Page 3269 – Capsule Computers

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES PLATINUMGAMES’ EARTH-SHATTERING ACTION-BRAWLER: TRANSFORMERS: DEVASTATION

Press Releases

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October 6, 2015

ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC. LAUNCHES PLATINUMGAMES’ EARTH-SHATTERING ACTION-BRAWLER: TRANSFORMERS: DEVASTATION

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Oct. 6, 2015 – Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), today released TRANSFORMERS: Devastation. This new third-person action-brawler rolls into battle with Hasbro’s classic Generations designs and developer PlatinumGames’ renowned flair for slick visuals and free-flowing, high-speed combat.

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation moves at a breakneck pace: rocket through danger in vehicle mode before bursting into robot mode to unleash a barrage of close-quarters combos and blaster fire. Tackle the game’s gripping single-player campaign and 50 highly challenging bonus missions with any of five playable heroes – OPTIMUS PRIME, BUMBLEBEE, SIDESWIPE, WHEELJACK and GRIMLOCK. Each of these characters can be evolved with new abilities, unique talents and more than 150 upgradeable weapons.

Brought to life with bold, cel-shaded artwork, TRANSFORMERS: Devastation features legendary TRANSFORMERS voice actors like Dan Gilvezan as BUMBLEBEE, Frank Welker as MEGATRON and SOUNDWAVE, Michael Bell as SIDESWIPE, Gregg Berger as GRIMLOCK, and Peter Cullen as OPTIMUS PRIME. As the fates of Earth and Cybertron collide, the noble AUTOBOTS must face off against the DECEPTICONS’ most ruthless champions in an original adventure from veteran TRANSFORMERS writer Andy Schmidt that expands the series’ ongoing Combiner Wars story arc.

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation is now available for MSRP $49.99 on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Windows PC via Steam. It is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.TransformersGame.com and www.facebook.com/TransformersGame.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com, or by following @Activision.

About PlatinumGames Inc.

PlatinumGames Inc. is an independent entertainment developer based in Osaka, Japan, dedicated to making high-quality, next-generation games for a variety of hardware platforms. Under the slogan “Taking on the World as the Representative of Japan,” PlatinumGames works hard to deliver fresh surprises and new experiences to gamers all over the world. Official website: www.platinumgames.com.

About Hasbro, Inc.

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences, by leveraging its beloved brands, including LITTLEST PET SHOP, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MONOPOLY, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, PLAY-DOH, TRANSFORMERS, and premier partner brands. From toys and games, television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive lifestyle licensing program, Hasbro fulfills the fundamental need for play and connection for children and families around the world. The Company’s Hasbro Studios creates entertainment brand-driven storytelling across mediums, including television, film and more. Through the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. Learn more at www.hasbro.com and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews).

©2015 Activision Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. “PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks. “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Playstation VR Hands-On Impressions

Mateja Simovic

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October 6, 2015

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The Sony booth at EB expo this year had a small portion dedicated to demoing the Playstation VR (also known as ‘Project Morpheus’). Although it was pretty much booked out by other (less capsule-based) media outlets and members of the general public, I succeeded on my charisma check and managed to squeeze myself into a session. After strapping myself in with the headset and headphones, I started on my (mis)adventure.

I was playing through The London Heist which seemed highly reminiscent thematically of British crime films and which had me start off in an interrogation in some manner of underground chamber. The room was dark and besides me, there was a burly British gentleman who was decidedly intimidating. After an awkward silence where we both sat and watched each other silently, he received a phone call in the middle of holding a blow torch up to my face. He was annoyed at this interruption but then proceeded to tell me that the call was for me and held out the phone. I was still getting a hand of the controls but after fumbling with the controls and caressing the bruiser’s hand lovingly for a moment; I picked up the phone and put it to my ear.I was impressed that the sound was localised to appear as though it was coming from the phone in my hand as the voice on the other end spoke to me and the scene melted into a flashback.

I was now in a fancy office with a very grandiose writing desk. I was informed that I needed to find a diamond but that I would need a key to get at it. I began my search immediately and was impressed by how responsive and accurate the controls were at picking up my motions as I rummaged around. There were a couple of instances where I believe I may have stuck my arm out a bit too far in one direction and my hand started to glitch out, but it only happened once and for a split second during my playthrough. In my search I found a gun and ammo which I placed on the desk alongside the key I needed to open the safe with the diamond. Upon picking up said diamond, alarm bells started ringing and guards started running into the room. It was at that point that the gun I found earlier came in handy.

I had to manually load the gun by picking up a clip in one hand and loading it into the butt of the gun. The action was fairly smooth and not nearly as finnicky as the real thing but still a nice little representation. Firing the pistol was similarly smooth with the controller largely responding to my fine tuning quite well. The lack of recoil also meant I could fire the pistol sideways (real GANGSTA) without too much penalty.

After engaging in a firefight with the guards who entered the room, my session ended. I was thoroughly impressed by what I had seen and experienced with the accuracy of the controls being something which particularly surprised me. I’m interested in seeing what else comes of this system and with the motion controls. My one concern for future release to the public would be the issue of space (not everyone has a nice big living room to swing around in) and safety (not everyone has a booth employee to make sure they don’t trip over wires).

Cuphead Hands-On Impressions

Mateja Simovic

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October 6, 2015

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I first learnt of Cuphead, developed by MDHR studio, earlier this year at the Microsoft press conference when it was announced that the company would be supporting a number of indie titles for their platform. The trailer had me intrigued due to its retro, hand-drawn style and awesome jazz music. The game is composed entirely of boss battles and its style draws heavily from cartoons of the 1930s such as the classic animations of Disney, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Brothers. I managed to get some hands-on time with the game at EB expo this year, so here are my thoughts:

The best way I can describe this game is as a non-stop boss-level in games like Metal Slug but with a cute cartoon aesthetic. The levels were scattered around a map hub which you could walk around. The bosses and their levels are significantly varied from level with some examples including a queen bee in her hive and another being monstrous vegetables in a garden. For each level, the bosses vary up their forms and attacks as their health decreases which helps to keep things interesting. As they’re all boss battles, they’re all essentially one-level stages and very difficult (or more likely; I suck at console gaming). Generally, there is a rhythmn to the boss attacks and once you play through the level enough times, you’ll become proficient at reading these patterns and learn to defeat them.

Unfortunately, as I had only a limited amount of time to acquaint myself with these, I was unable to learn how to run and gun my way around the stage well enough to win. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed the visual style and I can see the appeal it has for action oriented gamers.

Star Fox Zero Hands-On Preview

Andrew Day

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October 6, 2015

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Like many of you out there, I grew up on video games, and much like the rest of you out there I can point to a handful of games that were iconic and memorable parts of my life. One of these games for me is definitely Lylat Wars (or Star Fox 64 for those of you who live overseas). Piloting my Arwing through the Lylat System is still an amazing experience for me. The different styles of world, the tight controls and gameplay, the memorable cast – it really was one of those games that had it all.

Fast forward to the EB Games Expo 2015 and I got to get my hands on with the true successor to that game; Star Fox Zero. Jumping back into an Arwing and flying again through the streets of Corneria City felt exactly like I remembered it, and even though the controls took some getting used to, I felt like I was an eight year old all over again.

From the moment you are given control of your space craft, it really does feel like a true Lylat Wars successor. The enemies all look exactly how you remember them, as does Corneria City itself. I will admit that the controls took a little getting used to (having the right thumb stick be how you bank left/right or perform manoeuvres was a bit of a jarring experience). Once I got the hang of it however, I found the controls to be super tight and responsive. The Arwing went wherever I wanted it too with the swiftness and elegance that one could only dream of. Even during the demo chapter’s all-range mode section, the craft felt like it was under my absolute control at all times.

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I know it looks like I’ve just been fawning and gushing and stuck in nostalgia-town with this game, but I am not too blinded by its faults. Firstly, I don’t really like or get why the Arwing can turn into a chicken. The ground-based stuff just felt like it was tacked onto a game that really didn’t need it. Not only that but the button placement to do so made it way too easy to accidentally drop from the sky and completely throw me out of the zone.

Another thing that stuck out at me was the game’s visuals. While the Wii U isn’t an over the top graphics powerhouse, we have seen Nintendo do some really impressive stuff with their little box, from the intense colours of Super Mario World to the truly next-gen looking Mario Kart 8. Well, Star Fox Zero, while it an ugly game by any stretch of the imagination, didn’t have the same pizzaz that we have come to expect from the Big N. Hopefully the delay until 2016 will give Nintendo a chance to make it look as good as it feels to play.

For the rest of our coverage of the 2015 EB Games Expo, click here.

Rise of the Tomb Raider Hands-On Preview

Andrew Day

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October 6, 2015

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“Tombs!” That was the first thing that popped into my mind when I picked up the controller and started to play Square Enix’s upcoming The Rise of the Tomb Raider. I was a huge fan of the 2013 franchise reboot that saw Lara Croft become a household name once again, but in amidst all the rock climbing, running and gunning, and the treasure hunting there was one element of the Tomb Raider franchise that was sorely lacking; the Tombs.

From the moment I started playing the demo for Rise Of the Tomb Raider, the world felt at piece. The game started me up at the entrance to an ancient, decrepit tomb where I was tasked with navigating the perilous caverns, dodging death traps and solving puzzles in order to progress. “This is what I have been waiting for!” I said to myself numerous times as the name “Tomb Raider” felt right once again.

Aside from exploring and spelunking, fans of the 2013 reboot will be happy to hear that the gameplay remains relatively unchanged. Lara moves just as she did back then and while her arsenal has increased, she still retains her skills and ass-kickery that made her great.

I also got to sample a bit of the game’s combat, and for a third-person action game, the gunplay seems incredibly solid. I’d like to get a bit more time with the game before I sing its praises, but what I experienced so far leads me to believe that the combat will have a more satisfying and tonally fitting feel than its predecessor.

It is hard to say from such a short time just how great Rise of the Tomb Raider will be, especially considering it will be a highly story-driven experience, but from what alive played I can say that it is a game that should probably be on your radars.

I had fun with Rise of the Tomb Raider and cannot wait to see where this adventure will take our dear miss Croft this time. Thankfully, we don’t have too long to wait to find out as Rise of the Tomb Raider will be available from November 10th, 2015.

For the rest of our coverage of the 2015 EB Games Expo, click here.

New Call of Duty: Black Ops III Story Overview Sheds More Light on Narrative

Dustin Spencer

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October 6, 2015

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Call of Duty: Black Ops III is only a month away and already many are hyped for what looks to be another solid offering from Treyarch and Activision. One of the most important aspects of the game of course is the story, which seems to have a lot more details this time around.

A new video has emerged displaying an overview of sorts for the mode, which you can check out below. Its a nice preview for those who want a bit of info before dropping in, and of course won’t apply to those who are just going in for the multiplayer. Tune in and get ready, folks. You can pre-order your copy today if you are inept from walking into a store at this link.

GUITAR HERO® LIVE PITS JAMES FRANCO AGAINST LENNY KRAVITZ IN AN EPIC ROCK BATTLE WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE “WIN THE CROWD” LIVE-ACTION TRAILER

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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October 6, 2015

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GUITAR HERO® LIVE PITS JAMES FRANCO AGAINST LENNY KRAVITZ IN AN EPIC ROCK BATTLE WITH THE PREMIERE OF THE “WIN THE CROWD” LIVE-ACTION TRAILER

Veteran Comedy Director Jonathan Krisel Directs the Brand New Spot

Sydney, Australia – October 6, 2015 – With just a couple weeks to go until the highly-anticipated return of Guitar Hero, Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) is kicking off the launch for Guitar Hero Live with the release of a new live action trailer starring James Franco and Lenny Kravitz. Helmed by director Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia, SNL), the “Win the Crowd” spot features the hilarious actor and the legendary rock-star going head-to-head to see who truly is the king of the music festival circuit in Guitar Hero Live. The trailer features Kravitz’ hit track “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” which will also be playable in the game. The full 90 second version of the spot is live now. The start of the campaign sets the stage for the release of Guitar Hero Live, which marks the beginning of a new era in music games and introduces two exciting new ways to play the game: GH Live, in which you play in-front of real crowds who react to your performance, and GHTV, the world’s first playable music video network.

“Guitar Hero Live gives you the chance to live out your rock star fantasy in front of a real audience that reacts to how you play, so watching James Franco and Lenny Kravitz challenging each other to win the crowd in the game brought that excitement to life in a really cool way,” saidTim Ellis, CMO, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Some of the best moments captured on film were purely spontaneous between James and Lenny. They had great chemistry and had a lot of fun with the game. We just let them loose.”

Guitar Hero Live includes two all-new modes, including a first-person point of view where you are up on stage as the star of the show. A quantum leap forward in immersion and realism, GH Live is a live-action experience that delivers the full emotional roller coaster of being on stage, with players performing in a real band, in front of real crowds, who react in real time to how well or poorly you play. The game also includes GHTV, a revolutionary new way to play Guitar Hero. The 24-hour playable music video network lets fans play along to a continually-updated collection of official videos, from the newest releases to favourite hits. GHTV is a living, breathing platform that will continue to grow, serving as an ever-expanding source for music discovery while bringing the party atmosphere back to the living room.

Guitar Hero Live will be available on October 20 in Australia and New Zealand on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U™ console as well as iOS devices including iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. For more information, please visit http://www.guitarhero.com, www.facebook.com/GuitarHero, www.youtube.com/guitarhero, or follow @guitarhero on Twitter and Instagram.

About Activision Publishing

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment.) Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website,www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about Guitar Hero Live™, including with respect to its launch date, features, gameplay and playability, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

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ACTIVISION, FREESTYLEGAMES, GUITAR HERO and GH are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. “PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks. “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

Microsoft, Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. “PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks and “PS4” is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller’s New Video Gives a More Detailed Look

Dustin Spencer

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October 6, 2015

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Its rare when we actually bring you news about a controller, but there are a hefty number of people who are hyped for the New Xbox Elite Wireless Controller from Microsoft, which will offer customization with almost an unlimited amount of options that will assist in performance and comfort alike.

Today a new video surfaced for the device, and I must say even though it is expensive, it is definitely as top shelf as you can get if you are someone who has been craving options or simply modding for a controller of any sort that is actually legal. Watch the clip below and gawk at this Xbox One beauty, and remember that you can get yours on the 27th of this month.

STRIKE VECTOR EX NOMINATED FOR FIVE AWARDS AT GAME CONNECTION EUROPE 2015

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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October 6, 2015

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STRIKE VECTOR EX NOMINATED FOR FIVE AWARDS AT GAME CONNECTION EUROPE 2015

Vote for Ragequit’s Aerial-Combat Shooter in the People’s Choice Award and Play the Game at Paris Games Week

PARIS, FRANCE – October 5, 2015 – Independent video game developer Ragequit Corp is proud to announce today its upcoming first-person aerial-combat game Strike Vector EX has been nominated for four gameplay awards and one People’s Choice Award in the Game Connection Europe 2015 Development Awards, with the winners being announced October 28-November 1, 2015 in Paris, France.

Disrupting the air combat genre via precision mechanics, imaginative aircraft, and stunning, fast-paced multiplayer fights, Strike Vector EX was nominated in the Best Console/PC Hardcore, Best Hardcore Game, Most Creative and Original, and Most Promising IP categories. Fans and enthusiasts of air-combat, indie, and original games can vote for Strike Vector EX in the People’s Choice awards by going to the Game Connection Facebook page and clicking and “liking” the image HERE.

Strike Vector EX is a competitive first-person aerial-combat game that hosts dizzying dogfights with battle-heavy aircraft. Bursting with customizable mech-inspired ships, Strike Vector EX disrupts the air combat genre through a combination of precision mechanics, imaginative aircraft, and stunning, fast-paced multiplayer fights.

RageQuit Corporation’s debut Xbox One and PS4™ game has been fine tuned to provide instant feedback and tight console controls for players to light each other up amidst futuristic, industrial structures. Players gear up their ships to deploy specific strategies for each mission (paired with personal, bada$$ styles) to engage in frenetic multiplayer skirmishes.

Strike Vector EX uses the Unreal Engine 4 and is slated for takeoff on PS4™ and Xbox One in 2016. For more on RageQuit Corporation, like it on Facebook, follow it on Twitter, and check it out on YouTube and Twitch.TV.

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ABOUT RAGEQUIT CORPORATION
RageQuit Corporation is a small independent video games studio based in Paris, France created by veterans of the industry. The team is composed of passionate gamers who want to create fun, hardcore games. The core members have worked for renowned studios such as Sony Liverpool (formerly Psygnosis), Evolution Studios, Quantic Dream, Dontnod, Darkworks, Nadeo, Ubisoft, Atari, Ankama and Infogrames. The team has contributed to big license games such as Motorstorm Apocalypse, Remember Me, I am Alive, Coldfear, the Amerzone, SSX, Rayman, Ghost Recon, Tony Hawk, Moto GP, Burnout, Trackmania, Shootmania and Harry Potter.

ABOUT REVERB TRIPLE XP
An extension of interactive entertainment agency Reverb Communications, Inc., Reverb Triple XP provides a spectrum of services customized to focus on the needs of indie game developers. Reverb Triple XP powers up titles that stand out with excellent gameplay, creative design, and that elusive fun factor. Once chosen, our team of game industry veterans works with the game developers to fully understand and play the title, then execute on world class marketing, PR, social, production and distribution services that are fitting for games of the highest quality.

Meet the Empire Soldier in the new Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide Trailer

Jamie Laike Tsui

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October 6, 2015

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Swedish indie developers Fatshark released a new trailer today for Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide today. Markus Kruber, the Empire Soldier, gets his own action real that introduces players to his heavy hitting tactics. He’s a former Empire Soldier who is now a hired gun for the Witch Hunter Victor Saltzpyre. Markus specializes in heavy hitting melee weapons like war hammers and great swords. If he needs to put some space between him and his enemies, he can fall back to a variety of guns. Gamers can learn more about Markus Kruber at the official Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide webpage.

Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is a co-op FPS set in Games Workshop’s long running fantasy franchise. The game launches on October 23 for Windows for $29.99 USD. Those who pre-order on Steam will net themselves a 10% discount.