Black Ops 2 is adaptive and original [1]
Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:43 AM PDT
Black Ops 2 is going to be one of the standout games of 2012 and easily the most anticipated game of the year with possible exception to GTA V. Aside from bringing a new multiplayer mode as well as a new zombies experience [2] , Black Ops 2 is also gaining interest thanks to its new ‘interactive’ campaign mode.
As far as we’re aware, this is a first for the franchise, where players will actually be given a multiple choice scenario during campaign. Making your decision will determine different outcomes and routes during levels and players could even be treated to multiple endings â€" hopefully not bordering on Mass Effect territory though.
We previously had an early look at how interaction will play a part in some of the levels. To give you another idea for those that missed it the first time, check out the footage below from the Jimmy Fallon show where we see some Strike Force gameplay [3] . Pay attention to the fact that you’ll now be able to reposition troops and set them up ready to mount a huge offensive. Since when was tactical gameplay like this a part of Call of Duty?
It’s great to see that Treyarch is going all out to give gamers a fresh experience as possible and we think that they may surprise one or two with the adaptive new features in campaign. Everyone is picking Black Ops 2 up for multiplayer and zombies at the moment, but imagine if the campaign ends up being the best aspect?
James C. Burns who voices Sgt. Frank Woods in the game has even gone one step further [4] to say that Black Ops 2 is going to be ‘a very original experience’. He’s also mentioned the ability for player interaction and the fact that your choices will affect the outcome of the game.
Has this taken you by surprise? Black Ops 2 may be the Call of Duty game that changes perception from the ‘arcade game for kids’ tag that everyone labels it at the moment.
More About: Black Ops 2, Treyarch [5] [6]
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Best PS Vita games to revive system [8]
Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:16 AM PDT
Are you still playing your PS Vita [9] regularly, or is it now starting to gather dust after you grew tired of waiting for some new games to release? If it’s the latter, you probably have one game in mind that is going to make you start playing again.
After picking up our PS Vita in December when it first launched, we’re disappointed to say the least on how it has panned out after such an impressive launch lineup. Sony really nailed it with the terms of selection and quantity of games that they had on offer, but since then we’ve had a few notable releases and nothing else [10] .
E3 was a huge disappointment given the fact that we didn’t see much Vita action, but at least Sony admitted this and said that they agreed it was a area that could have been improved. The good news is that GamesCom 2012 and the Tokyo Game Show in September are on the horizon and we should get a fresh look at the latest software titles that will be landing on the new handheld in the near future.
It’s fair to say that Black Ops: Declassified [11] is the one game that is going to make everyone start playing their Vita again. If we were to pick out one obscure title, we’d also predict that DJ Max Technika Tune is going to be a hidden gem [12] as well. Not many people know about the popular Korean rhythm franchise, but if you’ve played previous titles on the PSP, you’ll know that the replayability of these type of games are plain value for money.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Liberation should be another game to look out for, while the likes of Final Fantasy X HD and Phantasy Star Online 2 are definite hardware sellers. At the moment though, the PS Vita has been ignored and console games are taking preference.
Are you in the same situation with your Vita? Let us know your thoughts on the lack of new games and what title is going to make you start playing the system again.
For more Product-Reviews.net [14] coverage:
Skyrim 1.7 patch missed a few things [15]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 11:26 PM PDT
It has only been a few hours since Skyrim patch 1.7 went live for steam users and we’ve already heard about numerous things missing from this update to Skyrim, and minor fixes for Dawnguard. It is expected that this patch also brings compatibility for the first Skyrim DLC on PS3 and PC, although no release date has been given just yet and patience is wearing thin with gamers waiting to purchase the downloadable content.
What did the Skyrim 1.7 update miss? It has only launched on PC so far [16] and will be submitted for approval on Xbox 360 and PS3 later this week, but the patch notes, seen below, only show a few fixes and miss out more bugs than it fixes. The update has also caused a few issues for some PC users, although this can be related to mods in certain circumstances, which include Scriptdragon not recognizing the 1.7 update and this means some PC users will need to give Scriptdragon mods a miss until this problem is fixed.
The bugs Skyrim patch 1.7 missed â€" Some users still experience constant crashes with the PC platform, and while this is a common problem reported it’s also something that only affects a smaller number of people, so we’d expect this is related to PC hardware/software configurations.
There are generic quest problems that involve going to a random location and killing a random creature, which an issue arises when the creature is already dead. This has caused problems for a lot of players and affects a number of quests. Some Skyrim gamers want a fix at the Riften prison so they can do a break out of prison, and another bug a couple of users reported to PR surrounds the disappearance of Eorlund Grey-Mane from the Sky Forge.
When trying to gain all the trophies on PS3 we’ve heard of a few gamers not being able to obtain the last few, which is due to broken quests and one player attained 49 of the original 50 trophies, although had problems getting the last one. This involved not being able to complete the Civil War quest because there is no one at the Stormcloak camp to report to.
New features wanted in Skyrim â€" the new legendary dragons are good fun but some people want them to spawn more frequently rather than at the higher-level requirements. Seeing a number of fighting styles added while on horse back had been welcomed by most gamers, although there are some people that want this expanded to using magic while riding a horse.
After spending hundreds of hours in Skyrim we love to use the bow and arrows more than most weapons, also the cross bow in Dawnguard, but it would be nice to see a critical hit when you get a headshot with a bow or cross bow. Hitting a number of bows through the head is a little stupid really.
Within the first one hundred hours of playing Skyrim we had to get a house, ours had been obtained by getting married rather than buying one, although a new feature for Skyrim that could be added in a later DLC would be the ability to build your own house. Imagine how this could add a lot more customization to the game, and also a lot more hours spent doing mindless things?
PC owners are enjoying a massive amount of mods and while consoles shouldn’t expect this level of add-ons, they could do with a few realism enhancements via DLC or a patch update. This includes feet that look like feet, especially when you are a barefoot assassin, and also capes and hair that move more realistically.
Since Dawnguard the love for Serana [17] has been hit and miss with gamers, but there are a growing number of players that want to marry her, so adding this would be welcomed but also adding an option for divorce would be great as well. This divorce option would also bring a few fixes for broken quests.
What bugs did patch 1.7 miss, and also are there any features that need to be at the top of Bethesda’s list? Some quests that look broken might just be something the player is doing wrong, and this has been seen a number of times with the main Skyrim game and Dawnguard, so it’s worth checking online first before reporting an issue to Bethesda.
New features are great but Bethesda should always put the bug fixes first, although PS3 owners might disagree here when they are waiting for Dawnguard [18] to land.
More About: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [19]
For more Product-Reviews.net [20] coverage:
GTA V critical for finances [21]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:55 PM PDT
We have known that Grand Theft Auto 5 has been in development for a while, so hearing that Take-Two made a loss in the millions last quarter only shows the need for GTA V to get a release date as soon as possible. The loss reached $10.8m and included development for GTA V, and what some people call bad launches for Max Payne 3 and Spec Ops: The Line. Does this now mean that GTA V takes on extra pressure for Take-Two and Rockstar?
If you have no idea why finances are being brought up, it’s probably a good idea to listen back to Take Two’s investor’s call [22] which took place yesterday. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the crucial release date that the whole gaming community is patiently waiting for [23] and deserves, but we did hear a brief glimmer of hope when Take-Two conceded that GTA V is making substantial progress.
It’s fair to say that we all knew Max Payne 3 would play second fiddle to GTA V and the overwhelming demand for the game seems to have negatively impacted on Rockstar’s financial expectations for the game. Max Payne 3 may have underperformed, but we doubt Rockstar will be too concerned since GTA V is inevitably going to bring in mega bucks for Take-Two.
We’d even go as far to say that GTA IV’s one day milestone of 3.6 million copies sold is up for the taking â€" although Activision may have something to say about that when they unleash Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on November 13. Is GTA V now even more important for Rockstar now that Max Payne 3 has bombed?
Talk about putting all of your eggs into one basket. Let us know your thoughts after Take-Two’s investor call. Are you disappointed that we still don’t have a release date and surprised that Max Payne 3 didn’t perform so well?
More About: gta v, rockstar [24] [25]
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HTC Rezound ICS update is dead end on Verizon [27]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:04 PM PDT
It would be nice if we could write some positive news on the HTC Rezound for once, but unfortunately it appears that Verizon is stopping us from doing that. It’s now August 1st and there is still no official Ice Cream Sandwich update in sight, despite initial promises that it would be coming.
It was almost a month ago when we last wrote about the Rezound’s update plight, informing you that HTC Support had seemingly confirmed [28] that the official update to ICS for the Rezound would be out before the end of July. Skip forward to today and there is no indication from Verizon or HTC support that their previous comment had been with merit.
As you can imagine, it is a very frustrating experience for Rezound owners who were originally promised a swift update by HTC and Verizon when they purchased their device back in November 2011. Without being too harsh, it does seem clear that Verizon and HTC have broken that all important trust barrier with their paying customers.
Some customers will now feel that they are at a dead end, locked into a two year agreement and only staying on Verizon purely because of signal reception purposes. The carrier has made no attempt to reassure customers that the Rezound update is still coming, leaving the masses having to deal with rumor after rumor to no avail. How hard would it be to send out a simple Tweet stating that the update is coming we wonder?
We asked you in our previous article who you thought the blame should be placed with. Having read through the feedback you gave us, it’s clear that a lot of you are now pointing the finger at Verizon and not HTC. Are you a Rezound owner who also feels like it’s a dead end situation with no update in sight? Give us your thoughts on the ongoing saga.
More About: HTC, HTC Rezound [29] [30]
For more Product-Reviews.net [31] coverage:
Wii U Pro Controller makes hardcore transition easy [32]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:29 PM PDT
If you are stil worried about picking up the Nintendo Wii U [33] due to concerns about ‘hardcore’ support, Nintendo apparently has you covered. In a new statement, the company has revealed that their new Pro Controller for the system was designed specifically to make the transition to hardcore a lot more comfortable.
It’s no secret that this was a big reason why many gamers opted against picking up a Wii. While Nintendo obviously has a core market in party games for parents and young children, the big money nowadays is in console shooters and Nintendo are looking to eat into Sony and Microsoft’s share of this with their new console.
Aside from that innovative touchscreen controller, Nintendo will be offering a Pro Controller which has a design that you’ll be much more used to with say the Xbox 360 and PS3 pads. Wii U hardware producer Katsuya Eguchi has spoken about their new controller in a recent interview [34] with GamePlanet, insisting that the Pro Controller will have big benefits for hardcore gamers, but also developers as they start building their multiplatform games.
"We're all gamers as well and we appreciate the interest of those [hardcore] gamers, and we don't want them to feel left out, so we're making big strides and changes in that area."
If they didn’t have this pad and just stuck with the touchscreen controller, then Nintendo could have run into the same problems that the Wii U. Thankfully they didn’t though and we’ve already seen big name publishers such as Activision and EA adding their support to the upcoming console.
Black Ops 2 has already been confirmed for the Wii U [35] , while other big games that primarily require controllers have already been confirmed as well, such as FIFA 13 and Tekken Tag Tournament 2. With no date attached to either of the next-generation consoles from Sony or Microsoft, we have a feeling that a lot of gamers will just pick up the Wii U out of temptation. Hopefully playing the likes of Black Ops 2 on Wii U with a Pro Controller will offer the same experience that gamers get at the moment.
What are your honest thoughts on the Wii U? Is the Pro Controller tempting you into a purchase or are you still determined to wait for Sony and/or Microsoft?
For more Product-Reviews.net [37] coverage:
2014 Battlefield 4 deadline sways gamers [38]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:19 PM PDT
With the Battlefield 4 beta [39] already announced for Fall 2013, many gamers had been wondering if the game would ship before the end of 2013. EA has provided some further clarity on this, by confirming that Battlefield 4 will release by March 2014 at the very latest.
It now means of course that players could preview the game in September or October 2013, but will have to wait until the following year to buy it. If the beta launches in September, but the full game doesn’t hit stores until March that is an anxious seven month wait you’re facing, theoretically.
The Battlefield 4 2014 deadline was announced by EA during their Q1 earnings call, where they also made no secret of their pleasure in shifting 1.3 million Premium packages to Battlefield 3 players since it launched. At $50 a pop, EA must be pretty happy with the way things are going at the moment, despite plans to maybe move away from one-time fees in favor of free-to-play [40] .
How would you feel though if Battlefield 4 does end up releasing in March 2014? A lot of you have already said that Battlefield 4 has come around far too early, so is it a case of ‘the longer the better for you’? With no Battlefield: Bad Company 3 on the horizon, BF4 is now going to be DICE’s next project straight after BF3 without taking a period of absence.
The debate on whether Battlefield 4 will release on current or next-gen [41] consoles is still very much up for debate though. Let’s hope that DICE are making it compatible on both current and next gen though, so gamers won’t have any problems on deciding to pick up the game.
Does a March 2014 release date for Battlefield 4 suit you or not?
More About: Battlefield 4, EA [42]
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New MW3 DLC update for Xbox 360, PS3 [44]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:44 PM PDT
We have now hit the month of August and for Modern Warfare 3 players on PS3 and Xbox 360, it only means one thing â€" more DLC goodness to play. We have some early details on the Elite content drops for Xbox 360, and also the delayed content which is now hitting PS3 users.
If you head to the official MW3 content calendar [45] , you’ll see that Infinity Ward has yet to reveal the maps that are coming. We can see two slots for Spec Ops missions and another slot which has ‘classified’ on it. However, thanks to yet more leaked information [46] , we can bring you details on those two Spec Ops missions before IW even has the chance to reveal it officially.
The two Spec Ops missions will be known as Light Em Up and Special Delivery respectively. Thanks to details [47] from VideoGamer, we know that Light Em Up will put you in the role of an SAS operative who travels to Eastern Europe to rescue a teammate who is being held hostage.
Special Delivery on the other hand sounds really fun, as you’ll be able to take control of an Osprey Gunner and deliver care packages to your teammate below who is trying to eliminate a ground target. Those two missions should be available soon, but don’t forget that there is still one classified item left to come, so stayed tuned for further info on that.
PS3 users will get the content that Xbox 360 Elite members received in July. This means that PS3 players will be able play on the new Offshore and Decommission maps, while there’s also the little matter of MW2 remake Terminal hitting PS3 [48] as well. All three maps should be available from August 16 onwards providing you have an Elite account.
What do you make of the new Spec Ops missions for August’s Xbox 360 Elite drop? What do you want the classified drop to be, a new map or another remade map from MW2 like Highrise?
More About: infinity ward, Modern Warfare 3 [49] [50]
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Countdown to iPhone 5, iOS 6 event starts [52]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:11 PM PDT
The iPhone 5 puzzle [53] is now starting to come together very nicely. After showing you images of an alleged fully assembled sixth generation iPhone, it now looks like we have the magical date for when Apple is going to show off their new prized asset to the world.
Firstly, if you haven’t seen the pictures yet â€" you really should here [54] . It’s the first time we’ve seen the device put together with all of the rumored component parts and it basically matches up with all of the speculation on the device over the last months. It essentially shows off that taller display screen close to 4-inch, as well as the redesigned back casing of the device which will now surely feature three panels with aluminum materials in the middle.
Here’s where it gets exciting though, as iMore has recently published [55] a report claiming that the iPhone 5 is going to be unveiled on Wednesday September 12. Since Apple hasn’t announced any event date yet, you may dismiss this as just another iPhone rumor, but this time things are a little different.
Moments after iMore published that report, the date that they supplied had been verified by number of other reputable sources. AllThingsD have also said [56] that the date is accurate for Apple’s next iPhone event, while Jim Dalrymple who is thought to be well connected to Apple has said in his latest Loop insight that this is the real deal [57] as well.
Presuming that the date is correct, it also means that we should be seeing the iPhone 5 launch at the end of September, instead of the end of October as some of you were expecting. It also applies to the highly anticipated iOS 6 software update as well, although there has been no mention of Apple’s 7-inch ‘Mini’ iPad in all of this.
What are your thoughts on a potential September 12 reveal for the iPhone 5? Starting to get excited?
More About: apple, apple iphone [58] [59]
For more Product-Reviews.net [60] coverage:
Steps taken for Dawnguard on PS3 and PC [61]
Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:56 PM PDT
Most gamers expected Skyrim Dawnguard to release on the PS3 and PC around a week ago, although signs that this wouldn’t happen came 2 days before the 30-day exclusive had been up. This came with Skyrim patch 1.7 entering PC beta [62] , which had no chance of reaching PS3 owners considering there is an approval process to be completed first. Today we have heard the 1.7 update has left beta, and should be submitted to PS3 and Xbox 360 later this week.
Considering Skyrim 1.7 patch is available now to PC users through steam it means Dawnguard is likely ready for PC, although it is yet to be seen if Bethesda will launch the first Skyrim DLC on PC and PS3 at the same time. If this is the case then PC users need to wait a few weeks for the PS3 patch process to complete, which might upset PC users but not as much as it would upset some PS3 owners for being last to download Dawnguard.
The update from the official blog came just a few hours after seeing an official tweet [63] , which told gamers information is coming soon in relation to the Skyrim patch and Dawnguard for PS3 and PC. You can see the message directed to console owners below, and while this doesn’t directly explain when Dawnguard will launch for these platforms it is expected soon after.
It is not completely clear why the wait for Dawnguard on PC and PS3 is taken a lot longer than 30 days, Hines did explain they never announced a launch for these platforms, and if things are delayed much longer after this latest patch reaches all platforms we fear some gamers might lose faith in Bethesda to put gamers before profit (exclusive deal with Microsoft).
Do you think Bethesda care more about the gamer than profit, especially when it comes to Skyrim Dawnguard? We’ll update you when patch 1.7 goes live for consoles, and also when an official release date is given for the DLC on PS3 and PC.
More About: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [64]
For more Product-Reviews.net [65] coverage:
Links
- ^ Black Ops 2 is adaptive and original (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ new zombies experience (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Strike Force gameplay (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ one step further (www.complex.com)
- ^ Black Ops 2 (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Treyarch (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Best PS Vita games to revive system (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ PS Vita (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ nothing else (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Black Ops: Declassified (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ a hidden gem (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ sony (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Skyrim 1.7 patch missed a few things (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ PC so far (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ love for Serana (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ waiting for Dawnguard (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ GTA V critical for finances (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ listen back to Take Two’s investor’s call (ir.take2games.com)
- ^ patiently waiting for (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ gta v (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ rockstar (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ HTC Rezound ICS update is dead end on Verizon (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ HTC Support had seemingly confirmed (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ HTC (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ HTC Rezound (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Wii U Pro Controller makes hardcore transition easy (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ picking up the Nintendo Wii U (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ interview (www.gameplanet.co.nz)
- ^ confirmed for the Wii U (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ nintendo (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ Product-Reviews.net (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^ 2014 Battlefield 4 deadline sways gamers (www.product-reviews.net)
- ^
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