Gameplanet Australia Latest updates from Gameplanet - Australia's #1 destination for gamers. Sat, 25 May 2013 15:30:11 +1000 Zend_Feed_Writer 1.11.11 (http://framework.zend.com) http://www.gameplanet.com.au/ contact@gameplanet.com.au (Gameplanet) Gameplanet Xbox One and PS4 "a generation ahead of the highest end PC" – EA CTO EA’s chief technology officer Rajat Teneja says that the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are a generation ahead of the best PCs on the market.

“Both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have adopted electronics and an integrated systems-on-a -chip (soc) architecture that unleashes magnitudes more compute and graphics power than the current generation of consoles,” wrote Teneja in a post on LinkedIn.

“These architectures are a generation ahead of the highest end PC on the market and their unique design of the hardware, the underlying operating system and the live service layer create one of the most compelling platforms to reimagine game mechanics.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 14:44:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032852.20130524.Xbox-One-and-PS4-a-generation-ahead-of-the-highest-end-PC-EA-CTO/?utm_source=rss Article#1032852 US Square Enix president Mike Fischer has quit Mike Fischer is no longer president and CEO of Square Enix North America.

As reported by Polygon, Square Enix has confirmed that Fischer quit earlier this month.

He had been in the role since July 2010.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 14:15:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032842.20130524.US-Square-Enix-president-Mike-Fischer-has-quit/?utm_source=rss Article#1032842 Hands-on with the new Xbox One controller and Kinect 2.0 Games were clearly not the focus of the Xbox One reveal event.

Nonetheless, Microsoft still wanted to provide some sense of the improvements made to the hardware, so visiting journalists were treated to a series of so-called “interactive experiences”.
The first set of experiences was designed to showcase the new, redesigned controller. According to the minder of this particular demonstration, some 40 individual improvements have been made to the 360 controller’s design for the Xbox One version.

Immediately noticeable, Microsoft has completely redesigned the D-pad; while it retains the one-piece construction of its predecessor, each of the four points feels much more independent, clicking satisfyingly when pressed. At the same time, the slightly raised edges at the tips of each point lend them relatively well to rolling motions such as those used for Street-Fighter-style fighting games. On first impressions, it appears to find a happy medium between the D-pads utilised by the current Xbox 360 and PS3.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 13:17:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/features/1032832.20130524.Hands-on-with-the-new-Xbox-One-controller-and-Kinect-2.0/?utm_source=rss Article#1032832 Need for Speed Rivals teaser trailer EA has announced the next game in the Need for Speed franchise: Need for Speed Rivals. "It’s Cops versus Racers in this high stakes rivalry set on the open roads of Redview County. Play as the lone wolf Racer and make your way through epic car chases and high speed races. Or play as the Cops and work as a team to rid the streets of racers."

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 11:15:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/videos/1032822.20130524.Need-for-Speed-Rivals-teaser-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032822 Atari to auction all IP piece by piece After failing to find a buyer for its entire back catalogue, Atari will auction its IP piece by piece.

In January Atari filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and since convened with about 180 potential buyers only to receive 15 unsatisfactory bids for its entire catalogue.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Atari will hold auctions over four days in July, and is seeking a minimum of US$22.2 million (AU$22.9 million) in total.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 11:13:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032812.20130524.Atari-to-auction-all-IP-piece-by-piece/?utm_source=rss Article#1032812 The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing launch trailer The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is a real-time Action RPG loosely based on Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 10:43:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/videos/1032792.20130524.The-Incredible-Adventures-of-Van-Helsing-launch-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032792 Company of Heroes 2 story trailer This new story trailer for Company of Heroes 2 depicts the brutality of the war on the eastern front through the eyes of a war-weary Russian soldier. He recounts the futility and ferociousness of the conflict where the only options for those on the front lines were advance, or die.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 10:43:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/pc/videos/1032802.20130524.Company-of-Heroes-2-story-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032802 Dead Island studio announces free-running zombie title Dying Light Dead Island studio Techland has announced another zombie title: Dying Light.

The Polish studio said the game was a free-running zombie survival title with a day/night cycle.

Zombies are slow in daylight, but their numbers and strength increase at night.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 10:34:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/pc/news/1032782.20130524.Dead-Island-studio-announces-free-running-zombie-title-Dying-Light/?utm_source=rss Article#1032782 Need for Speed: Rivals announced by EA EA has announced Need for Speed: Rivals, the latest entry in the long-running racing franchise.

Rivals is in development at Ghost Games – EA’s newest studio – in partnership with Burnout and Need for Speed: Most Wanted developer Criterion Games.

The game will run on EA’s Frostbite 3 engine, and capture “the adrenaline and intensity of the street’s ultimate rivalry between cops and racers, in a stunning open road environment”, according to EA.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 10:08:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/playstation-4/news/1032762.20130524.Need-for-Speed-Rivals-announced-by-EA/?utm_source=rss Article#1032762 GRID 2 Dubai Endurance trailer In this GRID 2 gameplay video, developers head to Dubai and take part in an Endurance event.

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 09:51:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/videos/1032752.20130524.GRID-2-Dubai-Endurance-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032752 Destiny "The Law of the Jungle" trailer Activision and Bungie have released a new live-action/CG trailer for Destiny. "As a Guardian of the City sets out on an epic, action-packed adventure to reclaim our Solar System, he recalls the moment when he was first taught the most important lesson of all -- The Law of the Jungle."

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]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 09:47:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/playstation-4/videos/1032742.20130524.Destiny-The-Law-of-the-Jungle-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032742 “Microsoft did not target the highest-end graphics” – Xbox One engineer A Microsoft engineer says the company purposefully didn’t aim for the highest possible specs on the Xbox One.

Speaking in a video touting the power of the Xbox One, Microsoft’s silicon development general manager Greg Williams told Engadget that Microsoft's engineers “purposefully did not target the highest-end graphics”.

"We targeted more as a broad entertainment play and did it in an intelligent way," he said.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 14:04:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032732.20130523.-Microsoft-did-not-target-the-highest-end-graphics-Xbox-One-engineer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032732 Xbox One down-under: we speak with Microsoft's Phil Harrison What do you want your home console to do – to be – in five years’ time?

It’s a question that appears to drive the design imperative behind the Xbox One. Its predecessor, the Xbox 360, has endured some eight years as a game console despite its origins in the context of a 2004 world. And if there’s something that Microsoft can take away from this experience, it’s that modern hardware now – more than ever – needs to evolve with rapidly changing times. Simply put, it must not only fulfil the needs of today, but it must be flexible enough to accommodate whatever might lie ahead.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 12:53:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/features/1032722.20130523.Xbox-One-down-under-we-speak-with-Microsofts-Phil-Harrison/?utm_source=rss Article#1032722 Batman: Arkham Origins official trailer Taking place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous villains and assassins, Arkham Origins showcases a young, raw, unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 11:54:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/videos/1032712.20130523.Batman-Arkham-Origins-official-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032712 Call of Juarez: Gunslinger launch trailer Choose the specific gun fighting skills you want to develop and acquire new abilities to become the West's finest gunslinger.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 11:13:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/videos/1032702.20130523.Call-of-Juarez-Gunslinger-launch-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032702 Splinter Cell: Blacklist co-op trailer Splinter Cell Blacklist offers two player co-op mode with 4 mission types, 14 maps with 2 player split-screen.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:56:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/videos/1032682.20130523.Splinter-Cell-Blacklist-co-op-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032682 Resident Evil: Revelations launch trailer The fear that was originally brought to players in Resident Evil Revelations on the Nintendo 3DS system returns redefined for home consoles, says Capcom.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:55:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/videos/1032672.20130523.Resident-Evil-Revelations-launch-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032672 Battlefield 4 release date announced Battlefield 4 will be available from October 31, DICE has announced.

The game is confirmed for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.

“Powered by the advanced Frostbite 3 engine, Battlefield 4 delivers a genre-defining all-out war experience brought to life with unmatched visual and audio fidelity, superior character animations, and dynamic destruction that ensures no two matches are alike,” said DICE.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:21:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/pc/news/1032662.20130523.Battlefield-4-release-date-announced/?utm_source=rss Article#1032662 The indies react: No self-publishing on Xbox Live hands money to competitors Destructoid has gathered a number of developer reactions to the news that Microsoft won’t allow self-publishing on the new Xbox Live.

It's worth noting that Sony, Nintendo, and Valve all allow self-publishing on their respective game distribution platforms.

Brian Provinciano, creator of Retro City Rampage:

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:16:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032652.20130523.The-indies-react-No-self-publishing-on-Xbox-Live-hands-money-to-competitors/?utm_source=rss Article#1032652 Hardware: Shipbreakers "Baserunner" trailer Blackbird Interactive, the development team made up of the original creators of space combat RTS Homeworld and Homeworld 2, introduces the Baserunner in Hardware: Shipbreakers in this new trailer. "The history of these iconic, massive armored titans will mark just the beginning of information to come as we unfurl the deep lore of this online sci-fi RTS."

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:01:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/pc/videos/1032632.20130523.Hardware-Shipbreakers-Baserunner-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032632 Triple-A development "fundamentally broken" – former Trion Worlds GM The current model of triple-A game development is fundamentally broken, according to former Trion Worlds general manager and CCO Scott Hartsman.

Speaking with Massively, Hartsman made it clear that he was talking about the system rather than companies or individuals.

“I don't know of anyone who's hired with the intent of treating people disposably. No one ever wants that, even the companies frequently perceived as ‘evil’,” he said.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 09:01:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032622.20130523.Triple-A-development-fundamentally-broken-former-Trion-Worlds-GM/?utm_source=rss Article#1032622 Remedy explains absence of Alan Wake sequel Remedy creative director Sam Lake has taken to YouTube to explain why his studio is developing a new IP rather than an Alan Wake sequel.

Yesterday at Microsoft’s Xbox One reveal, Remedy announced a new IP by the name of Quantum Break, but many were hoping for Alan Wake 2.

“After the first game, we worked hard to make the sequel happen,” said Lake.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 08:52:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/news/1032602.20130523.Remedy-explains-absence-of-Alan-Wake-sequel/?utm_source=rss Article#1032602 Overhauled Xbox Live still won't allow indies to self publish Although Xbox Live is getting an overhaul, indie developers won’t be able to self-publish on the platform, Microsoft has confirmed.

With the launch of the Xbox One, the company is merging its Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Indie Game, and Xbox Games on Demand channels into one consolidated marketplace.

However, unlike PlayStation and Nintendo – both of which allow self-publishing in their respective eShops – Microsoft is insisting that indie developers be represented by third-party publishers or Microsoft itself.

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:58:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032592.20130523.Overhauled-Xbox-Live-still-wont-allow-indies-to-self-publish/?utm_source=rss Article#1032592 Ryse an Xbox One exclusive, launch title Ancient Rome first-person hack ‘n’ slash Ryse is an Xbox One exclusive, Crytek has announced.

It will also be a launch title for Microsoft’s new system.

Announced during E3 2010, Ryse was described as "Microsoft's new Gears of War/Halo mega launch title".

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]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:12:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032582.20130523.Ryse-an-Xbox-One-exclusive-launch-title/?utm_source=rss Article#1032582 Microsoft backpedals on Xbox One used game, always online statements Microsoft has stated that comments made today by its own employees about the Xbox One's always-online and used games functions were just “potential scenarios” rather than facts.

Regarding used games, Microsoft had told Wired earlier today that if an Xbox One game disc was used with an Xbox Live account it wasn’t registered to, the player would be given the option to pay a fee and install the game from the disc.

Microsoft vice president Phil Harrison then told Eurogamer that a second hand market would exist.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 19:21:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032572.20130522.Microsoft-backpedals-on-Xbox-One-used-game-always-online-statements/?utm_source=rss Article#1032572 Call of Duty: Ghosts preview No other franchise creates a rift in the gaming community the way Call of Duty does. For some gamers, Call of Duty represents the very epitome of disposable entertainment, war porn shipped annually in bulk to fraternity houses the world over; a game whose success is testament to the inevitable triumph of marketing over substance. There goes the neighbourhood.

But outside of those circles, there’s another, more enduring and more popular narrative: Call of Duty – a videogame, no less – is the world’s most popular entertainment product, one impatiently anticipated and rabidly received by many millions of fans each November, and one whose success legitimises an entire industry in the eyes of its peers in the wider field of entertainment. No Roger, games are big business now, just look at that Call a’ Doody.

From a stage in a converted warehouse in Santa Monica, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg points out to assembled press that you could count on one hand the intellectual properties that have the staying power of Call of Duty. Star Wars, maybe a few more. That’s true, and for that reason alone, asserts Hirshberg correctly, Call of Duty deserves admiration.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 16:41:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/previews/1032552.Call-of-Duty-Ghosts-preview/?utm_source=rss Article#1032552 Forza Motorsport 5 announcement trailer Forza Motorsport 5, from Turn 10 Studios, is "the latest edition of the highest-rated racing franchise of the past 10 years. Forza Motorsport 5 sets a new bar for racing games. With the power of Xbox and the cloud, no game better delivers the sensation of being behind the wheel. Available exclusively for launch."

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 11:07:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/videos/1032532.20130522.Forza-Motorsport-5-announcement-trailer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032532 Forza Motorsport 5 screenshots At today's Xbox One reveal, Microsoft Game Studios announced Forza Motorsport 5 for that console.

The game will be available for the console from its launch day on.

MGS also promised it was working on 14 other games for the Xbox One that would all come in the 12 months following the console's launch.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 09:59:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/galleries/1032522.20130522.Forza-Motorsport-5-screenshots/?utm_source=rss Article#1032522 Call of Duty: Ghosts screenshots Activision has released half a dozen screens of COD: Ghosts running on an Xbox One.

The big announcement today was that the game featured dogs as members of the player's squad.

The game – the tenth in the Call of Duty franchise – is in development at Infinity Ward, whose last COD title was 2011's Modern Warfare 3.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 09:48:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/galleries/1032512.20130522.Call-of-Duty-Ghosts-screenshots/?utm_source=rss Article#1032512 Xbox One interface screens Screens of Xbox One's interface - the dashboard, as well as DVR and TV menus.

Microsoft has extended the Kinect's voice recognition capabilities, so all menus may be navigated using that peripheral.

The company also touted the Xbox One's ability to run several applications at once, so expect dashboard access in-game.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 09:02:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/galleries/1032502.20130522.Xbox-One-interface-screens/?utm_source=rss Article#1032502 Xbox One hardware photos A mix of official photos from Microsoft and snaps from Chris Leggett, who is reporting from the Xbox One reveal event.

Microsoft made a point of revealing its hardware at the very beginning of this morning's event.

The Xbox One's controller looks similar to the Xbox 360 controller, but Microsoft says more than 40 changes were made.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/galleries/1032492.20130522.Xbox-One-hardware-photos/?utm_source=rss Article#1032492 Here are all the games confirmed for the Xbox One so far A number of developers have confirmed games they have in development for the Xbox One.

Microsoft Game Studios has plans for more than 15 exclusive games in the console's first year, eight of which are brand new franchises.

One of these games is Forza Motorsport 5, which will be a launch title.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 07:08:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032482.20130522.Here-are-all-the-games-confirmed-for-the-Xbox-One-so-far/?utm_source=rss Article#1032482 The new Kinect is always listening, can detect heartbeats The new Xbox will always be listening to you, even when it's switched off.

Xbox One comes bundled with a new version of Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral, and this must be connected to the console for the console to function.

Moreover, the console is able to be powered on with a voice command – that is, it’s always listening.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 06:45:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032472.20130522.The-new-Kinect-is-always-listening-can-detect-heartbeats/?utm_source=rss Article#1032472 Xbox One: not always online, plays used games, not backwards compatible The Xbox One will not have to be connected to the Internet all the time, Microsoft has confirmed.

In a Q&A on its official site, the company wrote: “No, it does not have to be always connected, but Xbox One does require a connection to the Internet.”

“We’re designing Xbox One to be your all-in-one entertainment system that is connected to the cloud and always ready. We are also designing it so you can play games and watch Blu-ray movies and live TV if you lose your connection.”

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 06:20:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032462.20130522.Xbox-One-not-always-online-plays-used-games-not-backwards-compatible/?utm_source=rss Article#1032462 Microsoft unveils the Xbox One
Live Blog

Don Mattrick is on stage.
The new Xbox is called Xbox One.

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]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 04:38:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/features/1032452.20130522.Microsoft-unveils-the-Xbox-One/?utm_source=rss Article#1032452 The Last of Us hands-on Call it Gaia’s revenge.

The Last of Us could be an environmentalism parable: sick of our polluting ways, mother nature goes on the offensive, deploying a fungus that kills most of humankind and turns the survivors against one another. Curiously, the result is equal parts terrifying and tranquil, with our extinction coming at the pace of starvation rather than decapitation.

The bulk of this demo is from the game’s “Lincoln” stage, with Joel and Ellie seeking Bill, an acquaintance of the former who might have access to a functioning car. Bill owes Joel a big favour for reasons that remain a mystery, but since the two last met Bill has become paranoid, isolating himself behind a series of traps.

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 17:55:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/playstation-3/previews/1032422.The-Last-of-Us-hands-on/?utm_source=rss Article#1032422 The Last of Us hands-on screenshots Continue reading...

]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 17:52:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/playstation-3/galleries/1032432.20130521.The-Last-of-Us-hands-on-screenshots/?utm_source=rss Article#1032432 First contact: a debriefing on XCOM shooter The Bureau Q: We haven't seen or heard from "the shooter formerly known as XCOM" for some time. Now it has been renamed The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and its clear much has changed. Where to begin?

Bihary: There are some pillars we’d like to talk about today. One is the tone and the setting, then we’re going to talk about your agents and the Battle Focus, then combat and consequences.

But let me give you a little backstory briefly about what The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is bringing to the table. The premise is that it’s 1962, the United States – North America – during the height of the Cold War. There’s a lot of tension, there are a lot of unknowns in terms of foreign powers, and at the time, it was a very peaceful domestic environment, tapering off at the end of the ‘50s, and sort of a golden age.

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 13:21:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/features/1032412.20130521.First-contact-a-debriefing-on-XCOM-shooter-The-Bureau/?utm_source=rss Article#1032412 Resident Evil: Revelations review Revelations is a lesser experience on console simply because more is expected. Upsized for TVs, several flaws become apparent. A great game on handheld, here it’s merely acceptable.

For the Resident Evil series, 2012 was a year of quantity, if not quality. Resident Evil 6 was mediocre at best, and Operation Raccoon City was widely panned. An action game at heart, the former distorted the gameplay tropes of the series as much as any T-Virus variant distorts human biology.

The 3DS-exclusive Resident Evil: Revelations represented the exact opposite – it played it safe, embracing everything that had come to define the series. Although it did nothing revolutionary, Revelations was heralded as positive iteration. Its console port doesn’t deserve such lofty praise, but it’s still a solid title in its own right.

In archetypical Resident Evil fashion, the foes here are bioterrorists. A city called Terragrigia – a sort of hippy Atlantis that runs on solar power – is assaulted by a shadowy organisation called Il Veltro using lizard men of all things. The player character is Jill “Master of Unlocking” Valentine, who along with series newcomer and fellow Federal BioTerrorism Commission employee Parker Luciani, is investigating the SS Queen Zenobia in search of series regular Chris Redfield and his partner Jessica.

[screenshot=10 center]

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 13:12:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/reviews/1032402.Resident-Evil-Revelations-review/?utm_source=rss Article#1032402 Arkham Origins has its Batman and Joker Warner Bros. has revealed which actors lend their voices to the leads in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins.

Roger Craig Smith is Batman, while Troy Baker will tackle the Joker.

Smith has previously voiced Assassin's Creed’s Ezio Auditore and Resident Evil’s Chris Redfield.

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/pc/news/1032392.20130521.Arkham-Origins-has-its-Batman-and-Joker/?utm_source=rss Article#1032392 Dyack responds to mismanagement allegations in bid to save Eternals Kickstarter Precursor Games chief creative officer Denis Dyack has taken to YouTube to defend his past actions in a bid to save Precursor’s Shadow of the Eternals Kickstarter campaign.

A week in, the game’s Kickstarter has raised just 16 per cent of its US$1,350,000 goal, with Dyack’s involvement commonly cited as the factor that is keeping pledges away.

Dyack was the target of a number of scathing allegations last year in a Kotaku piece that sought to document the troubled development of the critically panned X-Men: Destiny at Silicon Knights.

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 09:38:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032382.20130521.Dyack-responds-to-mismanagement-allegations-in-bid-to-save-Eternals-Kickstarter/?utm_source=rss Article#1032382 Next-gen console sales will be the highest yet - Microsoft One day ahead of its next Xbox reveal, Microsoft has shared some statistics that it says show console gaming has not yet peaked.

According to data from various research firms that has been aggregated by Microsoft, the number of next generation consoles sold (an estimated 385 million) will be 28 per cent higher than current gen figures.

Further, console gaming is the leading source of revenue in gaming, scooping up US$27 billion (AU$27.5 billion) of the US$65 billion (AU$66.2 billion) that is apparently spent on gaming worldwide (42 per cent).

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 08:26:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-one/news/1032372.20130521.Next-gen-console-sales-will-be-the-highest-yet---Microsoft/?utm_source=rss Article#1032372 A Syndicate Wars reboot could be coming to Kickstarter A YouTube video from a developer called 5Lives Studio appears to be teasing a Kickstarter campaign for a Syndicate Wars reboot.

Syndicate Wars is the acclaimed third game in the much-loved Syndicate series. It was released on PC in 1996, and on PlayStation the following year.

Text from the video reads: “In 1996 this man [face obscured] created a Bullfrog masterpiece. In 2013, with your help, we will redefine the genre.”

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]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 07:05:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032362.20130521.A-Syndicate-Wars-reboot-could-be-coming-to-Kickstarter/?utm_source=rss Article#1032362 Kickstarter roundup – week beginning May 20 Below are a handful of games that in the past week have been added to Kickstarter, hit their funding goal, or failed miserably on the popular crowdfunding site.

As a rule, we generally don't report on games that seek or attract less than US$50,000, and a game's appearance here should not be taken as a recommendation. Remember to back projects wisely – you know, just like everyone did with the Ouya.

Recently Funded

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 18:32:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032342.20130520.Kickstarter-roundup-week-beginning-May-20/?utm_source=rss Article#1032342 Kingdoms of Amalur, Demon's Souls, Rayman Legends headline June PlayStation Plus Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Demon’s Souls, and Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD are all coming to PlayStation Plus, Sony has announced.

Reckoning is a quality RPG that developer 38 Studios attempted to make into an MMO before it rather conspicuously ran out of money.

Demon’s Souls is an excellent and tough action-RPG that serves as a spiritual predecessor to Dark Souls.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 14:34:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032332.20130520.Kingdoms-of-Amalur-Demons-Souls-Rayman-Legends-headline-June-PlayStation-Plus/?utm_source=rss Article#1032332 Ouya will be available to demo in a carpark during E3 Ouya has announced it will be demoing its upcoming console in a parking lot directly across from E3 for the duration of that conference.

According to a press release sent out to developers by Ouya head of developer relations Kellee Santiago, the company’s setup will include everything required for game makers to “put on a killer game demo" during the E3 conference, which runs from June 12-14.

“Ouya’s E3 location will be 100 per cent open to the public – no credentials required!” said Santiago.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 13:22:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/android/news/1032322.20130520.Ouya-will-be-available-to-demo-in-a-carpark-during-E3/?utm_source=rss Article#1032322 Wii U "crap", Nintendo "Walking Dead" – EA engineer An EA employee has tweeted some fairly pointed comments about the Wii U, only days after his company confirmed that it had no games planned for Nintendo's console.

In a series of since-deleted tweets, EA senior software engineer Bob Summerwill was fairly undiplomatic towards the young device.

"The Wii U is crap,” Summerwill began.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 13:02:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032312.20130520.Wii-U-crap-Nintendo-Walking-Dead-EA-engineer/?utm_source=rss Article#1032312 Ubisoft had a great financial year thanks to Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III Sales of Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III sent Ubisoft profits soaring in the last financial year, the company has revealed.

Last week the French publisher and developer announced that it shipped 12 million copies of Assassin’s Creed III and six million of Far Cry 3 on its way to sales of €1.256 billion (AU$1.65 billion) and an operating income of €100.3 million (AU$131.73 million).

That meant overall revenue was up 18.3% from the 2012 financial year, and Ubisoft stock rose about 10 per cent as a result.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 12:28:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/xbox-360/news/1032302.20130520.Ubisoft-had-a-great-financial-year-thanks-to-Far-Cry-3-and-Assassin-s-Creed-III/?utm_source=rss Article#1032302 Three Sonic titles coming to Wii U Nintendo announced two new games at last week’s Nintendo Direct broadcast: Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games and Sonic: Lost World.

The games are part of a three game partnership between Nintendo and Sega, said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.

Mario & Sonic is a Wii U exclusive, and will allow players to participate in events such as bobsledding, snowboarding, skiing, skating, and the biathlon, using both Wiimotes and the GamePad.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 11:40:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032292.20130520.Three-Sonic-titles-coming-to-Wii-U/?utm_source=rss Article#1032292 Nintendo takes revenue from YouTube uploaders Nintendo is claiming ownership over some YouTube videos that feature its games, gathering any revenue from the videos in the process.

The company appears to be targeting “Let’s Play” videos – playthroughs of games that can be quite lucrative for the uploader thanks to revenue from ads.

According to popular YouTube personality Zack Scott, Nintendo is issuing “content ID match” claims, preventing video creators from monetising the content.

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]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 09:58:00 +1000 http://www.gameplanet.com.au/news/1032282.20130520.Nintendo-takes-revenue-from-YouTube-uploaders/?utm_source=rss Article#1032282