News Report: September 2013
Translated with AI from the Russian original.
The main event of September was the release of Grand Theft Auto V, Valve decided to move towards creating its own gaming platform, the PS Vita console received a new revision, and free-to-play games continue their offensive.
The main event of September was the release of Grand Theft Auto V, Valve decided to move towards creating its own gaming platform, the PS Vita console received a new revision, and free-to-play games continue their offensive.
Main Events
The total development and marketing costs for Grand Theft Auto V amounted to 265 million dollars. Only the creators of the film “Pirates of the Caribbean 3” spent more — 300 million dollars. But within the first day, GTA V sales reached 800 million dollars — the most successful launch in the history of the entertainment industry (cinema, music, games). And within three days, the sum reached 1 billion dollars.
Valve officially announced the SteamOS operating system. The system is based on Linux, will be distributed for free, and is designed specifically for TV and the living room. Devices running this OS will be able to stream games launched on a home computer to the TV. In addition, SteamOS will allow you to access music and video.
About Steam OS-based devices, it is only known that there will be many from different manufacturers. So far, Valve has announced its intention to distribute 300 prototypes for testing for free. Nvidia Corporation is participating in the development of SteamOS and corresponding hardware solutions.
The main surprise from Valve was the announcement of the unusual Steam Controller gamepad. Its main elements are two high-resolution circular trackpads. According to Valve, the trackpads guarantee more precise input than traditional controllers. Thanks to the trackpads, the Steam Controller is also perfectly suited for strategies. In the center of the controller is a touch-sensitive display that allows for a variety of actions. Thanks to a compatibility mode that allows the controller to emulate a mouse and keyboard, the Steam Controller can be used with all games from the service's library. Participants in the Steam OS device beta test will be able to try out the innovative controller.
Shortly before the SteamOS announcement, Valve representatives announced a new feature for the Steam service, called Family Sharing. After Family Sharing launches, your family members and close friends will be able to play your games, earning their own achievements and saving progress on cloud servers. After gaining access to a friend's game library, you can browse it and send a request to download a game. Up to 10 devices can be added to a home group, but only one user will have access to the shared library at a time. The beta test of the new feature has already started.
In 2000, seven Chinese ministries jointly banned the production, sale, and import of game consoles in China. As it became known, foreign companies will soon be able to manufacture and import game consoles within the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, and these devices (after obtaining the appropriate permission from the Ministry of Culture) can be sold throughout China. When exactly the ban will be lifted is not yet reported.
In the past month, a new revision of PS Vita was announced — 20% thinner and 15% lighter than the original model. In addition, the OLED screen was replaced with an LCD, the console received a Micro-USB port and 1 GB of built-in memory for game saves. Finally, it works about an hour longer on a single charge. The new model launches in Japan on October 10 at a price of 18980 yen (about 190 dollars).
Sega acquired the Japanese company Index Corporation, which owned the development studio and publisher Atlus. As a result, Sega gained control over series such as Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and Etrian Odyssey.
Microsoft announced the official release date for Xbox One — November 22 of this year. On this day, the next-generation console will be available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the USA, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. As you can easily see, Russia is not on this list.
Six months after John Riccitiello left his post as head of Electronic Arts, the name of his successor was finally revealed. It turned out to be Andrew Wilson, not Peter Moore, as many expected. Mr. Wilson has been with EA since 2000 and during that time has been noted for managing the EA Sports division and participating in the launch of the Origin service.
Bungie's lead designer and writer, Joe Staten, announced that he had decided to leave the studio. Joe worked at Bungie for 15 years, actively participated in the creation of the Myth series, all Halo installments, and was the creative director of the unreleased shooter Destiny.
Former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi passed away on September 19 at the age of 85. He joined the company in 1949 and worked until 2002. Under Hiroshi Yamauchi's leadership, Nintendo shifted from playing cards to the gaming industry and released consoles such as NES, Super Nintendo, GameBoy, Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, and GameCube, as well as creating many popular series and characters.
Technologies
At launch, Xbox One owners will not be able to use external storage devices for games and multimedia data. But in the future (no exact date yet), this feature will become available.
Xbox One will support simultaneous connection of up to eight controllers, which can be within 9 meters of the console. Also, up to four different applications can be launched on the console. Of course, only one game can be launched at a time.
The PlayStation 4 console, in turn, will «see» no more than 4 controllers simultaneously.
During the Tokyo Game Show, Sony representatives announced that PS4 users will be able to record gameplay via the console's HDMI output to external recorders.
The Yei Technology team is raising funds for the creation of PrioVR — a sensory system worn on the arms and legs. It accurately transmits all your movements to a computer character. The system works in conjunction with the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.
The Sixense team, responsible for the Razer Hydra controller, is developing the STEM System motion controller. STEM consists of a base station and 2 to 5 wireless sensor controllers used to track hand, leg, and head movements.
In February 2014, the VrAse accessory will go on sale. This device, in conjunction with modern smartphones, transforms into an analog of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.
Rumors
According to The Verge, PC and Windows Phone users may get the opportunity to play Halo 4 and other Xbox 360 games using a new cloud service, which currently has no name.
Sucker Punch Creative Director Nate Fox hinted in an interview with DualShockersTV that PS Vita users are in for a surprise in the form of inFamous. Whether it's a port of inFamous: Second Son or a new installment in the series is unknown.
Actor Vin Diesel confirmed that Tigon Studios is working on a game based on The Chronicles of Riddick universe. Moreover, the idea is an online game where users can play the roles of various mercenaries. Detailed information about the project is not yet available.
Games
The creator of games such as Mega Man, Dead Rising, and Soul Sacrifice, Keiji Inafune launched The Mighty No. 9 project on Kickstarter. This 2D action game is a spiritual successor to Mega Man. Currently, the developers have over 2.5 million dollars (they initially planned to raise 900 thousand). The game will be released on PC, Xbox 360, PS3, and WiiU.
Ubisoft announced that the HD re-release of Assassin's Creed: Liberation, which was released on PS Vita last year, will appear on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. The spin-off was noticeably inferior to the original trilogy in terms of scale, but it stood out for its variety and impressive main character.
Ubisoft also announced the project Child of Light, created under the influence of traditional Japanese role-playing games. The game will feature many puzzles, as well as classic turn-based battles. The creators promise at least ten hours of gameplay.
Blizzard finally admitted the obvious: the auction house in Diablo 3 violates the main concept of the game — killing monsters for valuable loot. Therefore, it will be removed from the PC version of Diablo 3 in March 2014.
The promising PS4 exclusive from Capcom, Deep Down, will use a free-to-play distribution model.
The competitive multiplayer action game in the Legacy of Kain universe, called Nosgoth, will also be free-to-play.
Best Trailers and Gameplay Demonstrations
- Trailer and demonstration of Dragon Age: Inquisition
- 15 minutes of Watch Dogs
- Trailer for Shadow Warrior
- Trailer for The Evil Within
- Story trailer for the Call of Duty: Ghosts campaign
- Trailer for Sonic: Lost Worlds
- TGS demonstration of Metal Gear Solid V
- TGS trailer for Final Fantasy XV
- Opening cinematic for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
- 20 minutes of The Evil Within
Movie Impressions
Reviews
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of Shadows
- Payday 2
- Saints Row 4
- Splinter Cell: Blacklist
- Soul Sacrifice
- Killzone: Mercenary
- The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Diablo 3 (Xbox 360, PS3)
- Killer is Dead
- Rayman Legends
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Ultimate Edition
- The Wonderful 101
Gaming Device Reviews
- Keyboard Roccat Isku FX
- Portable Keyboard Razer Orbweaver
Summary and Other Articles
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