Monday 7 December 2015

Microsoft 12-day promo offers up to 50% savings on Xbox games

A Spanish Games blogger is silhouetted against the logo of Microsoft's Xbox during the Xbox Play Day 2014, before the Gamescom 2014 fair in Cologne August 12, 2014. 

The holiday shopping season is upon us and it seems we have lots of surprises coming from tech companies. Microsoft recently announced a 12-day promotional offer, including the best Sunday deals with savings of up to 50% on Xbox 360 games and Xbox One games.
Walmart reportedly offers great discounts at $49.88 (AU$68.02) for Xbox games while Black Ops II is being sold for $29.99 (AU$40.90).  Although many retailers offer massive discounts this festive season, Microsoft’s sales price is the lowest of all.
The Microsoft Store is also selling another Xbox game, Star Wars Battlefront, at half price at US$29.99 (AU$40.90). You can save an extra $20 (AU$27.27) on Guitar Hero Live that’s now selling for $79.99 (AU$109), reports 247wallst.
Wonder why retailers like Walmart are selling Microsoft’s products at heavy discounts? It’s because Microsoft will pay special incentives to retailers once the company’s promotion ends.
Microsoft feels there’s no better way to increase sales than by taking full advantage of the frenzied holiday season when fans love to gobble up the huge array of discounts on their favorite games and consoles.
 Seems Microsoft’s still ambivalent about Xbox and about the future of the game controller. While Xbox’s described as a game console and not as a Windows-based computer, other say Xbox is a Windows 10-based device.
Microsoft’s working on a new strategic marketing plan to promote Xbox games, but as of now   discounts offered on the products are working like magic.

Thursday 1 October 2015

Android 6.0: The 5 best new features in Marshmallow

AndroidMarshmallow.jpg 

Google’s big fall event is behind us, and we have some great new hardware to show for it. The new Nexus 5X is the hotly anticipated follow-up to 2013’s Nexus 5, and it’s everything Android fans were hoping for. Then the larger Nexus 6P offers an all-aluminum body, a 2K display and solid performance for a surprisingly affordable price. Bold phones are set to begin shipping next month, and fans of the “pure Android” experience can’t wait.
Of course, Google also spent some time on software during Tuesday’s press conference, and Android 6.0 Marshmallow is set to begin rolling out next week.
Android fans with recent Nexus devices like the Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet will be able to update their devices to Android 6.0 beginning early next week. Google hasn’t set an official date that the Marshmallow rollout will begin, but a number of reports have pinpointed October 5th as the day Google’s latest software will begin hitting devices.
If you don’t have a Nexus phone or tablet, the wait will be a bit longer. What will you be missing while your manufacturer works to update its devices to Android 6.0 in the coming months? Below, we’ll go through the five best new features coming to smartphones and tablets with Marshmallow.

Doze

First things first: Android 6.0 promises huge improvements where battery life is concerned. Using a combination of hardware sensors and software tweaks, phones and tablets running Marshmallow will know when they’ve been sitting idle for a period of time, and they will disable some background processes and other battery-hungry features while they’re not in use.
You’ll still get notifications, but battery life will be stretched out substantially by this new development. If your phone is sitting idle on your desk next to your computer all day, there’s no reason your battery should suffer like it does now.

Google Now on Tap

Google Now is already one of the best things about Android (and iOS, if you download the Google Search app), but it’s getting a huge shot of adrenaline in Android 6.0. Dubbed “Google Now on Tap, the new feature adds information from third-party apps to the pool of data Google Now will sift through and act upon.
Hold the home button while in any app and Google Now will analyze it instantly. Here’s an example of how it might be used: your friend texts you with “Hey let’s go to Dante’s Pizza tonight.” Holding the home button will trigger Google Now on Tap, which might show you the restaurant on a map, let you know what its hours are today, and link you to some reviews.
It’s an awesome feature, and it pushes Google Now even further ahead of the competition.

Cut, Copy, Paste

This might seem like a small change, but it’s going to have a big impact on the way you use your phones and tablets.
In earlier versions of Android, selecting text would open a series of buttons at the top of the screen, and many people are still confused about what each one does. In Android 6.0, selecting text or a photo will pop up a menu directly above your selection with the words “cut,” “copy,” and “paste,” just like iOS. This makes things much easier since your finger is obviously already right there as you make your selection.

New App Permission Structure

There’s another feature Android borrowed from iOS, but this time it also improved upon it.
Currently, it’s all or nothing with app permissions until you install some third-party tweaks on your Android device. In Marshmallow, however, you can pick and choose which permissions each individual app gets. So, for example, if you want to install Facebook but you never want the app to have access to your camera or location, you can do that now.
The only bad news here is that killing individual app permissions in the early days of Android 6.0 will cause some problems. Developers have to update their apps in order to ensure that they keep functioning properly with certain permissions disabled, and that will probably take a while.

App Backup and Restore

Switching to a new phone or restoring an existing phone that you wipe is a huge pain with Android devices. Beginning with Marshmallow, however, that’s going to change.
When an Android 6.0 device is idle and connected to Wi-Fi, it will automatically backup app data and settings to Google Drive behind the scenes. If you ever wipe your phone or switch to a new one, you’ll finally be able to quickly and easily restore all of your apps as they were previously.

Nexus 6P vs Nexus 6: 10 things to know

 
 For the first time, Google unveiled not one but two Nexus smartphones as part of its new smartphone line-up. Perhaps paying heed to feedback from Nexus fans who wanted a smaller device, the search giant launched the Nexus 5X in addition to the big-screen device -- Nexus 6P. Successor to the Nexus 6, which was not as popular as its predecessors because of a higher price, giant 6-inch display and some manufacturing defects, the Nexus 6P looks like a better phone, at least on paper. We take a look at what differentiates the Nexus 6P from the Nexus 6.
10.

Made by Huawei

The Nexus 6P smartphone has been manufactured by Chinese device-maker Huawei while Nexus 6 was made by Lenovo-owned Motorola.

Selena Gomez on Her New Album and Media Scrutiny: ‘I Just Don’t Care About the Noise Anymore’

https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/selena-gomez-revival-intv1.jpg?quality=65&strip=color&w=1680

The singer tells TIME about getting personal on her new album, finding her voice and FaceTiming with super-producer Max Martin


Selena Gomez is making some big changes. When her new album Revival, led by the thumping A$AP Rocky collaboration “Good For You,” arrives on Oct. 9, it will be her first full-length release outside of the Disney-owned Hollywood Records, where she first recorded as a teenager. Her mother is no longer her manager as of last year. Gomez has also stepped in the role of executive producer for the album, taking on unprecedented levels of creative control and wracking up more songwriting credits than ever. There aren’t that many 23-year-olds singing about getting a second act the way Gomez does on Revival, but not many 23-year-olds have watched their personal lives and relationships becoming tabloid fodder the way Gomez has.

“It’s not necessarily me being like, ‘Hey, I figured life out and I’m amazing!’” Gomez says of the record’s title. “It’s more like, I had so much scrutiny and had so much of my life exposed. I never intended my life to be that. I just wanted to be heard.”

TIME: This album shows off sides of your voice we haven’t really heard before: the raspier side, the lower side, the quieter side. It suits you. Tell me about finding your voice on this album—not just figuratively, but literally.

Selena Gomez: I had to really discover what was going to work for me because there were times in my career where I sang things that just weren’t me and weren’t for me. You can hear it in my voice. You can hear it when it’s inauthentic. This whole record is extremely intimate. I did executive produce it. I wanted to know that every single song meant the world to me, whether I wrote it or not. For me, I had to discover what was going to separate me. I know that I’m not the world’s greatest singer, but I do know that I have a unique tone. And I’m an actress—I love being able to translate everything I’m feeling inside through my voice and through the songs.

You do have some straightforward dance tracks on this album, like “Kill ‘Em With Kindness,” but most of what I’ve heard has actually shied away from the big, stomping club-bangers happening in pop right now. Why did you go in a slower, more mid-tempo direction?

I am a pop artist, but that was something I was so aware of. The track is important, but I needed the lyrics to be more important, and that was something I told every producer. I was talking about it to Rock Mafia, who helped create “Revival” and “Kill ‘Em With Kindness.” The messages were really important. “Good For You” wasn’t even supposed to be the first single, but I didn’t want the obvious, huge song. I wanted to set the tone. That’s what the next phase of my life and career is going to be. I was like, “How about we just put ‘Good For You’ out first?” We didn’t know it was going to do that well. We thought it was going to be well received, but it’s been insane to see how supportive people have been with the new direction.

Your personal life attracts a lot of tabloid attention. Is it liberating to open up as you did on “The Heart Wants What It Wants” or do you ever think about censoring yourself, knowing the scrutiny it’ll invite?

No, and it was such a relief for me. It would be so unrealistic for me to be in pain and then release a song where I’m like, “Life is awesome and this is great!” “The Heart Wants What It Wants,” and even the music video, was therapeutic. I felt free. I felt like a huge weight was lifted off of me. That’s basically what pushed me to create Revival. It was a feeling where I was like, “This is what great music is. It’s sharing your story.” I can’t care anymore that people are going to twist my words or talk about it. Everybody said every single thing they could say about me. I can’t let that affect me from making the music I want to make, even if it is personal.

You have more writing credits on this album than on your past records combined. What was the most challenging topic to write about?

I felt like I needed to do that. It’s hard because sometimes I’m like, “Oh my gosh, it’s going to suck.” Or, “Maybe I should just not. Maybe I shouldn’t say it like this.” There was a lot of questioning myself because it is the first time I was heavily involved. The hardest thing is figuring out how to say it, figuring out how to talk about things without it being so over the top. “Sober” is one of my favorite songs, but it’s not even about one specific person. “Sober” came from me and Chloe [Angelides], one of the writers, when we were sitting in a hall and talking about social awkwardness. I would hang out with people and they would drink and they’re so fun, then the next day it would be weird. I actually left that night and Chloe ended up writing “Sober.” There were moments like that, little gems. It wasn’t too difficult, it was just, “How am I going to say it elegantly and in a way that’s right for me?”

“Hands to Myself” is my favorite track that I’ve heard. Tell me about how that came together.

I’m so stoked about that song. It was the last song that I recorded on the record. “Good For You” was written by Justin Tranter and Julia Michaels. That was one of the first songs I’d ever recorded, which is crazy now that I’m thinking about it. I became super obsessed with Justin and Julia. I felt like we created magic. I felt like Julia was me and I was Julia. Right when “Good For You” came out and the success was happening, we were celebrating like, “We should just go in the studio for four more days.” They called my label, and [the label was] like, “We’re about to go to mixing.” I’m like, “I know, I know! Let me get four more days.”

We did three songs, and two of them made the record: “Hands To Myself” and “Me & the Rhythm.” When “Hands To Myself” started, we were just like, “What are girls not doing? I want to know what girls aren’t doing.” I feel like I tackled the love, I tackled the emotion and the heart and how I view the world, but what’s going to be super fresh? We had a cup, and Julia was banging the cup on to the desk. Then she had this Prince-y hook and was like, “What if we make it Prince-like?” I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I’m obsessed. Let’s do that.” Within 24 hours, that’s where “Hands To Myself” came from. It’s probably the best song on the album. A beautiful accident.

And [Swedish mega-producer] Max Martin worked on that song too, right?

Yes, he did. How it happened was we were in the studio working with a few producers that have worked with Max [Mattman & Robin, on Taylor Swift’s 1989]. That’s how we created the skeleton of the track in the studio. When we had the hook, they were like, “Do you mind if we send this to Max Martin?” I had never worked with Max before and was like, “I don’t know, maybe!” I just didn’t know what it was going to be. He ended up FaceTiming immediately and was like, “This is the greatest thing I’ve heard all year. I have to be a part of it.” I’m like, “Yeah! Do what you’ve got to do! What do you suggest?” He came up with the very end where it goes se-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-elf and added that little hook. He also changed some of the pre-chorus. I think it is super fresh and different for him, too.

Working with Max Martin is kind of a rite of passage for most pop stars. Why were you hesitant about working with him?

I’ve never really known him! The whole record, I’ve became family with all of my producers and Justin and Julia. It had nothing to do with me being like, “Oh my goodness, I’m too good for Max.” It was like, “I don’t know, I don’t want him to change it!” He ended up making it, obviously, a smash. I don’t even think I was questioning his ability, I was more nervous to see what it was going to be like. Once we talked, he sent all these voice memos and now we have a relationship. It’s going to grow from there.

Did you know Justin from when he was in Semi Precious Weapons?

I did not know he was in the band. Then when we went to Mexico together [to write], he was showing me all the music videos and I was like, “Oh. My. God. You are fabulous!” He’s incredible. He exudes that confidence, that energy that I really think I needed.

What song on the record do you think will surprise people the most?

I think “Hands To Myself” is going to be great. I hope that “Kill ‘Em With Kindness” has a great effect because I love the meaning of that song so much. I want them to be surprised about it all. Everyone was surprised about “Good For You,” and now we’re moving forward. Even if they’re not fans of mine, I just like being able to surprise people, fire people up and get them excited.

Charli XCX co-wrote your new single “Same Old Love.” Did you get to log any studio time with her?

No, I actually didn’t. She did some of it, I want to say, with [Norwegian producers] Stargate. When Stargate came and we started some of our songs—”Sober” and a few other things—Charli’s manager was in the studio the whole time. I sent her the nicest message. She’s super cool and funky, but we weren’t physically in person together.

First Trailer For The Forest Starring Game Of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer



The first trailer has been released for The Forest, the upcoming supernatural thriller which takes place in Aokigahara, a “suicide forest” at the base of Mt. Fuji. Many people choose to go there to end their lives, and as you might expect, it’s now become a source of inspiration for some filmmakers. Gus Van Sant recently took a crack at it with Sea of Trees, but the response to that film at Cannes was overwhelmingly negative. Whether this one will fare any better remains to be seen, but so far, it looks promising.
Starring Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), The Forest is based on an idea by Man of Steel scribe David S. Goyer and will be directed by Jason Zada. Here’s the official synopsis for the movie:
The Forest, which is set in the Aokigahara forest at the base of Mt. Fuji, tells the story of a young American woman who goes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Despite everyone’s warnings to “stay on the path,” Sara enters the forest determined to discover the truth about her sister’s fate, only to be confronted by the angry and tormented souls of the dead who prey on anyone who wanders into the forest.
The Forest is set to be released early next January, which is not a great slot for any movie, but it certainly sounds compelling enough to at least remain optimistic about. We’ll let you decide whether the trailer is any good though for yourself in the comments section down below.

'Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 2' Final Trailer Release Date On Oct. 2, Virtual Game On The Way

Katniss Everdeen 

Fans eager to see the last trailer for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" won't have to wait for much longer.
According to the folks at Hypable, Samsung and Lionsgate plan to unveil the final trailer for The Hunger Games series on Samsung's tablets at Best Buys across the U.S. starting on Friday, Oct. 2.
Samsung's collaborative promotion with Lionsgate will also offer a preview of the new Hunger Games "virtual reality experience." The official Lionsgate and Samsung press release says that the "experience" will be a "6-minute, 360-degree immersive journey through some of the defining moments of The Hunger Games film franchise using the Samsung Gear VR headset. The VR experience takes viewers through Katniss' journey throughout the The Hunger Games series."
Paula Kupfer, who serves as the Senior Vice President, for Global Partnerships and Promotions at Lionsgate,  thinks this new promotion is a great way to bring the Hunger Games franchise beyond the big screen.
"We're thrilled to continue our partnership with a consumer technology leader and innovator like Samsung to create unique ways to engage The Hunger Games fans that extend the brand beyond the screen," Kupfer explained in a press release. "The Tab S2 sneak peek and Gear VR experiences in this promotion offer unique and engaging opportunities for fans to become immersed in the world of The Hunger Games while also building excitement for the November 20th global launch."
So there you have it fans. If you want to get the first look at the last trailer for the Hunger Games franchise, you should probably find your nearest Best Buy. Even if you can't, the trailer will likely be posted on YouTube shortly afterward anyway.
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2" is all set to be released in theaters on Nov. 20. Be sure to check out Design & Trend for further developments!

'Need For Speed' Customization Trailer: 50+ Car List, Endless Mods Mean No Two Cars Are Alike [VIDEO]

Need For Speed 2015


The highty anticipated Need For Speed release date (Nov. 3) is just over a month away and it promises to deliver a sort of racing game we haven't seen in a very long time. Particularly, the all-new hardware in the current-gen Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles have prompted a resurgence for race sims like Project CARS and Forza Motorsport 6. Of course, there was also multiplayer-centric Driveclub and The Crew, but neither game sustained its appeal.
Meanwhile, Need For Speed decided to take a year hiatus from releasing a new game in 2014 in order to really focus on making the anticipated game as flawless as possible. Need For Speed 2015 will be a full reboot of the series so there's obviously a lot of pressure to really nail the final product.
"We took a year out from Need For Speed because we wanted to listen to what the fans were saying," said Ghost Games creative director Craig Sullivan. "So they said, 'we want a narrative, we want modified cars, we want driving in an urban environment', things that maybe have been missing from Need For Speed for a few years.
"We realised that to do that justice, we need to take a little bit of extra time," Sullivan added. "We chose to put in the extra work and effort and take that little bit of extra time and come out this year instead with the definitive Need For Speed game that we think are going to keep fans around the world happy."
Need For Speed was never meant to be a racing sim, but authenticity became a tight priority for the developers, Instead of meticulous driving physics recreation, Need For Speed intends to deliver an immersive world within an open world city filled with crazy enthusiasts that bleed tuner car culture.
Earlier today, Need For Speed shared a new Car and Customization trailer to highlight just how extensive and complex its car customization is. From over fenders, to vinyl designs, to suspension, performance bolt-ons, and NOS, Need For Speed showcases its most authentic car customization system in the history of the franchise. Check out the trailer below. Also, here's an early (unofficial) Need For Speed car list compiled by Need For Speed Wiki:


  1. BMW M3 Evolution II (E30)
  2. BMW M3 (E46)
  3. BMW M3 (E92)
  4. BMW M4
  5. Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
  6. Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06
  7. Dodge Challenger SRT8 392
  8. Dodge SRT Viper GTS
  9. Ferrari F40
  10. Ford Focus RS
  11. Ford Mustang Boss 302
  12. Ford Mustang
  13. Ford Mustang Fox Body
  14. Ford Mustang GT
  15. Honda Civic Type R
  16. Honda S2000
  17. Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4
  18. Lamborghini Diablo SV
  19. Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4
  20. Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV
  21. Lotus Exige S
  22. Mazda MX-5 (1996)
  23. Mazda MX-5 (2015)
  24. Mazda RX-7 Spirit R
  25. McLaren 570S
  26. Mercedes-AMG GT
  27. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR
  28. Nissan 180SX (S13) Type-X
  29. Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
  30. Nissan GT-R Premium (R35)
  31. Nissan Silvia Spec-R
  32. Nissan Skyline GT-R KPGC10
  33. Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32)
  34. Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec (R34)
  35. Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8
  36. Porsche 911 Carrera S (991)
  37. Porsche 911 Carrera S (993)
  38. Porsche 911 GT3 RS
  39. Porsche 911 T (1971)
  40. Porsche Cayman GT4
  41. Scion FR-S
  42. Subaru BRZ Premium
  43. Subaru Impreza WRX STI
  44. Toyota Corolla GT-S
  45. Toyota Supra SZ-R
  46. Volkswagen Golf GTI
  47. Volvo 242 GT 
Speculated
  1. Acura RSX (2001-2004)
  2. Acura NSX (1990)
  3. BMW 2 Series Coupe (F22)
  4. Ferrari 458 Italia
  5. Mercedes-Benz CLK 500

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Aussie students set to hack cloud biz to hell

Cyber Sec Oz pits 251 hackers in capture the flag comp.





Two hundred and fifty one university and TAFE students will today compete to hack the hell out of the Enterprise Wellness Initiative, smashing its apps, and pulling off feats of forensics. The simulated hack-off is part of the Cyber Security Challenge Australia run by a cadre of security companies with the Australian Signals Directorate. Players across 64 teams from 23 universities and TAFEs will compete from 10am in the capture the flag event. "It's designed to simulate security testing," says Chris Gatford, director of Sydney based HackLabs. "They'll do internal and external tests, web apps, and forensics." Gatford says he and other sponsors Facebook and Pricewaterhouse Coopers will observe the event live from a Telstra operations room. Hacklabs will fly the winning team to DEF CON and put the students up in Las Vegas. Runner ups and other well-performing hacking teams will get tickets to hacker fests Kiwicon, Wellington and Ruxcon, Melbourne, phones, and tablets. Job offers are also on the cards, he says. "It is a great opportunity to identify and retain local security talent, and we will be talking to participants," Gatford says. "We're hoping to pick up several staff." All female participants will be offered mentoring through the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet where they will be flown to Canberra and taken on tours to meet successful women in the industry and offered career advice. Students will also reverse simple programs and need to complete a forensics challenge. It is not all breaking, though. The winning team will need to write a killer report, detailing ways the flayed business could patch and harden itself. A good report has been instrumental in the success of winning teams in previous Cyber Security Australia challenges. The Twitter handle (@cysca2015) will maintain rolling updates on the competition as it progresses. The challenge is the Antipodean cousin of the Cyber Security Challenge UK which 29 September unveiled a virtual world based on Minecraft designed to lure budding security talent with hacking challenges and games. ®

Tesla unveils Model X electric car with Falcon Wing doors

Tesla unveils Model X electric car with Falcon Wing doors

http://c.files.bbci.co.uk/06E2/production/_85826710_85826709.jpg

Silicon Valley electric car-maker Tesla has launched its third model to date - a sports-utility vehicle distinguished by its double-hinged "falcon wing" rear doors, which unfurl themselves upwards to help parents put their children inside.
The Model X was unveiled nearly two years later than originally scheduled.
The firm's chief executive Elon Musk acknowledged that the "difficulty in engineering" some of the parts involved had been greater than he had originally expected.
The car can fit seven people and can travel about 250 miles (400km) on a single charge.
However, analysts say its price - which runs as high as $144,000 (£95,100) - is expected to temper demand. Tesla has said it plans to unveil a lower-cost vehicle in 2017.
The company has yet to make a profit.

 

PS4 vs. Xbox One: Game Release List and trailers For October 2015

ps4-xbox-one-vs-image

September saw the release of several huge games, such as Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, Forza Motorsport 6, and many more. October is looking to continue 2015's trend of huge game releases with both Xbox One and PS4 getting some major games to play. Let's first start off with the games that both consoles will be getting.

Multi-Platform Games

These games are coming to both Xbox One and PS4 in October.



The first game coming to both Xbox One and PS4 is Transformers: Devastation. This over-the-top action game has been developed by Platinum Games, the creators of the Bayonetta series, Metal Gear Rising: Revengence and more. Expect to see tons of action on Oct. 6. It'll be more than meets the eye.

The Game of the Year Edition for Dragon Age: Inquisition will be coming to PS4 and Xbox One on Oct. 6. This version will include all previously-released DLC content packs, including Jaws of Hakkon, The Descent, Trespasser and more. It's the perfect time to try out Dragon Age: Inquisition if you haven't yet.


One of my personal highly-anticipated games, Rock Band 4 will also be seeing a release date of Oct. 6. This music game looks to bring the band back together with more than 60 new songs on the disc, more than 1,500 old DLC songs supported and even more tunes coming later via DLC.
Darksiders II: The Deathinitive Edition will also be coming on Oct. 6. This remake of Darksiders II will feature all of the typical remastered things like improved lighting, textures and framerate. Check it out if you haven't played it yet.
Speaking of remasters, the Telltale Games early release Back to the Future: The Game will also see a remake getting released on Oct. 13. This will be the first time Back to the Future: The Game appears on an Xbox console, getting released on Xbox 360, Xbox One and PS4 in celebration of the movie's 30th Anniversary.
Telltale is really going all out for Oct. 13. That is also the release date for Minecraft: Story Mode. This version of Minecraft will see the blocky world transform into an actual story, told in episodes. If you like Minecraft, you'll love Minecraft: Story Mode.
While this is technically DLC, it's said that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's first expansion pack will be so big, it will rival the size of The Witcher 2. If you're looking for more adventures to go on with Geralt, Oct. 13 will be when you can start.

Oct. 13 will also see the release of Wasteland 2 Director's Cut. This version of Wasteland 2 features improved graphics, a new game engine, controller support for PCs and a ton more upgrades. This will also be the first time Wasteland 2 will be released for PS4 and Xbox One. If you already own Wasteland 2 on PC, the upgrade to the Director's Cut will be free. 




Releasing on Oct. 20, the other music-based game comes out to complete the cycle. Guitar Hero Live returns to the roots of Guitar Hero by focusing only on the guitar. The new controller also features a six-button grid system instead of the typical five-button layout featured on similar games.
Adventure Time: Finn And Jake Investigations will be coming to just about every console on Oct. 20. This includes Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC via Steam, Wii U and 3DS. Play as Finn and Jake while solving mysteries all over the land of Ooo.

This year's Just Dance game, originally titled Just Dance 2016 will be hitting store shelves on Oct. 20. I'm sure you all know the drill by now.
Finishing up the saga that has been Life is Strange, the fifth and final episode will be releasing on Oct. 20. This episode, called Polarized, should hopefully wrap up all of the loose ends from the four previous episodes.

Overlord: Fellowship of Evil will ALSO be coming out on Oct. 20. This action RPG shifts the camera to an isometric-style view, different from the third-person view of previous Overlord games.

One of the biggest releases of the year will be coming towards the end of the month: Assassin's Creed Syndicate. The latest version of Assassin's Creed sees players venturing into Industrial-Revolution era London as Jacob and Evie Frye. Expect to see Assassin's Creed Syndicate releasing on Oct. 23.

The last firm release date on a multi-platform game for October is WWE 2K16. The biggest roster ever in a wrestling game will debut on Oct. 27, with none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin serving as this year's cover Superstar.

PS4 Exclusives

These games are releasing exclusively on PS4 in October.



The first game coming to PS4 is the physical release of Journey. Included in the release are the other two thatgamecompany hits Flower and flOw. If you haven't played these yet, Oct. 2 is the perfect time to pick up a copy for yourself.

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is a tactical RPG coming exclusively to PS4 on Oct. 6. This game revolves around the concept of revenge, with each character out to bring down the evil Void Dark.

Super Meat Boy is coming to PS4 and PS Vita on Oct. 6. This is in no way a new game, it's just new to the platforms.

Three Fourths Home is a PC game that is getting ported to the PS4 and PS Vita on Oct. 6. This visual novel tells the story of Kelly and her family having a conversation during a drive home through a bad thunderstorm. This feels like one of those games that will quickly be one of the PS+ free games.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection has taken the three major Uncharted games and cleaned them up like never before. If you haven't played any of the Uncharted games, or want to get caught back up for Uncharted 4, Oct. 7 is the perfect time to get all the great Nathan Drake adventures in one box.

The Talos Principle has already enjoyed success on the PC, but will be making the jump to the PS4 on Oct. 13. Featuring first-person puzzle-based gameplay, The Talos Principle has received high marks from critics.

Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woes and the Blight Below will be releasing in America on Oct. 13 for PS4. This is a few months after the Japanese launch back in February. This game mixes the hack-n-slash elements of the Dynasty Warriors games with the characters and monsters of the Dragon Quest games.

The last game coming to PS4 in October is Tales of Zestiria. While this was already released on PS3 at the start of the year, Oct. 20 will see Tales of Zestiria make the jump to the current-generation PlayStation console.

Xbox One Exclusives

These games are exclusively releasing on Xbox One in October.


The final build for Elite: Dangerous will be coming to Xbox One on Oct. 6. This space exploration game has been a part of the Xbox Preview Program since June. A PS4 version of Elite: Dangerous is planned, but no release date has been announced as of yet.
Afro Samurai 2 has already been released on PS4, and is now coming to Xbox One on Oct. 9. From all of the previews released so far, it seems best to skip this game in favor of one of the better ones releasing this month. 



Lastly, the Xbox One will be seeing the biggest exclusive release of 2015 for any console: Halo 5: Guardians. This epic will feature a huge campaign focused on co-op, as well as the biggest online multiplayer offering to date from any Halo game. Halo 5 will be coming out at the end of the month, on Oct. 27.

Friday 25 September 2015

NEW BOUNTY STRAW HAT PIRATES CREW

NEW BOUNTY STRAW HAT PIRATES CREW

– Chopper: 100 Berries.
– Nami: 66,000,000 Berries.
– Brook: 83,000,000 Berries.
– Franky: 94,000,000 Berries.
– Nico Robin: 130,000,000 Berries.
– Sanji: 177,000,000 Berries.
– Usopp: 200,000,000 Berries.
– Roronoa Zoro: 320,000,000 Berries.
– Monkey D. Luffy: 500,000,000 Berries.

1

 

Puli song Jingiliya promo: Vijay and Shruti Haasan do their best to save this tribal song from falling flat!




Neither the average song nor the fake sets help matters much…

These two days have been quite a treat for all Puli fans. Yesterday, we saw a really mesmerising, fantasy elements-laden, second promo of Puli, filled with giants, panthers, angry birds and a huge turtle, along with superstar Vijay in his most swashbuckling avatar! And today, we get to see the promo of the song Jingiliya from Puli!
However, if you had too much expectations from the song, like this writer here, after having watched the fantastic second trailer of the film, there is bound to be some disappointment. The song is not really one of the best compositions of Devi Sri Prasad (DSP), from whatever little we have heard from the video. Sure, the beats are catchy, especially for the front-rowers, but I couldn’t make anything of what they were singing!

To top it all, the sets look colourful, but fake and the CGI still needs polishing. This doesn’t bound well, after that wonderful trailer we saw yesterday.
If there is any positives that we love about the song, it’s the lead actors trying their best to make it so interesting. Vijay never looked more dashing, while Shruti Haasan is at her prettiest best! BTW, I have no idea that the girls in the olden days used so much lipstick!
The film is scheduled to release on October 1. Directed by Chimbu Devan, the film also stars Sridevi, Kiccha Sudeep and Hansika Motwani.
Watch the video right here…



'Calendar Girls' - Movie



'Calendar Girls'
A; Drama
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar
Cast: Akanksha Puri, Avani Modi, Kyra Dutt, Ruhi Singh, Satarupa Pyne
Rating:  2 stars

 

Flipkart Founders Are New Billionaires Of The Country

Leading Indian e-retailer Flipkart's co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal are the latest billionaires in the country, with $1.3 billion (8,582 crore) net worth each, according to leading business magazine Forbes India' rich list released on Wednesday.


"Indian e-commerce has added its first billionaires with Flipkart's founders (Bansals) making debut on our rich list at number 86, with $1.3 billion net worth each," the magazine said in a statement in Mumbai.


Though Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) chairman Mukesh Ambani tops the rich list for the ninth consecutive year, his net worth, however, declined $4.7 billion to $18.9 billion (127,700 crore) from 2014 owing to lower oil prices that hit his oil and petrochemicals giant.


Sun Pharmaceutical's Dilip Shanghvi also retained the second spot, with $18 billion net worth, acquisition of drug major Ranbaxy Industries for $4 billion by his company notwithstanding.


Wipro chairman Azim Premji also retained the third spot in the list, with a net worth of $15.9 billion though $500 million less than in 2014.


"The generous billionaire has pledged 18 percent of his stake in Wipro to his charitable trust, in addition to a 21 percent stake already given," the statement noted.


"The combined wealth of India's 100 richest remains largely unchanged at $345 billion, as compared to $346 billion in 2014," it added.


Similarly, wealth of 10 tycoons slumped by $1 billion over the year owing to global and domestic factors, including a volatile stock market and currency fluctuations.


Fortune of steel magnate L.N. Mittal (65) declined by $4.6 billion to $11.2 billion and his ranking in the rich list slipped to eight from five year ago, as his and world's largest steel major ArcelorMittal was hit by imports from China.


"India is facing a reality check in 2015 after the euphoria in 2014. Though it has impacted several big fortunes in the top 100, the country's entrepreneurial spirit remains buoyant, as evident from a dozen new faces on the list," said Forbes Asia's India editor Naazneen Karmali.


Other top 10 billionaires are Hinduja brothers ranked fourth with $14.8 billion net worth; Pallonji Mistry (86), fifth, $14.7 billion; Shiv Nadar (70), sixth, $12.9 billion; Godrej family, seventh, $11.4 billion; Cyrus Poonawalla (74), ninth, $7.9 billion and Kumar Mangalam Birla (48) tenth, $7.8 billion.


Gujarat-based Adani group's founder chairman Gautam Adani (53) is ranked 11th with net worth of $7 billion and Kotak Mahindra Bank vice-chairman and managing director Uday Kotak (56) is 12th with $6.5 billion net worth.


Only two women figure in the top 100 billionaires' list - Leena (Gandhi) Tewari (58 years), chairman of drug major U.S.V Ltd, is ranked 54 with $1.9 billion net worth, while Indu Jain (79 years), chairperson of the country's largest media group Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd, is ranked 57 with $1.85 billion net worth.


Five co-founders of global software major Infosys Ltd figure in the rich list- N.R. Narayana Murthy (69) ranked 53, $1.92 billion; S. Gopalakrishnan (60), 67, $1.67 billion; Nandan Nilekani (60), 69, $1.61 billion and K. Dinesh (61) 96, $1.19 billion.


Mahindra group chairman Anand Mahindra (60) is ranked at 99 with a net worth of $1.12 billion.


The rich list also has 12 new comers, including IndiGo budget carrier co-founder Rakesh Gangwal at 70 with $1.6 billion net worth, while his friend and co-founder Rahul Bhatia moved up 12 positions from last year to 38 with $2.4 billion net worth.


The biggest gainer is Poonawalla, the vaccine magnate, whose fortune increased to $7.9 billion from $6.2 billion in 2014 and entered the top 10 list at nine. He recently bought heritage property Lincoln House in Mumbai for $110 million.


"This year's list reflects the churn in the global economy and the growing clout of emerging sectors like ecommerce in India," Forbes India editor Sourav Majumdar added.

Phone Comparisons: Xiaomi Mi Note Pro 4G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Xiaomi Mi Note Pro vs Note 5 cam AH 

Introduction

Do we have a good one for you today – two powerhouse phablets go up against one another…the Mi Note Pro (4G LTE model) versus the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5.  We have a classic battle of Chinese design by Xiaomi competing against its South Korean rival, Samsung.  Both devices are the true flagships of their namesakes, each sporting their own version of a metal frame and all-glass construction and they look every bit the part of a premium smartphone. Let’s take a quick look at what these two devices have in common before we look at each one on an individual basis.
Surprisingly, the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro 4G and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 do have several features in common.  For starters, let’s look at their size – they both have a 5.7-inch QHD display size and even in physical size they are almost identical and differ only10 grams in weight.  Both devices are running a 64-bit octa-core processor and both are packing 4GB of RAM and neither one has expandable internal storage – 64GB in the Note Pro and 32GB or 64GB in the Note 5.  The main cameras are close in specifications, but the Samsung camera takes exceptional pictures.  Both front-facing cameras (FFC) are large – 4MP on the Mi Note Pro and 5MP on the Note 5.
They both have the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (4.1 on the Note Pro and 4.2 on the Note 5), GPS and a microUSB v2.0 port for charging and data transfer.  Both smartphones have a non-removable 3000mAh battery and both devices offer a method of quick charging the battery.
Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details.  After that, we will look at each individual device in greater detail and point out some of its pros and cons.  From all of this information we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.

Specifications

Xiaomi Mi Note Pro 4G

Xiaomi-Mi-Note-Pro-AH-9Xiaomi, a Chinese company known for offering well-built devices for a reasonable price, made every effort to impress us with their new Xiaomi Mi Note Pro 4G LTE.  It is a real flagship and a work of art with its all glass and metal construction – however, some may balk at its higher price.  The Mi Note Pro uses Gorilla Glass all around – 2.5D for the display where the glass edge angles downward and Gorilla Glass 3D for the back, which means it actually curves up, in a ‘cup-like’ fashion.  Once the parts are placed inside, these two pieces of glass are ‘strapped’ together by a metal band and it fits and feels great in your hands…not to mention giving it a very premium look.  This is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5’s construction.
The Mi Note Pro sports a 5.7-inch QHD IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 with 515 pixels-per-inch (PPI) versus the Note 5’s 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display with 518 PPI.  Xiaomi uses the most advanced Qualcomm processor currently on the market – the 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 810 with four cores clocked at 1.5GHz and the other four clocked at 2.0GHz.  This goes up against the 64-bit Exynos 7420 Octa-core processor with 14nm technology in the Note 5.  The Mi Note Pro packs a full 4GB of RAM and 64GB of fixed internal storage with no room for expansion.  The Note 5 also has 4GB of faster DDR4 RAM and a choice of 32GB or 64GB of their new UFS 2.0 flash memory with no expansion possible.
The main camera uses a 13MP sensor with autofocus, dual-tone LED Flash and OIS compared to the 16MP shooter on the Note 5 that adds a large f/1.9 aperture and live HDR.  The Mi Note Pro uses a nice sized 4MP UltraPixel FFC for social media selfies and video chatting as compared to the 5MP FFC with wide-angle, HDR and f/1.9 aperture on the Note 5.  The battery on both devices is a non-removable 3,000mAh and both have quick charge and the Note 5 also has built-in quick wireless charging.
The Xiaomi Mi Note Pro is a dual-SIM device with a large bottom mounted speaker and enhanced audio circuits for better listening through headsets or external speakers.  It is running the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop with Xiaomi’s heavy MIUI 6 running on top.  It comes in black, white or gold.  It works on US LTE networks that use 4G FDD-LTE on 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2600MHz and it will cost you $500 – $600 off-contract.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-5-2-AH-4Samsung took their popular Galaxy S6, stretched it out from a 5.1-inch display to a 5.7-inch display, added a few things, deducted a couple of things and called it a Galaxy Note 5.  They increased the RAM from 3GB to 4GB and did away with the 128GB option found on the Galaxy S6.  The IR Blaster – a mainstay with Samsung on the S series and Note series was also removed.  These changes upset many Note 5 customers as Samsung always improved the camera area and/or processor over the Galaxy S series.  The Note 5 is probably the most advanced smartphone currently on the market, but it is disappointing it did not distinguish itself more from the Galaxy S6.
The Galaxy Note 5 is sporting the same size 5.7-inch display as the past two years with Samsung implementing improvements every year.  It has a QHD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 518 PPI and is one of the best displays on the market.  This goes up against the QHD LCD display found on the Mi Note Pro with 515 PPI.  The Note 5 uses Samsung’s 64-bit Exynos 7420 octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 1.5GHz and the other four cores clocked at 2.1GHz.  This goes up against the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor in the Mi Note Pro.  The Note 5 packs 4GB of faster DDR4 RAM rather than the 4GB of DDR3 found in the Mi Note Pro.  When it comes to internal storage, the Note 5 has a 32GB or 64GB option of much faster UFS 2.0 Flash memory and no room for expansion.  The Mi Note Pro offers only one option – 64GB with no means of expansion.
The main camera on the Galaxy Note 5 is the same one used on the Galaxy S6.  It has a 16MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor with a fast startup, faster focus, larger aperture at f/1.9, Live HDR and better software – and it will take some of the best pictures found on a smartphone.  The Note 5 also has a large 5MP FFC with the f/1.9 aperture and wide-angle and Live HDR for selfies and video chats.  This compares to a 13MP main camera on the Mi Note Pro and a 4MP FFC.  The Note 5 has a non-removable 3000mAh battery, but it has quick charge and quick wireless charging capabilities…the Mi Note Pro also has a 3000mAh removable battery with a rapid charge battery.
The Galaxy Note 5 has a fingerprint sensor, heart rate and oxygen saturation sensors, is Samsung Pay capable and PayPal certified and has its speaker on the bottom of the device.  It comes with a much improved and more sensitive S-Pen with added features giving it even more functionality.  The Note 5 has more flexibility with longer documents, can send live broadcastings of your videos and you have an optional slip-on physical, BlackBerry-style keyboard.  It is running Android Lollipop 5.1.1 and will cost you about $700 outright.

…And The Winner Is…

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-5-AH-7

Summary

This was a tough one – ONLY because of the price difference – however I am choosing the Galaxy Note 5 as the winner of this comparison.  There is no questioning that the Note 5 is more technologically advanced – better display, 14nm processor, much faster DDR4 RAM and UFS 2.0 Flash memory.  The Note 5 is much better at taking pictures and has built-in quick wireless charging.  It also has NFC for mobile payments and a fingerprint sensor that is PayPal certified and also has Samsung Pay as well as able to handle Android Pay and it will work with the baked in fingerprint functions in Android Marshmallow.  For the extra money you also get the infamous S-Pen and all of the functionality that it lends to the device.
The Xiaomi is a beautiful and capable device, but it has no NFC, fingerprint scanner and its camera is far from what it should be with those specifications.  But it has the looks, a QHD display, octa-core processor and 4GB of RAM and all while saving you some money.  Only you can decide if making mobile payments, a fingerprint sensor, the heart rate sensor, better photos and the S-Pen are worth the extra money – to me they are and that is why I am picking the Galaxy Note 5 over the Xiaomi Mi Note Pro 4G LTE as the winner of this specification comparison.

Xiaomi Mi 4c: China Exclusive Phone Now Available For Global Buyers On Gear Best

Xiaomi Mi 4c 

The Xiaomi Mi 4c, which was announced recently by its manufacturer, is the new variant of the Xiaomi Mi 4i that was launched exclusively for customers in India. The Xiaomi Mi 4c is exclusively available in China currently. However, Gear Best is selling the Standard and Advanced Edition to worldwide buyers.
The Xiaomi Mi 4c has a thickness of 7.8 mm and weighs 132 grams. It is a dual-SIM handset that comes with a 5-inch screen that supports full HD resolution. The display offers a pixel density of 441 ppi.
The handset features the Snapdragon 808 chipset that works at 1.8 GHz. It is the same chip that powers flagships like the Moto X Pure Edition, the LG G4 and the upcoming LG Nexus 5X.
The Standard Edition of the Xiaomi Mi 4c comes with 2 GB of RAM and features 16 GB of internal storage. The Advanced Edition features 3 GB of RAM and native storage of 16 GB. Both the editions support up to 32 GB of microSD card on the external storage slot.
The Mi 4c smartphone is shipped with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop that is overlaid with MIUI7 skin from Xiaomi. The Edge Tap feature allows user to shoot a photo by simply tapping on the edge of the handset while the camera app is running. By tapping two times, will let users to access the back function.
The Xiaomi Mi 4c is enabled with a rear camera of 13-megapixel and a front-facing camera of 5-megapixel. It features connectivity options like USB Type-C, IR blaster, v4.0 Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G LTE and 3G. The device is powered by 3,080 mAh battery that supports fast charging through Quick Charge 2.0.
Meanwhile, Gear Best has started taking preorders of the Xiaomi Mi 4c. The last date to place the order is Oct. 22 while the shipping of the device will start from Oct. 30. The Standard Edition is priced at $239 and the Advanced Edition is priced at $289. Both the handsets are only available in black and white color options. The retailer is also free shipping service for worldwide customers.

Whatsapp Hack that Allows User to Steal Conversation

WhatsApp-hack 

Largest Chat app for Smartphones is now at Risk whatsapp hack that allow user to steal conversation, Israeli security firm Check Point discovered a critical vulnerability of WhatsApp Web that might put at risk the 200 million users of the service.
Exploiting a flaw in the system of sending vCard, the attacker can easily execute arbitrary code remotely and potentially acquire full contol of the target system. The vulnerability has already been corrected, but the service has been exposed since its debut to possible hack remotely.
WhatsApp Bug 2015 Web is performed by web browsers and could be violated simply by sending a vCard suitably manipulated to contain malicious code. If the vCard had been opened on the web-app the attacker could execute code contained on the system in use by the victim. WhatsApp spy Web could be used to convey many types of malware, such as ransomware, bots and even remote access tools (RATs).
Carry out the attack was simple: “To exploit the exploit, everything he needed the aggressor is a telephone number associated with the account,” says Check Point. WhatsApp allows you to send and receive several kinds of files: photos, videos, voice messages and also share your location and contact cards. Unlike e-mail attachments, which we approach with making more cautious, the user opens WhatsApp usually shared files “without thinking twice,” says the company.
The vulnerability is caused by an inadequate filtering of contact cards sent with the famous vCard format. The attacker can inject a command file attributes vCard separated by “&”. When the vCard is opened, Windows tries to run all the lines of code present, including those injected. By clicking on the contact card manipulated the system downloads a file on the PC that runs automatically on your computer, said CheckPoint, specifying that the file could also be an executable.
WhatsApp, in fact, did not provide a check on the vCard format or content of the file, allowing an attacker to exploit the vulnerability by sending naive even .exe file. The Israeli company announced the existence of the flaw on 27 August, and the company of Jan Koum responded in a prompt warning: “WhatsApp has verified and confirmed the security issue and has developed a fix for the client web around the world, “he writes Check Point.
The company has included the fix version WhatsApp v0.1.44781 Web, so it is advisable to use this release or those that will be released in the future to avoid tampering in the system.


Read more: : http://www.desispy.com/whatsapp-hack-that-allows-user-steal-conversation-9402/

Dell introduces new campus and Datacentre networking solutions



Dell has expanded its networking portfolio to address complexities in campus networking and bandwidth demands in the Datacentre.
For the campus, the vendor has introduced a new unified-campus architecture powered by new Dell Networking C9010 Network Director switch and companion C1048P Rapid Access Node.
In the datacentre, Dell debuted the Dell Networking S6100-ON, combining multi-rate connectivity, modularity and open networking to deliver in-rack networking flexibility.
The new Dell unified-campus architecture gives a single management view for the campus from access to core. The vendor said this enables a single point of control, policy provisioning and software upgrades, as well as programming software-defined attributes.
Additionally, through the use of industry-standard protocols, the campus architecture can be jump started using existing Dell campus investments by re-deploying Dell Networking N-series switches as access nodes.
The new Dell Networking C9010 Network Director is a next-generation multi-rate capable modular switch and is the first platform based on the new campus network architecture.
Dell said it delivers scalability for up to 4,000 virtual ports managed centrally, with support for 10 and 40 gigabit Ethernet (GbE). The vendor said a tool-free upgrade to 100GbE is available to meet growing bandwidth requirements of a diverse campus of end-users and end-points.
For initial deployments, the C9010 can be deployed as a traditional campus switching platform without the Dell Networking C1048P Rapid Access Node, serving to aggregate legacy switching platforms in wiring closets.

According to the vendor, the Dell Networking C1048P extends the capabilities of the C9010 Network Director by providing enhanced power over Ethernet as user access and connectivity back to the C9010. The C1048P can be deployed either stand-alone or in a stacked configuration, and can be introduced at any time to the new architecture.
For enhanced investment protection, Dell N-series switches within current customer environments can also become access nodes via a software download.
The Dell Networking S6100-ON is the latest addition to the S-Series family of Datacentre switches. It is said to combine multi-rate connectivity with chassis-level modularity and open networking suited for Datacentre operators seeking maximum flexibility and control in the rack.
Dell said through multiple expansion modules, customers have the flexibility to deliver various combinations of port speeds ranging from 10-100GbE with both QSFP28 and CXP port choices for flexibility in deployment.
According to the vendor, the Dell S6100-ON is ideal for virtualization, Cloud and big data analytics environments.

Alison Brie Returns As Unikitty In The Newest "Lego Dimensions" Trailer

So far in the lead-up to the September 27 release date of Lego Dimensions, we've seen Joel McHale, Christopher Lloyd, and the voices of Chris Pratt, Michael J. Fox, Elizabeth Banks, and more. Now it's Unikitty's turn to give the world a peek at the highly anticipated video game that crosses characters, movie properties, and more in the toy brand's multiverse.

This time Alison Brie, like McHale and Lloyd before her, gets a mysterious delivery that turns out to be a rather powerful Lego set. But when one small piece is missing, the deep rage within rears its vengeful head, even if for just a fleeting moment.

It's a fun, if less elaborate, continuation of a thoroughly charming marketing campaign for the game. The game footage of a Batmen slapfight is just an added bonus.

'WWE 2K16' roster news: The Terminator featured in new gameplay trailer

 

A new gameplay trailer for "WWE 2K16" was recently released by 2K Games. It features some of the interesting new additions in the soon-to-be released professional wrestling game.
In the trailer dubbed as "Oh Hell Yeah," the different entrance acts of some of the most popular WWE superstars are seen, including several fan-favorites like Seth Rollins, John Cena, The New Day, and Brock Lesnar, among others. But perhaps the highlight is Stone Cold showing his iconic "Stone Cold Stunner" as he performs it on The Rock and Vince McMahon. 
As an added feature, the trailer also shows what the players will get when they pre-order the game through selected shops like Gamestop, Amazon, and other popular retailers that accept pre-orders. For the 17th major installment in the "WWE 2K" game series, a bonus character for the pre-ordered game happens to be actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his legendary "Terminator" character T-800. 
The former California governor and popular action star recently chatted with IGN to talk about his participation in the pro wrestling video game matches. When asked what he would want to be called if he ever joined WWE professionally, Schwarzenegger said that he would like to be called the Austrian Oak since that was what his peers during his bodybuilding stint used to call him. 
The actor also said that it would not be a fair battle if his character T-800 gets chosen to fight anyone in the ring because it would be hard to fight a machine. Yet he also shared that he would love to see the Terminator and Conan the Barbarian, two of his former film characters, fight on top of the WWE ring. 
Schwarzenegger was also asked about his favorite WWE wrestlers of all time, and it took him a little while before he could actually answer. 
"I love them all, The Rock, Stone Cold, but I really identify with Bruno Sammartino," Schwarzenegger said. "He is a fellow immigrant, and he is truly a legend. He sold out Madison Square Garden 187 times! And he is so powerful. I remember the first time I saw him picking up someone over his head. Imagine the power. And he is the sweetest, most inspirational guy." 
"WWE 2K16" will be released for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 on Oct. 27 in North America and Oct. 30 in Europe.

 

Thursday 24 September 2015

Roblox Helps You Make Your Own Xbox One Games

Who wouldn’t want to be “The YouTube of Video Games”? User-generated games portal Roblox is doing its best to apply the model to video games as opposed to just videos, by lowering the bar for content creation enough so that anyone can build something interesting, then push it out to as many platforms as possible.
“We believe we’re the best place in the world to build and develop your first game,” says Roblox Chief Marketing Officer Rick Silvestrini. "We have created the only platform in the world where you can build a game once and have it deploy across PC, Mac, iOS, Android, and now Xbox."
Just one user-made Roblox game.
Just one user-made Roblox game.
That platform boasts 15 million monthly visitors, and Rick and his Roblox team stopped by IGN to show me the Xbox One app, which launches on November 12. All the games will be free for anyone to play, with Roblox sustaining itself by selling augments to its existing community-shared asset packs and creators able to make money by incorporating in-game microtransactions (of which Roblox, like iTunes or any other service, takes a small cut).
Twenty Roblox-curated games will be available on the Xbox One app on launch day. All of them are rather simplistic, both visually and mechanically, but that’s the point. Roblox isn’t equipped to let you design your own Mass Effect. It can, however, give you fundamental, building block-level experience with creating what you need to make a game: an idea, a level(s), rules, etc. Besides, that doesn’t mean they’re not fun.
More UGC from the Roblox community.
More UGC from the Roblox community.
“We scale the platform with the talent of the developer,” Silvestrini explains, adding that their proprietary set of tools take care of a lot of basic functions. “You don't have to worry about networking, you don't have to worry about multiplayer."
While I didn’t see the actual editing tools themselves – those need a keyboard and mouse, so the mobile and Xbox One versions of Roblox only support the actual playing of the user-created games – it all seems very similar to the XNA toolset released by Microsoft back on Xbox 360.
Among the first games playable on Xbox on day one is Heroes!, a top-down dungeon-crawler with Ys-style just-run-into-your-enemies combat made by a 19-year-old Indiana teenager who’s using in-game microtransaction revenue to help pay his way through college.
ROBLOX 3
I also saw Tiny Tanks, a top-down eight-player tank shooter where you control a tank inside a fort created on the floor of a child’s bedroom; and Natural Disaster Survival, a goofy romp where up to 30 players roam a map until a random catastrophic event such as a volcano eruption or blizzard occurs, leading all the players to scramble for cover and safety as the elements destroy the Lego-like world around them.
Roblox claims that it’s now been around long enough – it was founded in 2006 – that some of its longtime users are now graduating into full-fledged professional game developers. They cited indie Steam hit Unturned as the product of a former Roblox user.
If you’ve ever wanted to make your own Xbox One game, Roblox now gives you that chance – for free. The power is now in your hands if you’re curious to learn how the video game sausage gets made. IGN Logo

Microsoft Teases More Story With Halo 5 Release Trailer

Video game developer 343 Industries isn’t slowing down as it builds anticipation for next month’s Halo 5 release date. Just a day after it introduced a new season of its podcast to hype the game’s story, Microsoft is back with a new video that introduces the Blue Team and teases the game’s campaign. What’s more, it’s letting journalists talk about their experience with the game so far.
Microsoft added the trailer to its Xbox Wire news blog last night. Then this morning video game websites began publishing articles describing their time with the game’s campaign. It was only yesterday that Microsoft began releasing new episodes of its Hunt The Truth podcast setting up the Halo 5: Guardians story. The whole thing is a massive effort by Microsoft to built the game’s profile ahead of release on October 27th. Halo 5: Guardians is the crown jewel of Microsoft’s holiday 2015 line-up. With a weak line-up of exclusives on the PS4, many believe its Microsoft’s last hope of catching up to its Sony-made rival in sales.
halo-5-guardians-blue-team

The Halo 5: Guardians trailer that Microsoft released early this morning is ripped straight form the second mission in the game. In the video we see Blue Team, preparing for a battle in what appears to be a deep space with the Covenant, a dangerous race of aliens who’ve tried to destroy Earth and her colonies since the beginning of the series.

As the Blue Team suits up Master Chief is seen running his finger over the port in the back of his helmet. This is the same port that he used to insert the chip carrying his virtual side-kick Cortana into. According to a post accompanying the video, Blue Team is on its way to make sure that a ship carrying classified information about Earth’s military doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Besides the Chief, the team is made up of Kelly, Linda and Fredric.
All told, the trailer doesn’t reveal too much about the game, but does give the Blue Team time in the spotlight. A lot of the previous reveals showed the game’s other team of Spartans, Fireteam Osiris. We do know that at some point Osiris is sent to hunt down Master Chief John 117. Early trailers for the game say as much. With this tease officially available online, we’ve now seen cinematics from two different missions in the campaign. Fireteam Osiris was on a desert planet hunting something down in the last official clip.
To be clear, the previews that video game websites are publishing this morning aren’t small hints at what’s coming in Halo 5: Guardians. Some of them are huge breakdowns of the game. Polygon, for example, guides players through the mechanics of the first two missions. No story information is included in the breakdown, but gameplay is.
One of the things the report notes early on is how faster Halo 5: Guardians feels. 343 Industries built this game to run at 60 frames per second, something that no previous Halo game has done. Mechanics like constant running and ground pound makes moving around the maps more fluid and faster. “So far Halo 5 has a more active feel to it, with more seeming options at any given moment due in part to the new abilities at your disposal at any given moment,” says Polygon.
The biggest gambles that 343 Industries is taking with the Halo 5: Guardians are sounding a bit rough. Adding more vertical gameplay has worked out, according to writer Arthur Gies, but the computer controlled team of Spartans who are supposed to assist players are described as “kind of dumb.”