Galaxy Collision Discovered Close By
Astronomers led by Prof. Quentin Parker at the University of Hong Kong and Prof. Albert Zijlstra at the University of Manchester have discovered the closest ever galaxy collision.
It's 30 million light years away, but that's fairly nearby by astronomical standards. The galaxy has been named "Kathryn's Wheel", partly after the wife of one of the astronomers, and partly because it looks a bit like the firework.
Image credit: Royal Astronomical Society
Mods for Forza 6 Are Like Halo’s Skulls
Turn 10 and Microsoft have revealed Mods for the upcoming Forza Motorsport 6.
According to the Forza website, Mods are "game modifiers, similar to perks in Forza Horizon 2 or Skulls in Halo 4, that you can unlock as you play in Forza Motorsport 6." They come in three categories: Dare, Crew, and Boost.
Dare mods mean you will have to drive under specific requirements in order to hit a target. For example, you might have a power decrease, or you might be forced into using manual transmission with clutch. You'll get a credit bonus if you complete the "dare".
Crew mods are beneficial to the player, and can help you in difficult races. Adding a chassis expert gives you more weight and grip, while a braking engineer improves your brakes and power.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch Gets Xbox One Release Date
Octodad: Dadliest Catch will hit Xbox One on August 26.
The game is set to cost $14.99 and include the previously announced free DLC, titled Octodad Shorts, when it arrives. The Wii U version of the game is complete and currently in certification. Once that's done, the team will announce a release date.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch is the sequel to Octodad, a game where you control an incognito octopus as he tries to blend into human society.
We gave Octodad: Dadliest Catch a 7.8 in our review, saying that while its absurdist nature and humorous elements were genuinely funny, its punatively difficult final level and uneven challenge kept it from becoming a classic.
Amazon UK to Cease Pre-Owned Games Trade-In Scheme
Retailer Amazon UK is closing its pre-owned game trade-in scheme.
The scheme, which permitted users to trade-in games for credit, is set to close at the end of this month.
"You can submit trade-in items as normal up to and including 31 August 2015," says a statement on the retail website. "No Trade-In orders can be submitted online after the closure date. Please ensure your trade-in items are dispatched within 7 days after your submission."
Trade-ins received after this time will not be accepted and will be returned to sender - something to bear in mind given "Royal Mail may take up to 6 business days to arrive before your submission is processed".
Here’s What’s In Smite’s Latest Patch
Hi-Rez Studios has outlined the details of its latest patch for Smite, called Celestial Wedding.
Celestial Wedding adds themed skins for Chang'e, Hou Yi, Odin, and Zeus, as well as new voice packs for Chang'e, Hou Yi, Loki, and Odin.
In addition, Hi-Rez is adding a Training Map to Smite, which will "take players through a series of singleplayer matches intended to ease a new player into the game." The Jungle Practice map has also been updated with new visuals, camps, a reset, and the ability to purchase / sell items anywhere on the map.
Khepri, the most recent God to be added to Smite, is getting some nerfs in this patch. Hi-Rez says that "Khepri was over-performing, but we wanted to be careful about how we brought his strength down. We chose to reduce some of his ability to protect, while
Hollywood’s Tim Burton Turning on Blackpool Illuminations
Visionary Hollywood director Tim Burton - best known for heading up work on blockbusters like Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Planet of the Apes and Alice in Wonderland - has revealed he's set to turn on the equally famous Blackpool Illuminations this year.
Burton has previously described himself as "Blackpool Pleasure Beach's biggest fan" having shot scenes for US band The Killers' music video Here with Me there and, more recently, his latest film Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
The event itself will take place on September 4 following a concert featuring the likes of UK acts The Vamps, Lawson and Professor Green.
For those not in the know, Blackpool is often referred to as the British version of Las Vegas, with varying degrees of sincerity. It even has its very own tower inspired by the one in Paris.Considering such events are usually the realm of D-list reality TV stars, netting Burton is quite an achievement.
Watch a Humanoid Robot Take a Stroll Outdoors
Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot Atlas has ventured out into the wild.
We're used to the Google-owned tech company impressing us with its robotics, but this is the first time we've seen one of its bipedal robots walking outside.
This video shows Atlas' progress from stumbling around the lab to walking completely unassisted (apart from a power cable) in the great outdoors.
The robot is able to balance in the same kind of way that "humans and animals do, where you move quickly in order to keep yourself stabilized," according to Marc Raibert, Boston Dynamics' founder.
Driveclub Patch 1.21 Adds New Mode, Free Car and More
The latest update for Evolution Studios' racer Driveclub adds a new Sprint mode, free car and lots more.
Update 1.21 is available now and raises the level cap to 75 alongside adding the Renault R.S. 01 to the game. Elite Driver Levels have also been added.
The full list of patch notes are below:
- 12 new ‘SPRINT’ variations of DRIVECLUB tracks for Time Trial & Challenges: Cayoosh Point, Putre, Munnar, Goshodaira, Holmastad & The Kyle (including unique Sprints for the standard and reverse track versions)
- 10 more ELITE Driver Levels from 66 to 75. All levels have a new reward
- The Rimac Automobili Concept_One and VUHL 05 are better! We’ve modified the vehicle performance and handling for these 2 cars based on further collaboration with manufacturers and community feedback
Windows 10 Won’t Run Games With SafeDisk, SecuROM DRM
Older PC games that use SafeDisc and SecuROM will not work in Windows 10.
Speaking to Rocket Beans TV (translated by Rock Paper Shotgun), Microsoft's Boris Schneider-Johne explains that any title which utilises the anti-piracy technology won’t work natively within Windows 10.
“Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10,” says Schneider-Johne. “There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system needs updating – but the developers are on it already – and then there are old games on CD-ROM that have DRM.
TV’s Batgirl Yvonne Craig Dies Aged 78
Yvonne Craig, the actress best known for playing Batgirl in the 1960s Batman TV series, has died at the age of 78.
The actress' official website confirmed she had been suffering from breast cancer, which in turn spread to her liver. She died at her home in the Pacific Palisades on Monday, surrounded by her immediate family.
"Having spent time with her over these past months, she made her wishes known to me and made me promise I would pass them along," reads a family statement on her website. "Wish Number One, is that her family, friends and fans would know how much she loved them and always treasured her time with them. Wish Number Two, was that no one waste a moment of their time in mourning for her loss in sadness but instead celebrate the awesome life she had been fortunate enough to live. She felt that she lived a wonderful life and was blessed in many ways.