Microsoft has launched a brand new app on the iTunes store for all iOS handheld devices. This new app is called “My Xbox Live” and it will allow the users to interface with their Xbox Live Friends in any number of ways. This includes exchanging messages with friends, customizing your own Avatar and even comparing Achievements if you are out and about.
Besides that users can also manage their friends list and delete friends whenever you feel like. The app itself is free right now and is available on both the iPad and iPhone. You can pick it up here and take at least a minimal part of Xbox Live with you everywhere.
Those who have been playing Batman: Arkham City on the PC most likely know that the game has had some serious problems with bugs and crashes and pretty much everything you could list. One of these issues was specifically a problem with DirectX 11. Unfortunately not every Batman: Arkham City player will be able to use DirectX 11 yet, as 32-bit systems will still need to use DirectX 9.
Warner Brothers themselves have said that “Users running Windows 7 32 bit or Windows Vista 32 bit should ONLY use DX 9 settings until a future patch that addresses this specific issue is released. We are actively working to address the remaining issue tied to DX 11 for users running 32 bit versions of Windows Vista or Windows 7.” Thankfully however Batman: Arkham City’s developers RockSteady have released a new patch for the PC version to fix a number of issues which you can see below.
Performance / hitching issues have been greatly improved for running in DX 11.
An issue with players running out of Video Memory or encountering a Rendering Thread Exceptions has been address. This was primarily affecting 32-bit Operating Systems.
A progression block after defeating [spoiler] has been fixed. This was issue occurred primarily on lower end computer setups and described as Batman not readying his Reverse Batarang.
A crash that occurred when scrolling between the Character Bios and Arkham City Stories has been fixed.
A crash that occurred when selecting “Press Start” immediately when available at the Title Screen has been fixed. The issue was described as crashing/hard locking around the DLC (Downloadable Content) check.
You know when your game does so bad when even charitable organizations won’t even take your video game as a donation because nobody wants it. But apparently that is alright with Activision and even better for Tony Hawk. It seems that despite two years of failed video games in the Tony Hawk franchise isn’t enough for the company and skate boarder, despite the fact that Tony Hawk Shred only sold around 3k copies in the first week and little more afterwords.
The pro skateboarder Tony Hawk wrote on his Twitter saying “I’ll be announcing the upcoming release of something new on Sat; the same day as the Spike Video Game Awards. Coincidence? I think not.” Perhaps he will announce that they are finally giving up on the series and will move on to something more productive…
Namco Bandai has provided a new trailer for their upcoming Soul Calibur V which brings with it a close to the Soul Calibur IV’s story mode and introduces us into the latest entry of the series. In the trailer we see Siegfried and Nightmare do battle with one another until it appears that Siegfried wins and the sword lays dormant for 17 years, that is until it appears Patroklos draws it once again.
To be more specific, Namco Bandai provided this explanation of the video “17 years ago, the ultimate clash between Siegfried and Nightmare brought a cataclysmic conclusion to an era and ignited a new one. Since then, the sword was thought to have lost its power… But the new story that unfold will prove everyone to be wrong.” Sounds quite interesting and with the release of the title growing closer expect to see more Soul Calibur V information soon.
Sega will release Football Manager Handheld 2012 worldwide for iOS devices at midnight tonight.
The new portable version of the franchise features a bounty of new features, including updated leagues and competitions, the addition of new Leagues, an improved UI, an emphasis on newspapers and press coverage, and lots of tweaks to the transfers and shortlist systems that make Football Manager Handheld easier to use.
Facebook integration has also been added to the social networking aspect of the game, and players can now take part in Challenge Mode. Challenge Mode gives players an objective for the season, the choice of team with which to accomplish this goal, and then sets them loose to see if they can accomplish it. The four challenges include objectives such as remaining undefeated for a season, or overcoming an injury crisis.
Additionally, if you own an Apple TV and a device with iOS 5, you can transfer your experience to the TV screen while you control it with your handheld.
Pricing for the game has yet to be confirmed, but last year’s version cost $5.99 at launch.
Earlier today we learned that Tecmo Koei would be acquiring Gust completely through the purchase of 2.2 billion yen. Now it appears that Japanese website Nikkei has learned what they are planning to do with the developer and their series once the purchase has been made. The report states that Tecmo Koei is planning on turning Gust’s headline Atelier series into a social game. This is an interesting move, but is not impossible to imagine being that the recent iterations of the Atelier series, the Arland set, have been released on the PlayStation 3 and all include item synthesis and most recently even world building in Atelier Meruru.
While this is not a good sign for fans of the JRPGs developed by Gust, the report does not say that Gust will be locked away to exclusively make social games and may still be able to make full retail titles and RPGs that their fans desire. Plus, further exposure for the series could only benefit the actual development and sales of retail titles now that Gust has a larger studio fully backing their development.
In a bit of surprising news, it was revealed today by Tecmo Koei that they are planning on purchasing Atelier and Ar Tonelico series developer Gust through the acquisition of their stocks. This means that Tecmo is going to be purchasing all 495 shares of Gust for ¥22 billion or $28.3 million American. The reason noted for Tecmo Koei’s acquisition of Gust has to do with the popularity of the Atelier series as a whole.
Before this purchase, Tecmo Koei has worked along with Gust to help distribute their games in Japan and even in Europe. At the time however, nearly all Gust titles are distributed and localized by NIS America for North American distribution. So it is currently unclear on how this will affect the relationship between the two companies.
Founded by the producers of hit games like Mirror’s Edge, Battlefield, and Killzone, Might & Delight is pleased to announce Pid will be released in 2012 for consoles and PC.
Pid offers an unique resemblance to platform games like Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. At first glance the world of Pid seems to be a bit depressing given the darker artwork. That and in some scenes you see the locals sitting on a couch next to a street light. Pid proves to be quite an odd piece in its appearance, and I hope that its uniqueness is carried through into the storyline.
The platformer will involve players using abilities for bending gravity, puzzle-solving, and defeating screen filling bosses. The mechanics look fun to use especially the ability to bend gravity. The classic feel should fall in with enemy avoidance and object manipulation.
Can the protagonist outwit the local robots and stop the tyranny of Pid’s ruler? Will he ever get to go back home? Check out the trailer below to catch a glimpse of the gameplay and the dark theme of Pid.
For those of us used to hearing about the legend of the Nine-Tails in Naruto, this may come as a surprise as Riot has announced the mechanics of Ahri the Nine-Tailed Fox. There has been much anticipation for this champion just because of the name. Let’s discover the details behind the hype.
The game mechanics for Ahri deal with high mobility and spell accuracy. By attempting to get closer to the enemy, she will be able to do a higher burst of magical damage. However, as Ahri moves further away her spells become less effective. The Nine Tails Fox’s ultimate provides Ahri the ability to dash multiple times. This will require timing as well as strategy in order to fool, damage, or escape from opponents. In addition to the high mobility, she will be able to lock down opponents with her Seduction technique. Is this the time to mention that she is a very attractive Nine Tails?
For any that likes a lot of action, Ahri just might be the one for you. With high mobility and close range burst damage, this could be a really unique champion to play. Look at the Legend of Legends Official Website for more information on the Nine-Tailed Fox.
PopCap announced today the launch of an all-new Bejeweled for iPod Touch and iPhone, as well as a brand new freemium version of Bejeweled Blitz for those devices.
The re-release of Bejeweled signals the retirement of the Bejeweled 2 from the App Store, though the new version will cost an additional 99 cents (US). It will include much-improved high definition graphics which support Retina Display, the Zen and Diamond Mine modes from Bejeweled 3, leaderboards, and achievement badges. In addition, PopCap promises to continuously update this version of Bejweled with new modes, content, and features.
The free-to-play Bejeweled Blitz will include the original 60-second gem-matching mode from the Bejeweled games, as well as an updated user interface, a tutorial system, and a Daily Spin feature where players try their luck to get bonus coins.
The Bejeweled franchise has sold over 40 million copies worldwide; the only puzzle game more succesful is Tetris. To this count, Giordano Bruno Contestabile, the Bejeweled franchise business director at PopCap commented:
As we strive to reach virtually everyone with a mobile communications device, PopCap will continue to make games that are even more accessible to that ever-expanding global audience. We’re taking a critical step toward this goal with the introduction of these new Bejeweled titles that will enhance our offerings on the iPhone for years to come.
Both games are available on the App Store right now.
Microsoft has launched a brand new app on the iTunes store for all iOS handheld devices. This new app is called “My Xbox Live” and it will allow the users to interface with their Xbox Live Friends in any number of ways. This includes exchanging messages with friends, customizing your own Avatar and even comparing Achievements if you are out and about.
