion/1100-6418601/" data-ref-id="1100-6418601">"On the House" program</a> that gives away copies of games for free (including <a href="/battlefield-3/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 3</a>, <a href="/plants-vs-zombies/" data-ref-id="false">Plants vs. Zombies</a>, and <a href="/dead-space/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Space</a>), and the policy of allowing unsatisfied customers to return a digital game within 24 hours of purchase.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Many companies are accused of regarding PCs as an afterthought: Microsoft's support has been questioned for years (despite its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-pc-gaming-we-re-very-dedicated-to-that-space/1100-6417683/" data-ref-id="1100-6417683">proclamations</a>), Ubisoft often releases its games <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-explains-why-assassins-creed-launches-last-on-pc/1100-6415282/" data-ref-id="1100-6415282">later on PC than on consoles</a>, and countless companies have <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-souls-pc-port-was-half-assed-says-director/1100-6406838/" data-ref-id="1100-6406838">released subpar versions of their games on PC</a>. EA, on other hand, has made a strong investment in PC gaming over the years, according to Moore.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been making games for the PC platform before [Valve managing director] Gabe Newell was graduating high school," Moore said. "And we've been the number one publisher forever, and have been the one developer/publisher that has supported the PC platform even more than Microsoft over the years. Yeah, you may say that's a low bar, but that's who we are, and our roots."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for whether virtual reality could be the next area EA makes a big investment in remains to be seen. We've already heard EA is hesitant to do much with VR <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/don-t-expect-battlefield-or-mass-effect-in-virtual-reality-anytime-soon/1100-6419469/" data-ref-id="1100-6419469">until it has a sizable install base</a>, a sentiment Moore reiterated. "We keep looking at it," he said, "but there's not much to jump on board towards right now."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">He did go on to make an interesting note about one problem that companies like Oculus VR, maker of the Oculus Rift, will be faced with as they attempt to turn VR headsets into the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/oculus-vr-aspires-to-create-an-mmo-world-with-1-billion-people-in-it/1100-6419518/" data-ref-id="1100-6419518">mainstream products they aspire to be</a>. "It's an incredibly immersive experience, but it's you," Moore said. "You're inside this world and you're oblivious and of course, you can't see. You hope it doesn't get what I'll call the Segway effect: incredible technology that kinda looks dorky. Or the Google Glass effect, which is the dork factor that goes with that."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This isn't to say Moore is down on VR, but he simply foresees this as being a challenge. "And that's what we have to overcome, because I think the tech is great," he continued. "These things done right, commercialized so they can be truly a consumer device with plenty of innovative content to go with it, feel like a blast."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Do you think the way VR headsets look will stop you from picking one up once they begin being sold to consumers, or do you only care about whether the VR experience is any good? Let us know in the comments below.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/thesmokingmanx" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 11:27:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-boss-addresses-virtual-reality-s-dork-factor-origin-vs-steam/1100-6420827/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-trailer-gets-a-shot-for-shot-real-life-remake/1100-6420826/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YThkirVXzoU" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FYThkirVXzoU%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYThkirVXzoU&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FYThkirVXzoU%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Rockstar Games <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-grand-theft-auto-has-not-been-made-into-a-movie-yet/1100-6416692/" data-ref-id="1100-6416692">isn't making a Grand Theft Auto movie anytime soon</a>, but some superfans have now shown us what <a href="/grand-theft-auto-v/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto V</a> might look like in real life. A group of Spanish filmmakers called Zapruder Pictures have created an epic shot-for-shot remake of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/videos/announcement-trailer-break-down-grand-theft-auto-v/2300-6343662/" data-ref-id="2300-6343662">GTA V's first trailer</a>, which originally debuted in late 2012.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The live-action video is a meticulous remake of the trailer, featuring appropriately clothed actors, similar camera angles, and a recreation of the crop dusting flyover scene. Of course, there's some CG featured in the video that is used for car crashes and helicopter scenes. But it's still impressive all the same.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Writing on Twitter, Rockstar Games called the video "<a href="https://twitter.com/RockstarGames/status/483656454331576320" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Awesome!</a>" For more on the live-action GTA V trailer remake, check out this special <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8dUflecxlw&list=PLzmsRNDVB6512BrH4TBtos2qk-eD8uzP-" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">behind-the-scenes video</a>, but be aware that it's in Spanish. Zapruder Pictures has also created short movies based on franchises like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6AlWv-DvoU&list=UUwCbPN0cMU8yNIklhWhi9Dw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZz5hFrQrrw&list=PLzmsRNDVB653Nw3keNqzz7BG9XZN77Naz" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Max Payne</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">GTA V launched in September 2013 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-v-sales-reach-1-billion-in-three-days/1100-6414762/" data-ref-id="1100-6414762">generated $1 billion in 72 hours</a>, and went on to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-ships-33-million-copies-as-take-two-posts-record-annual-profit/1100-6419609/" data-ref-id="1100-6419609">ship more than 33 million copies</a>. That figure is likely to grow, as the game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-gta-5-for-xbox-ps4-pc-has-increased-draw-distances-better-resolution-new-wildlife/1100-6420302/" data-ref-id="1100-6420302">will be released for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC</a> this fall--and don't worry, your Grand Theft Auto Online characters will carry forward.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-5-trailer-gets-a-shot-for-shot-real-life-remake/1100-6420826/
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