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Call of Duty: Ghosts Showcased on Xbox One

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Infinity Ward closed out the Xbox One Reveal event with Call of Duty: Ghosts. They spoke of what’s new with this entrant in the series before displaying its reveal trailer, which can be seen embedded at the bottom of this article.

Ghosts makes use of a brand new next-gen engine, with the story being written by Steven Gaghan, the award-winning scriptwriter of the film Traffic. It takes place 10 years after a cataclysmic event that devastates the United States military forces. The Ghosts team is comprised of what’s left, the remnants of these fallen forces. Going into the features and technical details of the engine, some inclusions were pushed as innovative when we’ve seen it all before, such as the ability to slide and lean in-game (really Infinity Ward?!). They even pulled a Peter Molyneux card and revealed to the world that a dog would be joining the squad as an active member and that you “will care about this dog”.

That aside, the engine does look impressive with Sub-D rendering that ensures the quality of curvature in models the closer the players get to them, fluid dynamics and interactive smoke. Multiplayer will feature dynamic maps whereby natural disasters such as Earthquakes and floods rock the battlefield. Character customisation will also be much deeper for MP, now allowing you to change the heads and physical aspects of your avatar. Infinity Ward also promised new co-op functionality, seamless second screen integration and Kinect commands to be shown off in the future.

You can already lay down your pre-orders from the official website. Also check out the gallery of first screenshots below. For future updates on Call of Duty: Ghosts, stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

Live-Action Halo TV Series Announced; Steven Spielberg Attached

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Halo did have a presence at the Xbox One Reveal event, but not in the way that you might have expected. Instead, the next best thing to getting a Halo film was announced; Halo The Television Series.

343 Industries have partnered with Steven Spielberg and his production company to produce this premium, live-action TV series. It would seem that the show will be exclusively available through Xbox One as part of Xbox Entertainment Studios’ plan to offer original and exclusive TV-programming based on their properties. Steven Spielberg spoke on the project;

For me, the Halo universe is an amazing opportunity to be at that intersection where technology and myth-making meet to create something really groundbreaking.

As news unfolds about the series, stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

Remedy’s Quantum Break Revealed for Xbox One [UPDATED]

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UPDATE: We now have an official description on the game that gives a lot more insight into what the title is all about. Intriguing to say the least.

Developed exclusively for Xbox One, Quantum Break blurs the line between television and gameplay, integrating the two into one seamless, uniquely immersive experience. From Remedy Entertainment, the critically-acclaimed creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne comes a revolutionary entertainment experience that weaves the cinematic action of intense gameplay with the tension and drama of scripted television, creating a world where each has a direct impact on the other.

In Quantum Break, our desperate hero fights a highly personal battle to save the future before time literally runs out. As time breaks down, impossible, split second moments of destruction turn into epic stages of time powered action. The actions you take, and the choices you make, shape your experience as the narrative unfolds. As you play, a personalized ‘director’s cut’ of the show is created just for you, based on the decisions you make during the game.


Microsoft are investing in more worldwide studios than ever before for the Xbox One catalog of games. There are currently more titles in development simultaneously now than at any other point in the history of Xbox.

15 exclusives will be released in the first year from launch of the console, 8 of which are brand-new franchises. And this is one of them. Quantum Break comes to us from Remedy Entertainment; the creators of Max Payne and Alan Wake. The first trailer for the title can be seen embedded at the bottom of this article, and blends live-action scenes with CG footage.

The initial description as found on the Xbox YouTube channel reads;

Master time to survive the present… and save the future. From the creators of Alan Wake and Max Payne comes Quantum Break, a revolutionary entertainment experience that blurs the line between gameplay and television.

Check out stills from the trailer below and stay tuned to Capsule Computers for more on this fresh IP.

Forza Motorsport 5 a Xbox One Launch Title

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Phil Spencer took the stage at the Xbox One Reveal event to talk about bringing more exclusive content/games to Xbox One than ever before with previous consoles. He then introduced the inevitable…Forza Motorsport 5.

The announcement trailer, which can be viewed embedded at the bottom of this article, showed the F1 and P1 McLaren supercars racing against each other and looking stunning while doing so, of course. Forza Motorsport 5 has been confirmed as a launch title for the Xbox One, which is releasing “later this year”.

Also check out the plethora of first screens in the gallery below. For future coverage on this newest instalment of Forza Motorsport, stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

EA Developing Titles for Xbox One on New EA Sports Ignite Engine

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At the Xbox One Reveal event, EA Sports President Andrew Wilson announced “a brand-new, broad strategic partnership between EA and Microsoft” – also described as a “very special relationship” – more details of which will be shared in due time. They did confirm that FIFA 14, NBA Live 14 , Madden NFL and UFC are all scheduled for release on the Xbox One.

Other than the expected increase in realism, EA Sports are promising that these iteration will change the way we play sports games forever. A catalyst for that movement is the new engine unveiled, called EA Sports Ignite. Wilson stated;

Ignite was designed specifically to blur the line between real and virtual. Sports are just as much about your head as they are about your feet or hands. We built new technology that allows players to make decisions with four times more calculations per second.

To top it all off, it was revealed that there will be exclusive content for the Ultimate Team mode in FIFA 14 only on Xbox One. You can check out the engine in action in the embedded trailer below.

Xbox One: Under the Hood

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The Xbox One architecture was detailed during the Xbox One Reveal event and is as follows (can also be seen in above image):

8 Core CPU, Native 64 bit, 8GB of System Memory (RAM), 500GB HDD, Blu-ray Drive, 802.11n Wireless with Wi-Fi Direct, HDMI Out and USB 3.0. The Xbox One OS is actually 3-fold: the Xbox OS, the kernel of Windows providing consistent access to web and apps and a third OS that connects both to enable the instant switching capabilities among many other functions.

The new Kinect sensor will be paired with every Xbox One. It features a 1080p HD RGB camera, can track in 30 FPS color, makes use of Time of Flight (TOF) technology and includes Microphone Arrays. But the Kinect is not the only form of control (other than the controller, of course). Tablets can also become a remote control for the console with utilisation of SmartGlass. Speaking of the controller, we’re being promised lag-free controls and Kinect co-operation whereby the Kinect will also track the controller in your hands, enabling you to pull off gestures with it such as raising the controller to translate into raising a shield in a combat game.

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Xbox Live was also spotlighted. It will have the power of the cloud at its fingertips. Memberships will be based on the same subscriptions you have today. The server number for Xbox Live has increased dramatically (an understatement) from 15,000 to 300,000 servers for Xbox One; “more than entire world’s computing power in 1999”. You can also capture moments and save them to cloud (hmm, heard that somewhere before…) Achievements were also touched upon; the new and expanded achievements system captures video of your epic moments, continues to grow a game’s achievements over time and rewards you in new ways, and your Gamerscore carries over from Xbox 360. Finally, asynchronous matchmaking will allow you to search in-game for perfect matches based on specific player stats.

Check out the video directly below which features executives talking about the Xbox One. Stay locked to Capsule Computers for more on the Xbox One.

Xbox One: Microsoft’s Next-Gen All-in-One Console

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After an intro video focusing on Xbox knowing you (creepy?), Don Mattrick took the stage at the Next-Generation Xbox Reveal event to give a very brief history of Xbox before looking to the future; “An all in one system to light up a new generation of games, TV and entertainment. Simple. Instant. Complete.”

And so, the Xbox One was revealed! You can see the unveil video embedded at the bottom of this article.

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Cloud powered and built to be able to be consistently improved over the years, although it’s not entirely clear how at this point. Saying “Xbox One” can turn the console on and brings you to a personal home-screen  It will remember what you were last doing and feature it front and centre on your home-screen and there are Trending, TV & Movies and Games tabs amongst others in a very similar dashboard design.

What’s most impressive is the lightning fast ability to switch between every facet of entertainment on the fly just by speaking the appropriate command. Want to take a game break to search the web? Simply say “Internet Explorer” and the console will pause your game and bring up the browser. Skype is also being integrated in widescreen HD with use of the Kinect camera – group video calls will be possible.

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Snap Mode is a cool interface feature that allows you to snap an app, such as Skype, to the right hand side of the screen, able to be called up and away with voice so that you can multi-task. Fantasy basketball is being integrated into real matches and there is a TV Guide also controllable by voice that tracks your favourites and shows you what TV shows are trending across the global (and possibly local by choice) Xbox community. A dedicated Game DVR captures and accesses your magic moments, all saved to the cloud. Along with sharing tools, you will have the most amazing bragging rights with Xbox Live.

Check out the gallery of U.I elements below and keep it locked to Capsule Computers as we gain more information on the future of Xbox.

DotEmu Holds Up to 80% Off Mac Games Sale in Honor of Raiden Legacy Release

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Raiden Legacy (reviewed HERE) has finally made the jump to Mac App Store a few days ago, so publisher DotEmu couldn’t think of a better way to mark the event than the biggest sale they’ve ever held. With prices up to 80% off, fans of classic and retro games should be able to find something that they’d like for a low price. The full deals and details can be found below:

  • Irem Arcade Hits at 80% off for $1.99 (1.79€) HERE – Packed with 18 total games, this bundle includes such big hits as Kung Fu Master and R Type Leo.
  • Raptor Call of the Shadow at 80% off for $0.99 (0.89€) HERE – A 2D shmup from the 90’s, destroy enemies to upgrade and improve your ships weapons.
  • Nicky Boom at 75% off for $0.99 (0.89€) HERE – Help guide Nicky past traps and monsters to save his grandfather from the witch Zoldrane.
  • Nicky Boom 2 at 75% off for $0.99 (0.89€) HERE – Sequel to the original Nicky Boom, with new weapons to help him fight monsters, in an adventure to find who’s blocked the caves of his hometown.
  • Krypton Egg at 75% off for $0.99 (0.89€) HERE – Not just an ordinary breakout style game, but called one of the best. Smash blocks and collect bonus powers to clear the levels.
  • Raiden Legacy at 10% off for $8.99 (7.99€) HERE – Finally having come to the Mac App Store, Mac gamers can enjoy the 4 classic Raiden games with new features and remastered soundtrack.

Batgirl Joins the Fight in Injustice: Gods Among Us Today

Previously announced DLC character Batgirl has finally arrived for Injustice: Gods Among Us. After an update was released to do some minor fixes and prepare for the release of Batgirl today, players should be all set to take control of Ms. Gordon as she takes to the fight to side with either Superman or Batman.

Not so familiar with the history of Batgirl? Well, no worries, as developer NetherRealm and publisher Warner Bros. have released a trailer to cover the history of Commissioner Gordon’s own pride and joy. Those already familiar with Barbara’s story needn’t worry about how she’ll fair against her superpowered foes either as the game sees her having fully recovered and back in the cape.

Players can watch the History of Batgirl trailer embedded below and purchase the Batgirl DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us today on Xbox 360 for 400 MS Points, while those on PlayStation 3 will have to wait one more day to purchase it on the PSN Store for $4.99 (£3.99).

CC Screen: Elementary Season 1 Wrap-Up

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(This article contains spoilers for the show. If you haven’t watched the finale of the first season, be aware there are explicit details about it in the article)

I have a soft spot in my heart for Elementary – it’s a show that combines British wit, intelligent plots with complex mysteries, and has a brilliant chemistry and relationship between the two main characters (as one should expect from Holmes and Watson).

The end of the first season of Elementary showed that the show had truly settled into its groove as everything came to a quite dramatic and intriguing peak. The tail end of the season really got into it, moving away from the crime of the week, and more towards an overarching story line involving Sherlock’s infamous nemesis, Moriarty.

Having Moriarty played by Natalie Dormer, who was initially introduced as Irene Adler, worked brilliantly. Sure some people may get frustrated that another male character in the Sherlock universe has been played by a woman, but damn does Natalie Dormer pull it off brilliantly. While her demise at the end of the first season does seem a bit premature, and it feels like she will return, I love that her downfall came at the efforts of both Holmes and Watson, rather than just Holmes on his own.

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Jonny Lee Miller really does fantastically in his role as Sherlock, bringing vulnerability to a man whose vulnerabilities are buried so deep that they are hardly ever seen. His performance throughout the season was commendable, but particularly in this last story arc, he truly brought Sherlock to life.

Lucy Liu’s Dr Joan Watson is also an enjoyable character, however I look forward to having her character explored a bit more in terms of weaknesses and faults, instead of having her as the rock by which Holmes pitches his tent.

The last scene of the season is actually incredibly sweet and makes me want to drag the two of them into a giant hug, while it also provided a nice little metaphor about how they were better as partners than separately.

With the second season confirmed and the premiere set to be in London, the show will certainly be one to watch.

For more news and reviews of current and upcoming TV shows make sure to check out CC Screen.