http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 04 Apr 2014 21:04:13 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-this-robot-play-threes-at-a-pro-level/1100-6418787/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.twitch.tv/teamcolorblind" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fwidgets%2Flive_embed_player.swf%3Fchannel%3Dteamcolorblind&wmode=opaque&fv=hostname%3Dwww.twitch.tv%26start_volume%3D25%26channel%3Dteamcolorblind%26auto_play%3Dfalse&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fteamcolorblind&image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-cdn.jtvnw.net%2Fimages%2Ftwitch_logo3.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=application%2Fx-shockwave-flash&schema=twitch" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><em>(Editor's Note: The Twitch stream broadcasts intermittently, but will be playing during the weekend). </em></p><p style="">Depending on how good your are at the mobile game Threes, you can either watch the stream above and scoff at the computer's rookie mistakes, or despair that you'll ever be anywhere near as good. (I'm in the latter camp).</p><p style="">Threes is a mobile matching game that's simple to learn and deviously addictive, but the later levels especially involve quite a bit of luck. So, it's understandable that the computer does great in the early game getting to 1,536, but has trouble setting record-breaking scores. But that's also because robots lack the latent psychic abilities that set apart true Threes master*.</p><p style="">The computer takes a screenshot after every move, runs some calculations, then physically swipes the board in the next direction it needs. Unlike when I play, he never needs to gently nudge the cards in one direction or another to help decide whether that'll be a good choice or not.</p><p style="">*Real Threes masters probably aren't psychic, but it makes me feel better to imagine that when I look at my own leaderboard rankings.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a>. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-this-robot-play-threes-at-a-pro-level/1100-6418787/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazon-fire-tv/1100-6418763/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418142" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418142/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">After <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-amazon-s-android-console-out-this-year-below-300/1100-6417389/" data-ref-id="1100-6417389">months of rumors and leaks</a>, the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-announces-99-streaming-device-has-2gb-ram-quad-core-processor-game-controller-is-40/1100-6418719/" data-ref-id="1100-6418719">Amazon Fire TV was finally revealed earlier this week in New York</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The system is priced at $99 for the base model and $140 for a bundle with a controller, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ouya-responds-to-amazon-fire-tv-says-it-lacks-a-focus-on-games/1100-6418743/" data-ref-id="1100-6418743">Amazon has been clear that this is not a console contender.</a> They're aiming to compete with Apple TV and Roku rather than Sony and Microsoft.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Though Ouya's CEO criticized the Fire TV for it's lack of a focus on gaming, that doesn't mean Amazon is ignoring gamers completely. Besides the system exclusive <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-reveals-tower-defense-shooter-hybrid-sev-zero-for-its-new-fire-tv-streaming-box/1100-6418720/" data-ref-id="1100-6418720">third-person shooter/tower defense hybrid Sev Zero</a>, Amazon has also made key gaming acquisitions including:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-buys-killer-instinct-developer-double-helix-games/1100-6417554/" data-ref-id="1100-6417554">Killer Instinct developer Double Helix</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-is-serious-about-gaming-hires-portal-and-far-cry-designers/1100-6418727/" data-ref-id="1100-6418727">Portal designer Kim Swift</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-is-serious-about-gaming-hires-portal-and-far-cry-designers/1100-6418727/" data-ref-id="1100-6418727">Far Cry developer Clint Hocking</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-writer-joins-amazon/1100-6413105/" data-ref-id="1100-6413105">Halo writer Eric Nylund</a></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's everything else you need to know about the system.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>The hardware specs:</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Dimensions: 4.5" x 4.5" x 0.7", weighing 9.9oz</li><li dir="ltr">CPU: Qualcomm Krait 300 1.7Ghz quad-core</li><li dir="ltr">GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 320</li><li dir="ltr">RAM: 2GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHz</li><li dir="ltr">Storage: 8GB internal storage</li><li dir="ltr">Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna MIMO</li><li dir="ltr">Bluetooth: 4.0 with HID, HFP 1.6, and SPP profile support.</li><li dir="ltr">Ports: HDMI 1.4b, TOSLINK Optical Audio, 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0, 5.5mm DC</li><li dir="ltr">What's in the box?</li><li dir="ltr">Amazon Fire TV and Remote</li><li dir="ltr">Power cord</li><li dir="ltr">2x AAA batteries</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>What will you need to buy?</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">HDMI cable</li><li dir="ltr">Game controller</li></ul><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418113" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418113/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here are the game available so far (though the list will grow rapidly over the coming months):</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Free</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">You Don't Know Jack Party</li><li dir="ltr">Despicable Me: Minion Rush</li><li dir="ltr">The Walking Dead: Season One (first episode free)</li><li dir="ltr">Hungry Shark Evolution</li><li dir="ltr">Asphalt 8: Airborne</li><li dir="ltr">Deer Hunter 2014</li><li dir="ltr">Hill Climb Racing</li><li dir="ltr">Riptide GP2</li><li dir="ltr">BINGO Blitz</li><li dir="ltr">Reaper</li><li dir="ltr">Stickman downhill - Motocross</li><li dir="ltr">Big Win Slots</li><li dir="ltr">Into the Dead</li><li dir="ltr">PBA Bowling Challenge</li><li dir="ltr">Badland</li><li dir="ltr">Stickman Base Jumper</li><li dir="ltr">Dead Trigger 2</li><li dir="ltr">Zen Pinball HD</li><li dir="ltr">Dead on Arrival 2</li><li dir="ltr">Voodoo Whisperer</li><li dir="ltr">Dead System</li><li dir="ltr">CLARC lite</li><li dir="ltr">Shadow Fight 2</li><li dir="ltr">Haunted Past</li><li dir="ltr">Snailbow</li><li dir="ltr">Fibbage</li><li dir="ltr">Vendetta Online</li><li dir="ltr">Concussion Boxing</li><li dir="ltr">ARC Squadron: Redux</li><li dir="ltr">Brick Break Blitz</li><li dir="ltr">Crystal Picnic</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>$0.99</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Naught 2</li><li dir="ltr">Grandpa and the Zombies</li><li dir="ltr">Endless Skater</li><li dir="ltr">Ski Safari</li><li dir="ltr">Polar Bowler 1st Frame</li><li dir="ltr">Gravity Guy</li><li dir="ltr">Buddy & Me</li><li dir="ltr">Rabbids Big Bang</li><li dir="ltr">Quell</li><li dir="ltr">Monsters University</li><li dir="ltr">Pocket Rally</li><li dir="ltr">GraveStompers: Kid Zombies Save Eradication</li><li dir="ltr">Motorbike</li><li dir="ltr">Quiet, Please!</li><li dir="ltr">Beyond Ynth HD</li><li dir="ltr">Grow</li><li dir="ltr">Puddle</li><li dir="ltr">Micronytes Director's Cut</li><li dir="ltr">Recursion</li><li dir="ltr">Dream Flight</li><li dir="ltr">A Ride into the Mountains</li><li dir="ltr">Cannon Ballers</li><li dir="ltr">League of Evil</li><li dir="ltr">Super Daddio 2</li><li dir="ltr">Super Mega Worm</li><li dir="ltr">Quiet Christmas</li><li dir="ltr">Melee Man</li><li dir="ltr">Range Man</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>$1.00+</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Alpha Wave ($1.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Sci-Fighters ($1.29)</li><li dir="ltr">Experiment ($1.31)</li><li dir="ltr">Ascent Of Kings ($1.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Kung Fu FIGHT! ($1.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Striker Soccer Euro 2012 Pro ($1.87)</li><li dir="ltr">Quell Reflect ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Radiant ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Fantastic 4 in A Row 2 ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Vacation Vexation ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">FIST OF AWESOME ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Atlantis Sky Patrol ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Aces of the Luftwaffe Premium ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">EVAC ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Tank Riders 2 ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mini Golf Mundo ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mystery Castle HD (5 Episodes, $1.99 each)</li><li dir="ltr">Fractal Combat X ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Truck Monsters ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Syder Arcade HD ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Grand Truckismo ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Ninja Hero Cats Premium ($2.44)</li><li dir="ltr">Coaster Crazy Deluxe ($2.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Monster RPG 2 ($2.91)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic CD ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic The Hedgehog 2 ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Doom & Destiny ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Rayman Fiesta Run ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Quell Memento ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Double Dragon Trilogy ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">King Oddball ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Canabalt HD ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">No Brakes Valet ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Dark Incursion ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Homeland Strike Force Part One ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Hard Lines ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Trouserheart ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Time Surfer ($3.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Save the Puppies Premium ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Bit Brawlers ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Hero of Many ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Burn Zombie Burn ($4.96)</li><li dir="ltr">The Game of Life ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Terraria ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Episode II ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Crazy Taxi ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">AirFighters Pro ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Clarc ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Anomaly 2 ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">The Cave ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Tetris ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Wraithborne ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Virtua Tennis Challenge ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Twin Robots ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">BombSquad ($5.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Aftermath XHD ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Ground Effect Pro XHD ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Farm Invasion USA Premium ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Gene Effect ($6.78)</li><li dir="ltr">Minecraft - Pocket Edition ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sev Zero ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Deus Ex: The Fall ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">NBA 2K14 ($7.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Electronic Super Joy ($7.99)</li><li dir="ltr">RPG Alphadia Genesis ($9.99)</li></ul> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazon-fire-tv/1100-6418763/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/arma-iii-updated-review/2300-6418162/ We return to Arma III to play the full campaign and new scenarios. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:09:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/arma-iii-updated-review/2300-6418162/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/get-a-first-look-at-gamespot-s-new-homepage/2300-6418161/ Our new homepage will improve your experience by streamlining the way content is presented on the site. Enjoy this video preview and let us know what you think in the comments below. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:11:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/get-a-first-look-at-gamespot-s-new-homepage/2300-6418161/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-unboxing/2300-6418158/ Go on a journey of discovery with Danny and Kevin into the depths of the Elder Scrolls Online: Imperial Edition box Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-unboxing/2300-6418158/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-death-threats-for-oculus-devs-dragon/2300-6418143/ ALL the Dragon Age: Inquisition details, Oculus employees come under fire after Facebook buyout, and what can we expect out of games from E3? Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-death-threats-for-oculus-devs-dragon/2300-6418143/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-point-virtual-reality-future-or-fad/2300-6418148/ Danny explores the reality of playing games using a VR headset and asks whether this technology is part of our gaming future, or just another fad. Also he murders a shark with a knife. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:03:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-point-virtual-reality-future-or-fad/2300-6418148/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-players-discover-massive-megalodon-shark-easter-egg/1100-6418784/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-WladmrdNQ" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fvideoseries%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26list%3DUUw7FkXsC00lH2v2yB5LQoYA&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DV-WladmrdNQ%26list%3DUUw7FkXsC00lH2v2yB5LQoYA&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FV-WladmrdNQ%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">An enemy lurks in the waters of <a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a>'s <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-s-delayed-naval-strike-dlc-finally-out-for-pc/1100-6418664/" data-ref-id="1100-6418664">new Nansha Strike map</a>, but it might not be what you expect. Battlefield 4 players have finally discovered a virtual version of the prehistoric Megalodon shark and it does not disappoint.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">YouTuber JackFrags made the discovery following the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-s-delayed-naval-strike-dlc-finally-out-for-pc/1100-6418664/" data-ref-id="1100-6418664">release of the Naval Strike DLC this week</a>, which introduced the Nansha Strike map. He pieced together some clues last year that led him to believe the creature was stirring in the waters, but he was unable to discover the beast until this week.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"When it happened for the first time I didn't think it was real, like I had imagined it or something," JackFrags <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrags/status/452104153872224256" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. He said he asked the other players on the server if they saw the shark as well and they reported that they did. "The reaction was amazing," he said.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 11:18:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-players-discover-massive-megalodon-shark-easter-egg/1100-6418784/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-a-newcomer-s-/1900-6415719/ <p style=""> </p><p style="">I had never played a Final Fantasy game. For all the countless hours I've spent at a computer or a console, how had I never delved into this iconic franchise? Lack of access to the right systems and lack of time to devote to such lengthy adventures have come and gone as excuses. Maybe it's a question of desire? I don't often seek out Japanese role-playing games, but there have been a few over the years that have snagged my interest. I played and enjoyed a solid chunk of <a href="/chrono-trigger/" data-ref-id="false">Chrono Trigger</a>, and was charmed by the world of <a href="/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch/" data-ref-id="false">Ni No Kuni</a>. I completed 2007's lovely, sentimental <a href="/eternal-sonata/" data-ref-id="false">Eternal Sonata</a>, perhaps the best experience I've had with a JRPG. A paltry resume, to be sure, but I've always been intrigued by the grand adventures and enduring characters that FF fans are so passionate about, and so I resolved to play a Final Fantasy game.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">I chose the wrong Final Fantasy game.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418123" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418123/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII starts off with a splashy cutscene that shows beautiful people engaged in elegant combat in a fantastical city. This kind of intricately rendered video seems to have fallen out of fashion of late, but as aspirational introductions go, it did the trick. Even though I didn't know the players involved, I was intrigued and excited about the world I was about to explore, eager to learn more about the creatures and characters. But as a newcomer to the trilogy that Lightning Returns concludes (as well as the series as a whole), I knew I had some catching up to do, and I was a bit worried about keeping up with all the lore I was about to immerse myself in.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">As it turns out, Lightning Returns does a very thorough job of laying the foundation for the events to come. It didn't take me long to understand Lightning's strange role as the savior charged by God to save the souls of the citizenry before God's own doomsday clock runs out. Apparently, the world of Nova Chrysalia has been in a slowly decaying holding pattern for five centuries since the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2. No one has aged, no one has died of natural causes, and no one has been born; they've all just coasted along waiting for something to happen as a mysterious force called chaos slowly encroached on their world.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">It's an intriguing setting, one that raises questions about how a static society might change as its citizens grow wise, bored, or crazy after long years of the same thing. But Lightning Returns continues to explain the setting long after the stage has been set. In the interminable exposition sequence and subsequently through hours and hours of adventuring, the dialogue in Lightning Returns is riddled with redundancy. Characters make observations only to have their conversation partners reword and regurgitate the same information without adding anything of substance. This constant reiteration makes it seem like the only reason that people talk is to drill information into your head rather than to flesh out personalities, create dramatic tension, or evoke emotion.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">And so Lightning Returns isn't initially confusing, as I'd feared, but initially dull. Lightning herself doesn't exactly sparkle with charisma, and in the early hours she acts like she's still a bit groggy after her epic nap. The fate of thousands of strangers isn't much motivation, but the chance to reunite with her long-dead sister gets her going even though, as she remarks, "God is using my dead sister as a bargaining chip." This quip is a welcome bit of sardonic self-awareness, and it's when Lightning Returns gets a bit playful that it begins to show a spark of life. A chef observes, "People are more health conscious these days, which is ironic, given the times." A public announcement seeking Lightning declares, "She has rose-colored hair and is carrying an enormous weapon." A random kid running through a plaza trips and falls. Unfortunately, these lighthearted moments are rare, and most conversations with townsfolk and quest givers are dry and colorless.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495977" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495977"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg"></a><figcaption>And playing the role of the trickster...</figcaption></figure><p style=""><span>Interactions with returning characters are more colorful. Lightning reunites with a few friends from the past, though whether or not they are friends anymore is often uncertain. One clash pits Lightning against a grief-stricken former comrade in a test of how far each is willing to go for the chance to see a dead loved one again. Another relationship has become antagonistic over the centuries, and Lightning's musings about the passage of time and its effect on relationships resonate nicely with the intriguing setting. Yet these conversations, while often staged with stylish camera angles, nonetheless suffer from the redundancy that plagues so much of the dialogue. Characters repeat themselves and parrot each other frequently, as if trying to drill basic situations and concepts into your head so you don't forget them. Narrative development becomes belabored exposition, and even after I was well into the game, I still felt impatient for things to get under way.</span></p><p style=""> </p><p style="">The first proper task set before Lightning is to investigate a string of murders in the city of Luxerion. The worlds of Final Fantasy have always struck me as having an interesting mix of gothic, modern, and fantastical architecture, and this proved true about the streets of Luxerion. Attendants in trim, vaguely futuristic uniforms populate train stations with gold Victorian trimmings. A soaring gothic cathedral plays host to supplicants that wouldn't look out of place in a pop music video. Coming across these exotic pairings makes exploring the city enjoyable, though the abundance of drab plazas and dreary alleyways begins to get tiresome after a while. Luxerion has seen better days, but the glittering city of Yusnaan seems to be in a state of perpetual polish. Nightly festivals make this area much livelier and more visually appealing, but this hustle and bustle has a downside. Street musicians, loudspeaker announcements, idle chatter, and walkie-talkie messages from Hope can all layer on top of one another and create a cacophony in which everything is unintelligible.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">The two wilderness areas offer quieter exploration, though the incidence of tough monsters effectively confines you to the urban areas for quite some time. You can travel freely between each of these four large locales, and each offers an array of quests that lead to the collection of the all-important souls. Some quests must be hunted down by talking to citizens, while others can be grabbed from a handy quest board staffed in each area by a character that looks like a cross between a tropical bird and a female prostitute. I'm not sure what turn of events led to this provocative reimagining of the iconic chocobo, but judging by some of Lightning's outfits, it's not a new phenomenon.</p><p style=""> </p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495982" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495982"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg"></a><figcaption>Bird on a Street Corner.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Some quests require more running around and listening to lackluster dialogue, but most involve the game's most enjoyable element: combat. Lightning enters the fray with three different gear sets called schemata. Each schemata is made up of a weapon, a few abilities, and a number of clothing options, all of which can affect your attributes and resistances. Switching between schemata on the fly isn't just a matter of bringing your deadliest attacks to bear on the enemy; it's also a resource management challenge. You have only a certain amount of energy per schemata, and once it's drained, you can't use any of that schemata's abilities until it recharges.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">This makes combat a bit of a juggling act, which encourages you to design your schemata strategically. Early on I simply loaded all my best gear into one schemata and used the others to kill time while my best one recharged. As I acquired more gear and enemies grew tougher, I restructured my schemata to focus on physical attack, magical attack, and defense. Dealing the right kind of damage can stagger enemies, opening them up to serious pummeling, and timely blocking is essential in tougher fights. Nimble schemata switching and smart energy management are the keys to victory, and exploiting these tactics is an engaging and dynamic challenge.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Which is not to say that I was a terribly skilled fighter. I had to use heal and revive items frequently while clashing with formidable enemies, and occasionally made use of Lightning's handful of special EP powers to get myself out of a bind. As I progressed, difficult fights began to drag on longer and longer, and the lively juggling act of combat began to lose its luster. The challenge no longer seemed to arise from skillfully juggling schemata, but rather from simply grinding out tedious encounters. Combat was still tough, but as endurance took on a larger and larger role, my interest waned.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Almost 20 hours in to Lightning Returns, I gave it up. Perhaps if I had known the main characters' histories, their relationships would have resonated more strongly. Perhaps if I was previously enamored with the worlds of Final Fantasy, Nova Chrysalia would have intrigued me more. While I'll never know what my perspective would have been, I do know that, as a newcomer to Final Fantasy, Lightning Returns didn't feel unwelcoming. From combat to characters, the game did a lot to make sure I knew where I was, what I was doing, and why I was doing it. The problem isn't that it's a poor choice for newcomers; the problem is that it's a poor game.</p> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-a-newcomer-s-/1900-6415719/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/planetside-2-war-correspondent-episode-7/2300-6418145/ On the frontlines of the firefight with soldiers from each Empire, War Correspondent Robert Stoneman gives you a behind the battle lines look at what it takes to survive the fight, and win the war. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/planetside-2-war-correspondent-episode-7/2300-6418145/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-xbox-360-runs-above-30fps-but-the-action-is-all-there-dev-says/1100-6418782/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox 360 version of<a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false"> Titanfall</a> will run at "above 30fps," developer Bluepoint Games <a href="http://www.titanfall.com/news/xbox-360-update-from-daryl-allison" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced today in a post on the game's website</a>. By comparison, the Xbox One version targets 60fps, but drops occasionally when many objects and elements appear on-screen simultaneously, according to an <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-titanfall-next-gen-face-off" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">independent review at Digital Foundry</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The revelation comes from Bluepoint Games senior producer Daryl Allison, who promised that even with the lower frame-rate, "the action is all there."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"When approached by Respawn to develop the Xbox 360 version, we knew a project like this would be a challenge and we knew the commitment it would take would be worth it. How does one start with a title focused on leveraging the power of the Xbox One and PC and make it look and feel just as good (and fun!) on the Xbox 360? Thankfully, Respawn saw in us what they wanted--the drive and ability to make hardware do the impossible--which put us in this fortunate position of launching Respawn's new franchise with them," he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Allison said Titanfall for the Xbox 360 is the "true experience." It contains all the maps, modes, titans, weapons, and burn cards found in the Xbox One and PC versions. Visually, it's also impressive, he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The game looks great, sounds great, and above all it plays great. There are of course some technical differences that are due to the technical limitations of the hardware--for example, the game runs above 30fps--but rest assured, the intense 6v6 wall-running, titan dropping action is all there," Allison said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Finally, Allison said he hoped to ship the Xbox 360 version of Titanfall alongside the Xbox One and PC versions in March, but "it needed more time." He went on to say Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment "made the right call" in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-on-xbox-360-gets-another-delay/1100-6418398/" data-ref-id="1100-6418398">delaying the game multiple times</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Titanfall for Xbox 360 launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-on-xbox-360-gets-another-delay/1100-6418398/" data-ref-id="1100-6418398">April 8</a>, but copies of the game are already <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/retailers-selling-titanfall-for-xbox-360-early-images-show-it-requires-1gb-install/1100-6418773/" data-ref-id="1100-6418773">appearing at retailers and on auction sites like eBay</a>. Buyer beware, however, as the game's servers <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-appears-on-ebay-buyer-beware-servers-won-t-be-turned-on-until-april-8/1100-6418757/" data-ref-id="1100-6418757">will <strong><em>not </em></strong>be turned on until launch day</a>, meaning the online-only game is unplayable until then.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418153" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418153/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-xbox-360-runs-above-30fps-but-the-action-is-all-there-dev-says/1100-6418782/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-off-how-it-believes-the-cloud-will-change-gaming-forever/1100-6418766/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxHdUDhOMyw" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fvideoseries%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26list%3DUU-zjH-e5XBzMpy_VtwIGRxQ&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQxHdUDhOMyw%26list%3DUU-zjH-e5XBzMpy_VtwIGRxQ%26index%3D1&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FQxHdUDhOMyw%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft hasn't held back from <em>talking</em> about how offloading computational efforts to the cloud will advance gaming, but now they are finally <em>showing</em> us what that looks like. In short, this system allows developers to offload processing to remote servers, which in theory frees up local hardware to improve things like rendering.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This week during Microsoft's developer-centric Build conference in San Francisco, the company showed off a custom tech demo illustrating the system running on PC hardware. Importantly, what we're seeing here in the video above is not Xbox One footage and the demo is merely a prototype.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Still, as we see in the video, the PC that's not connected to Microsoft's Azure server network seriously struggles when the building begins to collapse. Meanwhile, the connected rig is able to achieve a far more steady frame-rate throughout.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft says that tapping into the power of the cloud for gaming will allow for "news kinds of experiences that have never been possible."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We're already seeing some of this come to life, as Respawn Entertainment's Xbox One game <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a> offloads some <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-cloud-servers-absolutely-essential-to-titanfall/1100-6418222/" data-ref-id="1100-6418222">computational efforts to the cloud</a>. Microsoft released a new video (below) highlighting how the cloud improves the Titanfall experience, though much of what is said is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-cloud-servers-absolutely-essential-to-titanfall/1100-6418222/" data-ref-id="1100-6418222">already known</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video from Microsoft's Build conference was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ArekkzG" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">captured by YouTube user Arekkz Gaming</a>. You can watch the entire presentation at <a href="http://channel9.msdn.com/?wt.mc_id=build_hp" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Microsoft's website</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418132" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418132/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-off-how-it-believes-the-cloud-will-change-gaming-forever/1100-6418766/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-star-jeremy-lin-says-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-6418781/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png" data-ref-id="1300-2497357" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png" data-ref-id="1300-2497357"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Believe it or not, NBA star Jeremy Lin is a big fan of Valve's free-to-play game <a href="/dota-2/" data-ref-id="false">DOTA 2</a>. In a new interview from Rod "Slasher" Breslau at GameSpot sister site <strong><a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143">on</a></strong><a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143">Gamers</a>, the professional basketball player and Harvard graduate said Valve's PC title is "more than just a game" because it has allowed him to stay close with friends and family, even after they've moved apart geographically.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lin was featured in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-made-a-movie-and-it-s-out-next-month/1100-6417848/" data-ref-id="1100-6417848">Valve's newly released movie <em>Free To Play</em></a> and one quote that's making headlines is when he says that "Dota is a way of life." He explained this further with <strong>on</strong>Gamers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"To me, my brothers, and friends, we have a group of five that always love playing together and we've all been playing together since our sophomore year of high school," Lin said, recalling his time playing the original game. "So when I say it's a way of life, it's more than just a game, it's a chance for us to play and catch up on life. It's something that's been really incorporated into our lives for years and years, consistently, no matter where you are."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A point guard for the Houston Rockets, Lin travels the country and the world playing professional basketball. But he still makes time for DOTA 2, saying he plays about two or three times per week. Check out the full interview, which touches on how Lin believes professional basketball players and Dota players are alike, over at <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143"><strong>on</strong>Gamers</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-star-jeremy-lin-says-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-6418781/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-epic-elder-scrolls-online-cinematic-trailer/1100-6418780/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418135" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418135/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/the-elder-scrolls-online/" data-ref-id="false">The Elder Scrolls Online</a> is finally here. After years of development, Bethesda's highly touted MMORPG is available today on PC. But what would the launch of a high-profile game from a big-name publisher be without an epic cinematic trailer to usher it in?</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Bethesda has delivered such a trailer, today releasing an epic five-minute video that doesn't show us how the game plays, but introduces us to its wild world and colorful characters. Titled "The Siege," the extended trailer gives us a look at the world of Tamriel as it faces total destruction at the hands of powerful forces.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Elder Scrolls Online is now available on PC, with the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-xbox-one-and-ps4-release-date-is-two-months-after-pc/1100-6416658/" data-ref-id="1100-6416658">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions coming sometime in June</a>. According to Bethesda, the game has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-has-5-0952187-10-58-possible-character-variations/1100-6418770/" data-ref-id="1100-6418770">5.0952187*10^58 possible character variations</a> and a total of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-has-5-0952187-10-58-possible-character-variations/1100-6418770/" data-ref-id="1100-6418770">10,202 non-playable characters</a>.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:10:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-epic-elder-scrolls-online-cinematic-trailer/1100-6418780/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-xbox-360-sells-12-million-copies-dev-says-it-would-have-been-happy-to-sell-1-million/1100-6418779/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2497341" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2497341"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/minecraft-xbox-360-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition</a> has now sold over 12 million copies, making it one of the Xbox 360's most successful titles in history. Microsoft announced the news today on the <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2014/04/games-minecraft-12m" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Xbox Wire</a>, but didn't provide a list of other top-selling Xbox 360 games. Of course, the game sells for $20, so direct comparisons with major franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty are problematic.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The 12 million sales figure (up from <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-has-now-sold-10-million-copies-on-three-different-platforms/1100-6416720/" data-ref-id="1100-6416720">10 million in December</a>) presumably includes combined digital and physical sales of the game.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In an interview with the Xbox Wire, Minecraft developer Mojang's business head Daniel Kaplan said when the studio originally thought about bringing the game to Xbox 360, they would have been happy selling only 1 million copies. "We never even dreamed of selling 12 million!" he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kaplan said one of the most repeated requests he hears from Xbox 360 owners is for bigger Minecraft worlds. He explained that bigger worlds require a guarantee that each Xbox 360 has a hard drive, and of course that is not possible. However, he teased, "Luckily on Xbox One, that's not an issue."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for when the Xbox One version of Minecraft will be released, Kaplan said, "It is coming, eventually!" Microsoft teased last week that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-minecraft-is-really-close/1100-6418648/" data-ref-id="1100-6418648">Minecraft for Xbox One is "really close." </a>The game is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-coming-to-ps3-this-week-still-no-release-date-for-ps4-version/1100-6416749/" data-ref-id="1100-6416749">also coming to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Minecraft has transformed from a small indie game to a worldwide phenomenon in less than five years. The PC/Mac version has sold <a href="https://minecraft.net/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">nearly 15 million copies</a>, while the game is also available for<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/minecraft-pocket-edition/id479516143" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> iOS </a>and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe&hl=en" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Android</a> devices, as well as the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-fire-tv-is-absolutely-not-a-game-console/1100-6418731/" data-ref-id="1100-6418731">recently released Amazon Fire TV</a>. A <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/official-minecraft-movie-coming-from-warner-bros/1100-6418014/" data-ref-id="1100-6418014">Minecraft movie from Warner Bros.</a> is even in the works.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:51:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-xbox-360-sells-12-million-copies-dev-says-it-would-have-been-happy-to-sell-1-million/1100-6418779/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 04 Apr 2014 21:04:13 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-this-robot-play-threes-at-a-pro-level/1100-6418787/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.twitch.tv/teamcolorblind" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fwidgets%2Flive_embed_player.swf%3Fchannel%3Dteamcolorblind&wmode=opaque&fv=hostname%3Dwww.twitch.tv%26start_volume%3D25%26channel%3Dteamcolorblind%26auto_play%3Dfalse&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitch.tv%2Fteamcolorblind&image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww-cdn.jtvnw.net%2Fimages%2Ftwitch_logo3.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=application%2Fx-shockwave-flash&schema=twitch" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><em>(Editor's Note: The Twitch stream broadcasts intermittently, but will be playing during the weekend). </em></p><p style="">Depending on how good your are at the mobile game Threes, you can either watch the stream above and scoff at the computer's rookie mistakes, or despair that you'll ever be anywhere near as good. (I'm in the latter camp).</p><p style="">Threes is a mobile matching game that's simple to learn and deviously addictive, but the later levels especially involve quite a bit of luck. So, it's understandable that the computer does great in the early game getting to 1,536, but has trouble setting record-breaking scores. But that's also because robots lack the latent psychic abilities that set apart true Threes master*.</p><p style="">The computer takes a screenshot after every move, runs some calculations, then physically swipes the board in the next direction it needs. Unlike when I play, he never needs to gently nudge the cards in one direction or another to help decide whether that'll be a good choice or not.</p><p style="">*Real Threes masters probably aren't psychic, but it makes me feel better to imagine that when I look at my own leaderboard rankings.</p><table data-max-width="true"><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Justin Haywald is a senior editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinHaywald" rel="nofollow"> Twitter @JustinHaywald</a>. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-this-robot-play-threes-at-a-pro-level/1100-6418787/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazon-fire-tv/1100-6418763/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418142" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418142/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">After <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/report-amazon-s-android-console-out-this-year-below-300/1100-6417389/" data-ref-id="1100-6417389">months of rumors and leaks</a>, the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-announces-99-streaming-device-has-2gb-ram-quad-core-processor-game-controller-is-40/1100-6418719/" data-ref-id="1100-6418719">Amazon Fire TV was finally revealed earlier this week in New York</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The system is priced at $99 for the base model and $140 for a bundle with a controller, but <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ouya-responds-to-amazon-fire-tv-says-it-lacks-a-focus-on-games/1100-6418743/" data-ref-id="1100-6418743">Amazon has been clear that this is not a console contender.</a> They're aiming to compete with Apple TV and Roku rather than Sony and Microsoft.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Though Ouya's CEO criticized the Fire TV for it's lack of a focus on gaming, that doesn't mean Amazon is ignoring gamers completely. Besides the system exclusive <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-reveals-tower-defense-shooter-hybrid-sev-zero-for-its-new-fire-tv-streaming-box/1100-6418720/" data-ref-id="1100-6418720">third-person shooter/tower defense hybrid Sev Zero</a>, Amazon has also made key gaming acquisitions including:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-buys-killer-instinct-developer-double-helix-games/1100-6417554/" data-ref-id="1100-6417554">Killer Instinct developer Double Helix</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-is-serious-about-gaming-hires-portal-and-far-cry-designers/1100-6418727/" data-ref-id="1100-6418727">Portal designer Kim Swift</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-is-serious-about-gaming-hires-portal-and-far-cry-designers/1100-6418727/" data-ref-id="1100-6418727">Far Cry developer Clint Hocking</a></li><li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-writer-joins-amazon/1100-6413105/" data-ref-id="1100-6413105">Halo writer Eric Nylund</a></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's everything else you need to know about the system.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>The hardware specs:</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Dimensions: 4.5" x 4.5" x 0.7", weighing 9.9oz</li><li dir="ltr">CPU: Qualcomm Krait 300 1.7Ghz quad-core</li><li dir="ltr">GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 320</li><li dir="ltr">RAM: 2GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHz</li><li dir="ltr">Storage: 8GB internal storage</li><li dir="ltr">Wi-Fi: Dual-band, dual-antenna MIMO</li><li dir="ltr">Bluetooth: 4.0 with HID, HFP 1.6, and SPP profile support.</li><li dir="ltr">Ports: HDMI 1.4b, TOSLINK Optical Audio, 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0, 5.5mm DC</li><li dir="ltr">What's in the box?</li><li dir="ltr">Amazon Fire TV and Remote</li><li dir="ltr">Power cord</li><li dir="ltr">2x AAA batteries</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>What will you need to buy?</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">HDMI cable</li><li dir="ltr">Game controller</li></ul><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418113" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418113/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here are the game available so far (though the list will grow rapidly over the coming months):</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>Free</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">You Don't Know Jack Party</li><li dir="ltr">Despicable Me: Minion Rush</li><li dir="ltr">The Walking Dead: Season One (first episode free)</li><li dir="ltr">Hungry Shark Evolution</li><li dir="ltr">Asphalt 8: Airborne</li><li dir="ltr">Deer Hunter 2014</li><li dir="ltr">Hill Climb Racing</li><li dir="ltr">Riptide GP2</li><li dir="ltr">BINGO Blitz</li><li dir="ltr">Reaper</li><li dir="ltr">Stickman downhill - Motocross</li><li dir="ltr">Big Win Slots</li><li dir="ltr">Into the Dead</li><li dir="ltr">PBA Bowling Challenge</li><li dir="ltr">Badland</li><li dir="ltr">Stickman Base Jumper</li><li dir="ltr">Dead Trigger 2</li><li dir="ltr">Zen Pinball HD</li><li dir="ltr">Dead on Arrival 2</li><li dir="ltr">Voodoo Whisperer</li><li dir="ltr">Dead System</li><li dir="ltr">CLARC lite</li><li dir="ltr">Shadow Fight 2</li><li dir="ltr">Haunted Past</li><li dir="ltr">Snailbow</li><li dir="ltr">Fibbage</li><li dir="ltr">Vendetta Online</li><li dir="ltr">Concussion Boxing</li><li dir="ltr">ARC Squadron: Redux</li><li dir="ltr">Brick Break Blitz</li><li dir="ltr">Crystal Picnic</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>$0.99</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Naught 2</li><li dir="ltr">Grandpa and the Zombies</li><li dir="ltr">Endless Skater</li><li dir="ltr">Ski Safari</li><li dir="ltr">Polar Bowler 1st Frame</li><li dir="ltr">Gravity Guy</li><li dir="ltr">Buddy & Me</li><li dir="ltr">Rabbids Big Bang</li><li dir="ltr">Quell</li><li dir="ltr">Monsters University</li><li dir="ltr">Pocket Rally</li><li dir="ltr">GraveStompers: Kid Zombies Save Eradication</li><li dir="ltr">Motorbike</li><li dir="ltr">Quiet, Please!</li><li dir="ltr">Beyond Ynth HD</li><li dir="ltr">Grow</li><li dir="ltr">Puddle</li><li dir="ltr">Micronytes Director's Cut</li><li dir="ltr">Recursion</li><li dir="ltr">Dream Flight</li><li dir="ltr">A Ride into the Mountains</li><li dir="ltr">Cannon Ballers</li><li dir="ltr">League of Evil</li><li dir="ltr">Super Daddio 2</li><li dir="ltr">Super Mega Worm</li><li dir="ltr">Quiet Christmas</li><li dir="ltr">Melee Man</li><li dir="ltr">Range Man</li></ul><p dir="ltr" style=""><strong>$1.00+</strong></p><ul><li dir="ltr">Alpha Wave ($1.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Sci-Fighters ($1.29)</li><li dir="ltr">Experiment ($1.31)</li><li dir="ltr">Ascent Of Kings ($1.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Kung Fu FIGHT! ($1.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Striker Soccer Euro 2012 Pro ($1.87)</li><li dir="ltr">Quell Reflect ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Radiant ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Fantastic 4 in A Row 2 ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Vacation Vexation ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">FIST OF AWESOME ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Atlantis Sky Patrol ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Aces of the Luftwaffe Premium ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">EVAC ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Tank Riders 2 ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mini Golf Mundo ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Mystery Castle HD (5 Episodes, $1.99 each)</li><li dir="ltr">Fractal Combat X ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Truck Monsters ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Syder Arcade HD ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Grand Truckismo ($1.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Ninja Hero Cats Premium ($2.44)</li><li dir="ltr">Coaster Crazy Deluxe ($2.49)</li><li dir="ltr">Monster RPG 2 ($2.91)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic CD ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic The Hedgehog 2 ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Doom & Destiny ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Rayman Fiesta Run ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Quell Memento ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Double Dragon Trilogy ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">King Oddball ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Canabalt HD ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">No Brakes Valet ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Dark Incursion ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Homeland Strike Force Part One ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Hard Lines ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Trouserheart ($2.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Time Surfer ($3.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Save the Puppies Premium ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Bit Brawlers ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Hero of Many ($3.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Burn Zombie Burn ($4.96)</li><li dir="ltr">The Game of Life ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Terraria ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Episode II ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Crazy Taxi ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">AirFighters Pro ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Clarc ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Anomaly 2 ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">The Cave ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Tetris ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Wraithborne ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Virtua Tennis Challenge ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Twin Robots ($4.99)</li><li dir="ltr">BombSquad ($5.00)</li><li dir="ltr">Aftermath XHD ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Ground Effect Pro XHD ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Farm Invasion USA Premium ($5.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Gene Effect ($6.78)</li><li dir="ltr">Minecraft - Pocket Edition ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Sev Zero ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Deus Ex: The Fall ($6.99)</li><li dir="ltr">NBA 2K14 ($7.99)</li><li dir="ltr">Electronic Super Joy ($7.99)</li><li dir="ltr">RPG Alphadia Genesis ($9.99)</li></ul> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazon-fire-tv/1100-6418763/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/arma-iii-updated-review/2300-6418162/ We return to Arma III to play the full campaign and new scenarios. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:09:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/arma-iii-updated-review/2300-6418162/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/get-a-first-look-at-gamespot-s-new-homepage/2300-6418161/ Our new homepage will improve your experience by streamlining the way content is presented on the site. Enjoy this video preview and let us know what you think in the comments below. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:11:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/get-a-first-look-at-gamespot-s-new-homepage/2300-6418161/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-unboxing/2300-6418158/ Go on a journey of discovery with Danny and Kevin into the depths of the Elder Scrolls Online: Imperial Edition box Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/elder-scrolls-online-imperial-edition-unboxing/2300-6418158/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-death-threats-for-oculus-devs-dragon/2300-6418143/ ALL the Dragon Age: Inquisition details, Oculus employees come under fire after Facebook buyout, and what can we expect out of games from E3? Fri, 04 Apr 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-death-threats-for-oculus-devs-dragon/2300-6418143/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-point-virtual-reality-future-or-fad/2300-6418148/ Danny explores the reality of playing games using a VR headset and asks whether this technology is part of our gaming future, or just another fad. Also he murders a shark with a knife. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:03:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-point-virtual-reality-future-or-fad/2300-6418148/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-players-discover-massive-megalodon-shark-easter-egg/1100-6418784/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-WladmrdNQ" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fvideoseries%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26list%3DUUw7FkXsC00lH2v2yB5LQoYA&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DV-WladmrdNQ%26list%3DUUw7FkXsC00lH2v2yB5LQoYA&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FV-WladmrdNQ%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">An enemy lurks in the waters of <a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a>'s <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-s-delayed-naval-strike-dlc-finally-out-for-pc/1100-6418664/" data-ref-id="1100-6418664">new Nansha Strike map</a>, but it might not be what you expect. Battlefield 4 players have finally discovered a virtual version of the prehistoric Megalodon shark and it does not disappoint.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">YouTuber JackFrags made the discovery following the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-s-delayed-naval-strike-dlc-finally-out-for-pc/1100-6418664/" data-ref-id="1100-6418664">release of the Naval Strike DLC this week</a>, which introduced the Nansha Strike map. He pieced together some clues last year that led him to believe the creature was stirring in the waters, but he was unable to discover the beast until this week.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"When it happened for the first time I didn't think it was real, like I had imagined it or something," JackFrags <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrags/status/452104153872224256" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">said on Twitter</a>. He said he asked the other players on the server if they saw the shark as well and they reported that they did. "The reaction was amazing," he said.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 11:18:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-4-players-discover-massive-megalodon-shark-easter-egg/1100-6418784/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-a-newcomer-s-/1900-6415719/ <p style=""> </p><p style="">I had never played a Final Fantasy game. For all the countless hours I've spent at a computer or a console, how had I never delved into this iconic franchise? Lack of access to the right systems and lack of time to devote to such lengthy adventures have come and gone as excuses. Maybe it's a question of desire? I don't often seek out Japanese role-playing games, but there have been a few over the years that have snagged my interest. I played and enjoyed a solid chunk of <a href="/chrono-trigger/" data-ref-id="false">Chrono Trigger</a>, and was charmed by the world of <a href="/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch/" data-ref-id="false">Ni No Kuni</a>. I completed 2007's lovely, sentimental <a href="/eternal-sonata/" data-ref-id="false">Eternal Sonata</a>, perhaps the best experience I've had with a JRPG. A paltry resume, to be sure, but I've always been intrigued by the grand adventures and enduring characters that FF fans are so passionate about, and so I resolved to play a Final Fantasy game.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">I chose the wrong Final Fantasy game.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418123" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418123/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII starts off with a splashy cutscene that shows beautiful people engaged in elegant combat in a fantastical city. This kind of intricately rendered video seems to have fallen out of fashion of late, but as aspirational introductions go, it did the trick. Even though I didn't know the players involved, I was intrigued and excited about the world I was about to explore, eager to learn more about the creatures and characters. But as a newcomer to the trilogy that Lightning Returns concludes (as well as the series as a whole), I knew I had some catching up to do, and I was a bit worried about keeping up with all the lore I was about to immerse myself in.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">As it turns out, Lightning Returns does a very thorough job of laying the foundation for the events to come. It didn't take me long to understand Lightning's strange role as the savior charged by God to save the souls of the citizenry before God's own doomsday clock runs out. Apparently, the world of Nova Chrysalia has been in a slowly decaying holding pattern for five centuries since the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2. No one has aged, no one has died of natural causes, and no one has been born; they've all just coasted along waiting for something to happen as a mysterious force called chaos slowly encroached on their world.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">It's an intriguing setting, one that raises questions about how a static society might change as its citizens grow wise, bored, or crazy after long years of the same thing. But Lightning Returns continues to explain the setting long after the stage has been set. In the interminable exposition sequence and subsequently through hours and hours of adventuring, the dialogue in Lightning Returns is riddled with redundancy. Characters make observations only to have their conversation partners reword and regurgitate the same information without adding anything of substance. This constant reiteration makes it seem like the only reason that people talk is to drill information into your head rather than to flesh out personalities, create dramatic tension, or evoke emotion.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">And so Lightning Returns isn't initially confusing, as I'd feared, but initially dull. Lightning herself doesn't exactly sparkle with charisma, and in the early hours she acts like she's still a bit groggy after her epic nap. The fate of thousands of strangers isn't much motivation, but the chance to reunite with her long-dead sister gets her going even though, as she remarks, "God is using my dead sister as a bargaining chip." This quip is a welcome bit of sardonic self-awareness, and it's when Lightning Returns gets a bit playful that it begins to show a spark of life. A chef observes, "People are more health conscious these days, which is ironic, given the times." A public announcement seeking Lightning declares, "She has rose-colored hair and is carrying an enormous weapon." A random kid running through a plaza trips and falls. Unfortunately, these lighthearted moments are rare, and most conversations with townsfolk and quest givers are dry and colorless.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495977" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495977"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/542/5424362/2495977-%23%23%2300005.jpg"></a><figcaption>And playing the role of the trickster...</figcaption></figure><p style=""><span>Interactions with returning characters are more colorful. Lightning reunites with a few friends from the past, though whether or not they are friends anymore is often uncertain. One clash pits Lightning against a grief-stricken former comrade in a test of how far each is willing to go for the chance to see a dead loved one again. Another relationship has become antagonistic over the centuries, and Lightning's musings about the passage of time and its effect on relationships resonate nicely with the intriguing setting. Yet these conversations, while often staged with stylish camera angles, nonetheless suffer from the redundancy that plagues so much of the dialogue. Characters repeat themselves and parrot each other frequently, as if trying to drill basic situations and concepts into your head so you don't forget them. Narrative development becomes belabored exposition, and even after I was well into the game, I still felt impatient for things to get under way.</span></p><p style=""> </p><p style="">The first proper task set before Lightning is to investigate a string of murders in the city of Luxerion. The worlds of Final Fantasy have always struck me as having an interesting mix of gothic, modern, and fantastical architecture, and this proved true about the streets of Luxerion. Attendants in trim, vaguely futuristic uniforms populate train stations with gold Victorian trimmings. A soaring gothic cathedral plays host to supplicants that wouldn't look out of place in a pop music video. Coming across these exotic pairings makes exploring the city enjoyable, though the abundance of drab plazas and dreary alleyways begins to get tiresome after a while. Luxerion has seen better days, but the glittering city of Yusnaan seems to be in a state of perpetual polish. Nightly festivals make this area much livelier and more visually appealing, but this hustle and bustle has a downside. Street musicians, loudspeaker announcements, idle chatter, and walkie-talkie messages from Hope can all layer on top of one another and create a cacophony in which everything is unintelligible.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">The two wilderness areas offer quieter exploration, though the incidence of tough monsters effectively confines you to the urban areas for quite some time. You can travel freely between each of these four large locales, and each offers an array of quests that lead to the collection of the all-important souls. Some quests must be hunted down by talking to citizens, while others can be grabbed from a handy quest board staffed in each area by a character that looks like a cross between a tropical bird and a female prostitute. I'm not sure what turn of events led to this provocative reimagining of the iconic chocobo, but judging by some of Lightning's outfits, it's not a new phenomenon.</p><p style=""> </p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495982" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2495982"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/542/5424362/2495982-chocolina1.jpg"></a><figcaption>Bird on a Street Corner.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Some quests require more running around and listening to lackluster dialogue, but most involve the game's most enjoyable element: combat. Lightning enters the fray with three different gear sets called schemata. Each schemata is made up of a weapon, a few abilities, and a number of clothing options, all of which can affect your attributes and resistances. Switching between schemata on the fly isn't just a matter of bringing your deadliest attacks to bear on the enemy; it's also a resource management challenge. You have only a certain amount of energy per schemata, and once it's drained, you can't use any of that schemata's abilities until it recharges.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">This makes combat a bit of a juggling act, which encourages you to design your schemata strategically. Early on I simply loaded all my best gear into one schemata and used the others to kill time while my best one recharged. As I acquired more gear and enemies grew tougher, I restructured my schemata to focus on physical attack, magical attack, and defense. Dealing the right kind of damage can stagger enemies, opening them up to serious pummeling, and timely blocking is essential in tougher fights. Nimble schemata switching and smart energy management are the keys to victory, and exploiting these tactics is an engaging and dynamic challenge.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Which is not to say that I was a terribly skilled fighter. I had to use heal and revive items frequently while clashing with formidable enemies, and occasionally made use of Lightning's handful of special EP powers to get myself out of a bind. As I progressed, difficult fights began to drag on longer and longer, and the lively juggling act of combat began to lose its luster. The challenge no longer seemed to arise from skillfully juggling schemata, but rather from simply grinding out tedious encounters. Combat was still tough, but as endurance took on a larger and larger role, my interest waned.</p><p style=""> </p><p style="">Almost 20 hours in to Lightning Returns, I gave it up. Perhaps if I had known the main characters' histories, their relationships would have resonated more strongly. Perhaps if I was previously enamored with the worlds of Final Fantasy, Nova Chrysalia would have intrigued me more. While I'll never know what my perspective would have been, I do know that, as a newcomer to Final Fantasy, Lightning Returns didn't feel unwelcoming. From combat to characters, the game did a lot to make sure I knew where I was, what I was doing, and why I was doing it. The problem isn't that it's a poor choice for newcomers; the problem is that it's a poor game.</p> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiii-a-newcomer-s-/1900-6415719/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/planetside-2-war-correspondent-episode-7/2300-6418145/ On the frontlines of the firefight with soldiers from each Empire, War Correspondent Robert Stoneman gives you a behind the battle lines look at what it takes to survive the fight, and win the war. Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/planetside-2-war-correspondent-episode-7/2300-6418145/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-xbox-360-runs-above-30fps-but-the-action-is-all-there-dev-says/1100-6418782/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Xbox 360 version of<a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false"> Titanfall</a> will run at "above 30fps," developer Bluepoint Games <a href="http://www.titanfall.com/news/xbox-360-update-from-daryl-allison" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced today in a post on the game's website</a>. By comparison, the Xbox One version targets 60fps, but drops occasionally when many objects and elements appear on-screen simultaneously, according to an <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-titanfall-next-gen-face-off" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">independent review at Digital Foundry</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The revelation comes from Bluepoint Games senior producer Daryl Allison, who promised that even with the lower frame-rate, "the action is all there."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"When approached by Respawn to develop the Xbox 360 version, we knew a project like this would be a challenge and we knew the commitment it would take would be worth it. How does one start with a title focused on leveraging the power of the Xbox One and PC and make it look and feel just as good (and fun!) on the Xbox 360? Thankfully, Respawn saw in us what they wanted--the drive and ability to make hardware do the impossible--which put us in this fortunate position of launching Respawn's new franchise with them," he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Allison said Titanfall for the Xbox 360 is the "true experience." It contains all the maps, modes, titans, weapons, and burn cards found in the Xbox One and PC versions. Visually, it's also impressive, he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The game looks great, sounds great, and above all it plays great. There are of course some technical differences that are due to the technical limitations of the hardware--for example, the game runs above 30fps--but rest assured, the intense 6v6 wall-running, titan dropping action is all there," Allison said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Finally, Allison said he hoped to ship the Xbox 360 version of Titanfall alongside the Xbox One and PC versions in March, but "it needed more time." He went on to say Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment "made the right call" in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-on-xbox-360-gets-another-delay/1100-6418398/" data-ref-id="1100-6418398">delaying the game multiple times</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Titanfall for Xbox 360 launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-on-xbox-360-gets-another-delay/1100-6418398/" data-ref-id="1100-6418398">April 8</a>, but copies of the game are already <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/retailers-selling-titanfall-for-xbox-360-early-images-show-it-requires-1gb-install/1100-6418773/" data-ref-id="1100-6418773">appearing at retailers and on auction sites like eBay</a>. Buyer beware, however, as the game's servers <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-for-xbox-360-appears-on-ebay-buyer-beware-servers-won-t-be-turned-on-until-april-8/1100-6418757/" data-ref-id="1100-6418757">will <strong><em>not </em></strong>be turned on until launch day</a>, meaning the online-only game is unplayable until then.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""> </p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418153" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418153/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/titanfall-xbox-360-runs-above-30fps-but-the-action-is-all-there-dev-says/1100-6418782/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-off-how-it-believes-the-cloud-will-change-gaming-forever/1100-6418766/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxHdUDhOMyw" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fvideoseries%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26list%3DUU-zjH-e5XBzMpy_VtwIGRxQ&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQxHdUDhOMyw%26list%3DUU-zjH-e5XBzMpy_VtwIGRxQ%26index%3D1&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FQxHdUDhOMyw%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft hasn't held back from <em>talking</em> about how offloading computational efforts to the cloud will advance gaming, but now they are finally <em>showing</em> us what that looks like. In short, this system allows developers to offload processing to remote servers, which in theory frees up local hardware to improve things like rendering.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This week during Microsoft's developer-centric Build conference in San Francisco, the company showed off a custom tech demo illustrating the system running on PC hardware. Importantly, what we're seeing here in the video above is not Xbox One footage and the demo is merely a prototype.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Still, as we see in the video, the PC that's not connected to Microsoft's Azure server network seriously struggles when the building begins to collapse. Meanwhile, the connected rig is able to achieve a far more steady frame-rate throughout.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Microsoft says that tapping into the power of the cloud for gaming will allow for "news kinds of experiences that have never been possible."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We're already seeing some of this come to life, as Respawn Entertainment's Xbox One game <a href="/titanfall/" data-ref-id="false">Titanfall</a> offloads some <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-cloud-servers-absolutely-essential-to-titanfall/1100-6418222/" data-ref-id="1100-6418222">computational efforts to the cloud</a>. Microsoft released a new video (below) highlighting how the cloud improves the Titanfall experience, though much of what is said is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-cloud-servers-absolutely-essential-to-titanfall/1100-6418222/" data-ref-id="1100-6418222">already known</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video from Microsoft's Build conference was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ArekkzG" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">captured by YouTube user Arekkz Gaming</a>. You can watch the entire presentation at <a href="http://channel9.msdn.com/?wt.mc_id=build_hp" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Microsoft's website</a>.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418132" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418132/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-shows-off-how-it-believes-the-cloud-will-change-gaming-forever/1100-6418766/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-star-jeremy-lin-says-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-6418781/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png" data-ref-id="1300-2497357" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png" data-ref-id="1300-2497357"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2497357-jeremylin.png"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Believe it or not, NBA star Jeremy Lin is a big fan of Valve's free-to-play game <a href="/dota-2/" data-ref-id="false">DOTA 2</a>. In a new interview from Rod "Slasher" Breslau at GameSpot sister site <strong><a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143">on</a></strong><a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143">Gamers</a>, the professional basketball player and Harvard graduate said Valve's PC title is "more than just a game" because it has allowed him to stay close with friends and family, even after they've moved apart geographically.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lin was featured in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-made-a-movie-and-it-s-out-next-month/1100-6417848/" data-ref-id="1100-6417848">Valve's newly released movie <em>Free To Play</em></a> and one quote that's making headlines is when he says that "Dota is a way of life." He explained this further with <strong>on</strong>Gamers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"To me, my brothers, and friends, we have a group of five that always love playing together and we've all been playing together since our sophomore year of high school," Lin said, recalling his time playing the original game. "So when I say it's a way of life, it's more than just a game, it's a chance for us to play and catch up on life. It's something that's been really incorporated into our lives for years and years, consistently, no matter where you are."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A point guard for the Houston Rockets, Lin travels the country and the world playing professional basketball. But he still makes time for DOTA 2, saying he plays about two or three times per week. Check out the full interview, which touches on how Lin believes professional basketball players and Dota players are alike, over at <a href="http://www.ongamers.com/articles/nba-s-jeremy-lin-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-1143/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="1100-1143"><strong>on</strong>Gamers</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nba-star-jeremy-lin-says-dota-2-is-more-than-just-a-game/1100-6418781/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-epic-elder-scrolls-online-cinematic-trailer/1100-6418780/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418135" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418135/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/the-elder-scrolls-online/" data-ref-id="false">The Elder Scrolls Online</a> is finally here. After years of development, Bethesda's highly touted MMORPG is available today on PC. But what would the launch of a high-profile game from a big-name publisher be without an epic cinematic trailer to usher it in?</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Bethesda has delivered such a trailer, today releasing an epic five-minute video that doesn't show us how the game plays, but introduces us to its wild world and colorful characters. Titled "The Siege," the extended trailer gives us a look at the world of Tamriel as it faces total destruction at the hands of powerful forces.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Elder Scrolls Online is now available on PC, with the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-xbox-one-and-ps4-release-date-is-two-months-after-pc/1100-6416658/" data-ref-id="1100-6416658">Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions coming sometime in June</a>. According to Bethesda, the game has <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-has-5-0952187-10-58-possible-character-variations/1100-6418770/" data-ref-id="1100-6418770">5.0952187*10^58 possible character variations</a> and a total of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-elder-scrolls-online-has-5-0952187-10-58-possible-character-variations/1100-6418770/" data-ref-id="1100-6418770">10,202 non-playable characters</a>.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 08:10:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-epic-elder-scrolls-online-cinematic-trailer/1100-6418780/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-xbox-360-sells-12-million-copies-dev-says-it-would-have-been-happy-to-sell-1-million/1100-6418779/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2497341" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2497341"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2497341-mc12.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="/minecraft-xbox-360-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition</a> has now sold over 12 million copies, making it one of the Xbox 360's most successful titles in history. Microsoft announced the news today on the <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2014/04/games-minecraft-12m" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Xbox Wire</a>, but didn't provide a list of other top-selling Xbox 360 games. Of course, the game sells for $20, so direct comparisons with major franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty are problematic.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The 12 million sales figure (up from <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-has-now-sold-10-million-copies-on-three-different-platforms/1100-6416720/" data-ref-id="1100-6416720">10 million in December</a>) presumably includes combined digital and physical sales of the game.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In an interview with the Xbox Wire, Minecraft developer Mojang's business head Daniel Kaplan said when the studio originally thought about bringing the game to Xbox 360, they would have been happy selling only 1 million copies. "We never even dreamed of selling 12 million!" he said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Kaplan said one of the most repeated requests he hears from Xbox 360 owners is for bigger Minecraft worlds. He explained that bigger worlds require a guarantee that each Xbox 360 has a hard drive, and of course that is not possible. However, he teased, "Luckily on Xbox One, that's not an issue."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">As for when the Xbox One version of Minecraft will be released, Kaplan said, "It is coming, eventually!" Microsoft teased last week that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-minecraft-is-really-close/1100-6418648/" data-ref-id="1100-6418648">Minecraft for Xbox One is "really close." </a>The game is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-coming-to-ps3-this-week-still-no-release-date-for-ps4-version/1100-6416749/" data-ref-id="1100-6416749">also coming to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Minecraft has transformed from a small indie game to a worldwide phenomenon in less than five years. The PC/Mac version has sold <a href="https://minecraft.net/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">nearly 15 million copies</a>, while the game is also available for<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/minecraft-pocket-edition/id479516143" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> iOS </a>and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mojang.minecraftpe&hl=en" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Android</a> devices, as well as the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/amazon-fire-tv-is-absolutely-not-a-game-console/1100-6418731/" data-ref-id="1100-6418731">recently released Amazon Fire TV</a>. A <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/official-minecraft-movie-coming-from-warner-bros/1100-6418014/" data-ref-id="1100-6418014">Minecraft movie from Warner Bros.</a> is even in the works.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:51:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/minecraft-xbox-360-sells-12-million-copies-dev-says-it-would-have-been-happy-to-sell-1-million/1100-6418779/
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