Parks and Rec Co-Exec Producer Harris Wittles Dies
Harris Wittels, a co-executive producer and writer on NBC's Parks and Recreation, died at his home on Thursday from a suspected drug overdose.
TMZ reports that Wittels, who also had a recurring role on Parks and Rec as "Harris" from Animal Control, was found on his couch and was officially pronounced dead at 1pm PT. The comedian, who had been struggling with drug addiction, was 30 years old.
Harris Wittels on Parks and Recreation.
Bandai Namco Launches Mysterious Countdown
Bandai Namco launched a teaser page counting down to a "new title" reveal next week.
The teaser site is blank except for a logo in the center that seems to say "Ray Gigant," and the countdown, set to conclude next week.
Fan speculation points to a possible Ultraman game, interpreting "Ray Gigant" as a reference to the Ancient Giants of Light in Ultraman lore.
We'll update you once we know more.
Bandai Namco recently revealed new artwork for their upcoming Godzilla the Game.
Chloi Rad is a Staff Writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @_chloi.
Your SIM Card Has Probably Been Compromised by NSA Hack
In its increasingly wider net, the NSA and its British equivalent Government Communications Headquarters have captured the keys to the SIM cards used by 450 wireless providers the world over.
The Intercept report, based on leaked documents it received from whistleblower Edward Snowden, says that the agencies targeted Gemalto, a multi-national firm based in The Netherlands that produces SIM cards. Last year alone, the company made 2 billion cards.
With the keys in their possession, the spy agencies no longer need help from potentially unwilling companies or governments to intercept and decrypt cellular communications. The information also allows for "no trace on the wireless provider’s network that the communications were intercepted," according to the report.
App Store Update: February 20
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Garou: Mark of the Wolves – ($3.99)
SNK's classic follow-up to the Fatal Fury fighting series, Garou has now joined its predecessors already available in the App Store with the debut of its own iOS port today.
Star Ocean Developer tri-Ace Purchased by Mobile Company
Star Ocean developer tri-Ace will now focus on developing smartphone and tablet games, after being purchased by mobile company Nepro Japan.
The mobile company purchased the developer with hopes of strengthen its position in the mobile games market, according to a press release (translated by NeoGAF).
The Japanese studio is known for developing a variety of RPGs, such as Star Ocean: The Last Hope, Resonance of Fate, Valkyrie Profile and Phantasy Star Nova.
For more on the developer, check out IGN's reviews of Star Ocean: The Last Hope and Resonance of Fate.
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines hits Vita Next Month
Sony announced Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines will be coming to PS Vita March 3.
The game is populated with creatures based on Japanese mythology, and to preserve the feel of the game, Sony has kept the Japanese voice-over work intact.
The game is populated with creatures based on Japanese mythology, and to preserve the feel of the game, Sony has kept the Japanese voice-over work intact.
"In Oreshika, you'll take control of a clan whose bloodlines have been struck with two terrible curses," the "Curse of Ephemerality," and "Curse of Broken Lineage." The effects of these two curses influence the strategies that must be employed in the game. Since the broken lineage curse prevents clans from procreating, players must turn to the gods for assistance.
PSN Credit 20% Off, Xbox Live for $36, 120Hz HDTV Deal
Get Another 20% Off This PSN Sale
Just in time for Sony's Critics' Choice Sale you can grab $50 worth of PSN money for $40, sent right your inbox. That's basically 20% off anything from the PSN Store. Then you've got until the 23rd to grab Dragon Age and Far Cry 4 for $36, Wolfenstein: The New Order for $24, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare for $40, Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for $14; the list goes on. Movies are on sale too! And if you spend $100 by the 24th, you'll get $15 in free PSN credit.
Aces of the Luftwaffe Gets A PS4 Release Date
HandyGames has announced that its retro style shooter, Aces of the Luftwaffe, will release on February 25 for PlayStation 4 for €5.
Previously only available for mobile devices, PS4 users will soon be able to choose from three different planes and pilots and take the fight to the German forces.
In addition, you will be collecting power-ups in order to increase your damage, repair your plane, call for wingmen, or use your super power.
You can read more information about Aces of the Luftwaffe on the PS Blog. Also coming to the PS4 very soon is Starwhal, which you can read about right here on IGN.
Rodea: The Sky Soldier Headed West
NIS America is bringing fantasy adventure-platformer Rodea: The Sky Soldier to North America and Europe in Fall 2015.
From Sonic mastermind Yuji Naka, Rodea: The Sky Solider centers around a 1,000 year-old machine soldier, named Rodea, tasked with protecting the kingdom of Garuda from the Naga Empire.
The single-player game features aerial combat and puzzle solving, as well as upgrade systems for Rodea's abilities, weapons, and stats.
Coming first to Japan on April 2, Rodea: The Sky Soldier will be released both physically and digitally on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.
Jordan Sirani is a freelance news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @jdsirani.
If Mortal Kombat Bleeds, Game Scoop! Can Kill It
Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week we're discussing the possibility of Predator joining the ranks of Mortal Kombat X. There's also the troubling news about that Phantom Dust reboot. Plus, Square Enix puts out a call for devs to pitch ideas for new Gex and Fear Effect games. Get the scoop on all this and more by watching the video above or downloading the podcast below.
Download Game Scoop! Episode 333.
Please to enjoy,