Ex-BioShock Devs’ Perception: Designing Horror Around a Handicap
How can a game be scary if the protagonist can’t even see? Such is the on-paper quagmire facing Perception, an upcoming first-person horror adventure being crafted by the ex-BioShock and ex-Dead Space developers at startup studio The Deep End Games. In it, you play as Cassie, a teenage girl drawn to the oddities of an 18th century Massachusetts home set on the Echo Bluff cliffside.
Naturally, the designers behind the game have a solution: echolocation – think of a sort of bat-like sonar, triggered when Cassie taps her white stick on the floor – allows our heroine to “see” the creepy house. She’ll be transported through multiple time periods within the house, being freaked out along the way by creepy sounds, quick flashes of spooky things like spiders and ghouls, and the even creepier Poppet dolls that roam the house.
Long War Modders Create Launch Content for XCOM 2
According to XCOM 2's official website, Firaxis Games and 2K are bringing on the modders behind COM: Enemy Unknown's popular Long War total-conversion mod to make add-ons for XCOM 2's February launch.
Long War Studios is made up of Rachel “Amineri” Norman and James “JCLewis” Karlson, and The Human Reach author John J. Lumpkin. In addition to The Long War and X-COM 2's upcoming mods, the studio is preparing a Kickstarter for a grand strategy game called Terra Invicta which will have players trying to unite the earth against a imminent alien invasion.
XCOM 2 takes place 20 years after XCOM: Enemy Unknown and its expansion pack XCOM: Enemy Within, in a world where the aliens won and it falls to players to lead the resistance. Last week, IGN sat down with the game's Lead Producer Garth DeAngelis and Designer Mark Nauta to learn about all the ways you'll be able to kick extraterrestrial ass when XCOM 2 comes out on February 5.
Analyst: NX Portable Coming in 2016, Console in 2017
Following yesterday's batch of NX rumors hinting at what Nintendo may have planned for its next console, additional information has surfaced by way of Macquarie Capital Securities in Japan.
According the firm's report (via Nintendo Life), Macquarie expects Nintendo to release NX as two separate units, with the portable element launching this November and its "console partner device" arriving in 2017.
Lots of Harley Quinn and Superman for DC in April
DC released their full solicitations for April 2016 this week. Look for multiple new Harley Quinn-themed projects that month, while DC will also be kicking off another big Superman crossover called "The Super League." Because apparently the Justice League wasn't super enough already.
New Series:
- Bloodlines #1
- Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #1
- Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special #1 (one-shot)
New Creative Teams:
- Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pesarin on Action Comics #51
- Brenden Fletcher (as solo writer) and Eleanor Carlini on Batgirl #51
Legends of Tomorrow: Can Rip Hunter Be Trusted?
Just about the entire team on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow -- debuting Thursday night on the CW -- were previously introduced on either Arrow or The Flash prior to the new spinoff series, with one big exception… Rip Hunter.
Played by Arthur Darvill, it’s Rip who recruits the team, in order to stop Vandal Savage from becoming the future conqueror Rip has experienced firsthand.
On the set of Legends of Tomorrow, I spoke to Darvill about what fans can expect from Rip and his role on this very combative team. Darvill also shared his thoughts on the appeal of time travel stories, a topic he knows a few things about, having now been a cast member on both Doctor Who and Legends of Tomorrow.
Nintendo Alters Controversial Fire Emblem Fates Scene
Nintendo has changed a controversial scene in the Western version of Fire Emblem: Fates.
The scene in question reportedly sees the female character Soleil struggling with her attraction to other women. The protagonist, presumably trying to help, then uses a “magic powder,” on Soleil, resulting in Soleil seeing men as women, and women as men.
Once the powder wears off, the protagonist can then propose to Soleil.
The storyline struck a chord with players when the game released in Japan. Some feel that Soleil taking a magic powder that ends with her marrying a man is a form of gay conversion, while others see the act of slipping a powder into Soleil’s drink as a form of drugging.
Final Splatoon Map Rolls Out From Today
Splatoon's final map will be available from today, January 21, in North America, and from tomorrow in Europe.
The free stage is set within the offices of an independent game development studio, Ancho-V Games.
“One feature of this stage are the PC-fan shaped propellers that can be inked to move portions of the floor," writes Nintendo on the official Splatoon Tumblr. "Keep an eye out for some of the jellyfish development team, hard at work (and under a strict NDA!) on their next title. Hope they don’t mind the mess!"
Researchers Develop Way to Track Heartbeats From a Distance
Scientists at Kyoto University have come up with a way of measuring heartbeats wirelessly.
According to Wired, sensors pick up signals from the body using millimeter-wave spread-spectrum radar technology. The researchers claim that it's as accurate as an electrocardiograph.
"The body sends out all sorts of signals at once, including breathing and body movement," said Toru Sato, a member of the team who worked on the project. "Our algorithm extracts waves characteristic of heartbeats from the chaotic radar signal and calculates their intervals."
"Taking measurements with sensors on the body can be stressful and troublesome," said lead researcher Hiroyuki Sakai. "We tried to make something that would offer people a way to monitor their body in a casual and relaxed environment."
Star Fox Zero Amiibo Support Confirmed
Nintendo has outlined its plans for amiibo in early 2016, confirming Star Fox Zero will support its NFC-based figures in some capacity.
No details were provided on how amiibo will function in the game, with Nintendo planning to share more information at a later date. The company also reaffirmed that Star Fox Zero is on track for release on April 22, despite rumblings earlier this month suggesting it had been pushed to July.
Nintendo's announcement also revealed its plans for the next wave of Animal Crossing amiibo, with the previously leaked Timmy & Tommy, Kapp'n and Rover all scheduled to release on March 18 in North America. Additionally, Digby will be available as a standalone figure and the next set of Animal Crossing amiibo cards will also be available in March.
More Backwards Compatible Titles Arrive on Xbox One
Microsoft has detailed what’s in the latest batch of Xbox 360 backwards compatible titles.
The new titles available for download on Xbox One as of today, are as follows:
- Aegis Wing
- Age of Booty
- Counter-Strike: GO
- Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
- Sam & Max Save the World
- Skullgirls
- Small Arms
- Soulcalibur
- Space Giraffe
- The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Microsoft also notes that in “select regions,” players can download The Witcher 2 for free until February 5. Those select regions are the US, Canada, UK, France and Germany.