http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Wed, 07 May 2014 21:38:26 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-to-integrate-skylanders-like-figurines-with-wii-u-and-3ds/1100-6419497/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525617" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525617"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Nintendo will be integrating Skylanders-like figurine business named NFP-nfc, the company <a href="http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/events/140508/04.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced at its fiscal meeting today</a>.</p><p style="">Analyst Dave Gibson was present and live-tweeted the event, stating that <a href="https://twitter.com/gibbogame/status/464215580199772160" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Nintendo demonstrated the Mario figure across many games "including saves"</a>.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525620" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525620"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><span>Gibson also </span><a href="https://twitter.com/gibbogame/status/464216071675727872" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">tweeted </a><span>that Nintendo would be showcasing the Nintendo Figurine Platform (NFP) game and figures at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. The 3DS will also reportedly be getting an infrared reader so that the figures will be able to be used across the Wii U and 3DS.</span></p><p style="">The intergration of figures into games has been featured most recently in the Skylanders series, published by Activision. Disney has released its own take on the figurine game, launching Disney Infinity last summer and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-infinity-has-sold-3-million-starter-packs-since-launch/1100-6417220/" data-ref-id="1100-6417220">selling more than 3 million $75 starter packs to date</a>.</p><p style="">Yesterday Nintendo posted its report for the fiscal year ending March 31, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">revealing a loss of 46.4 billion yen ($457 million)</a>. The Wii U console has sold 2.72 million units in the last 12 months.</p><p style="">Do you think Nintendo should be investing into figurine games? Let us know in the comments below.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Zorine Te is an associate editor at GameSpot, and you can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/ztharli" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @ztharli</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><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Wed, 07 May 2014 18:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-to-integrate-skylanders-like-figurines-with-wii-u-and-3ds/1100-6419497/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-review/1900-6415756/ <p style="">We all have quests. It's why the story of the hero's journey, in all its many forms, has resonated with humanity for as long as people have been sitting around campfires and telling stories. Nobody gets it easy in this life. We all face obstacles and setbacks. We all, at one time or another, go looking for something, whether it's a place to call home, a fulfilling career, or a love to call our own. The antiques delivery driver Conway is looking for an address on Dogwood Drive, and the only way he can get there is by finding the elusive highway known as the Zero. Conway is the unconventional hero figure at the center of the very unconventional quest that is Kentucky Route Zero, and in its third act, this journey into parts unknown becomes an utterly captivating work of uncompromised artistic vision.</p><p style="">Act III of Kentucky Route Zero begins with a flashback, a conversation between Conway and Lysette, the woman he delivers antiques for. Their conversation recalls an old tragedy that clearly haunts Conway, and establishes memory and loss as themes that run throughout the act; characters frequently talk about the ways in which they've been shaped by moments in the past, and those moments sometimes intrude on the present. Conway's quest isn't realistic, but the hearts and minds of the characters, people who are as damaged and hopeful and dedicated as any of us, give you something to stay latched on to even when Kentucky Route Zero's narrative leaves logic behind and detours into the realm of dreams.</p><div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6418696" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418696/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">And even at its most dreamlike, Kentucky Route Zero remains deeply concerned with very real, concrete matters. Characters are crushed by debt. They are forced into difficult situations by massive corporations that don't care at all about the struggles of individuals, only about their own profits. Kentucky Route Zero is a lyrical game that is very much about life in America today. Modern America can be a disorienting place in which the way forward isn't always clear for ordinary people, and in Kentucky Route Zero, as you search for the titular highway Conway needs to find in order to make what will be the last delivery in the history of Lysette's Antiques (the end of another small business in America), you're told to scan radio stations until you find something familiar yet strange, and then drive until the station cuts out. Life in contemporary America feels familiar yet strange to a lot of people, and the America of Kentucky Route Zero will feel familiar yet strange to anyone who has spent time on its highways, passing through its small towns.</p><p style="">Kentucky Route Zero has always challenged traditional notions of player control and choice. You don't play as any one character--you might be choosing dialogue options for Conway one moment, and then choosing the tone an unheard voice on the telephone is using the next. Your role is not that of a traditional player in a traditional adventure game; it's something closer to that of a collaborator. This approach is manifested most powerfully in one unforgettable scene at a small-town bar. In Act III, Conway and company meet up with a pair of young musicians, Junebug and Johnny, who drag them to a gig at a bar called The Lower Depths. When Junebug and Johnny take the stage, something incredible happens. The roof flies away to reveal the moon and stars, and your choices influence the words of the hauntingly beautiful song that Junebug sings. It's a transcendent moment in which the beauty that always quivers under the surface of Kentucky Route Zero bursts forth, transporting the characters, and you, to someplace truly magical.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2525584" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525584"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg"></a><figcaption>When you see the horses, you know you're on the right track.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Conway's journey is always taking you to new and unexpected places--recall <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/kentucky-route-zero-act-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Act II</a>'s forest where time and space functioned in unusual ways and a bluegrass band provided soulful accompaniment to your explorations. Places like this give the entire journey a feeling of true discovery, and in Act III, Kentucky Route Zero ventures so boldly beyond our expectations that it achieves a special kind of greatness. There are worlds within worlds in Kentucky Route Zero--literal worlds under the surface, virtual worlds in dusty old computers, and worlds of memory locked away in the troubled hearts of its characters. Toward the end of Act III, you explore the virtual realm that exists in the consciousness of a moldy old machine called Xanadu--you're exploring a world in a computer while exploring a world in a computer, and just as the world of Xanadu has connections to the reality of Conway and his companions, Kentucky Route Zero has very real things to say about our world and our lives.</p><p style="">The game's meanings aren't simple, its logic not straightforward. It is, in its own way, as dreamlike as a typical Haruki Murakami novel, and every bit as captivating. Like Murakami's work, it can take on a life of its own in your own mind because it operates according to rules that belong more to the subconscious than to the conscious, effortlessly blending the concrete and the magical. Kentucky Route Zero is not, in any sense, a typical adventure game. It's an incredible one.</p> Wed, 07 May 2014 17:31:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-review/1900-6415756/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gaming-highlights-from-1984/1100-6419436/ <p dir="ltr" style="">Turn back the clock 30 years to 1984. Ronald Reagan was reelected into his second term as president of the United States, the United Kingdom signed an agreement to transfer ownership of Hong Kong back to China, and Mark Zuckerburg, the founder of Facebook, was born.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Those events, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">many more</a>, made a lasting impact on society for the decades that followed, but 1984 was also a hallmark year for video games. A major hardware manufacturer found itself backed into a corner, while another introduced a console that would forever change the shape of the North American video game industry.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's a look at the major events in video gaming that took place 30 years ago, in 1984.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Atari announces the Atari 7800, sells out to Commodore</h3><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525232" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525232"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg"></a><figcaption>The Atari 7800 was eventually delayed until 1986.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Atari unveiled the Atari 7800 console in 1984, as a follow-up to the failed Atari 5200. The 5200 launched just prior to the North American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_video_game_crash_of_1983" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">video game crash</a> in 1983, which saw an oversaturated gaming market decimate Atari's market valuation by almost two-thirds. Unfortunately for Atari, it would be forced into a buyout by one of its competitors, Commodore, in 1984. As a result, the Atari 7800 was delayed until 1986. A total of 59 games were released for the 7800 before the system was discontinued in 1991.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><h3>Nintendo teases its NES prototype, the Advanced Video System</h3><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525238" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525238"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg"></a><figcaption>The AVS was eventually released as the NES in '85.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Nintendo found its footing in North America in the arcades, like many video game publishers of the day. It would eventually break into the home market with the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, but roughly a year earlier, it revealed its breakthrough console as the Nintendo Advanced Video System during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. When the system was eventually released as the NES, Nintendo omitted accessories such as the keyboard and the data storage unit.</p><h2 dir="ltr"> </h2><p style=""> </p><h3>Alexey Pajitnov creates the legendary puzzle game, Tetris</h3><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png" data-ref-id="1300-2524822" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png" data-ref-id="1300-2524822"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png"></a><figcaption>A screenshot of the first version of Tetris, running on the Soviet Electronika 60 computer.4</figcaption></figure><p style="">The legendary game Tetris was created by researcher Alexey Pajitnov on an Electronika 60 computer while he was employed at the Soviet Academy of Sciences of the USSR. It's one of the most widely played video game in history, having landed on nearly every platform and operating system since its inception. Its success and worldwide appeal inspired some developers to create inventive interpretations of Tetris' simple yet challenging puzzle mechanic, including <a href="/tetrisphere/" data-ref-id="false">Tetrisphere</a>, <a href="/welltris/" data-ref-id="false">Welltris</a>, and <a href="/tetris-64/" data-ref-id="false">Tetris 64</a>, which featured a mode called Bio Tetris that altered the game's speed based on your heart rate, which was recorded via a biometric ear clip.</p><h3>Space simulation games blast off with Elite</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuvbZpH1QuE" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FAuvbZpH1QuE%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAuvbZpH1QuE&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FAuvbZpH1QuE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><a href="/elite/" data-ref-id="false">Elite</a> is one of the earliest space sims, but it's still regarded as one of the best examples of the genre. The co-founder of CCP games, Thorolfur Beck Kristjansson, <a href="http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/features/interviews/eve.shtml" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">cites</a> it as the primary influence in creating the successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game <a href="/eve-online/" data-ref-id="false">EVE Online</a>. The Elite series is currently making a comeback in the crowd-funded <a href="/elite-dangerous/" data-ref-id="false">Elite Dangerous</a>, which is in beta.</p><h3>Namco debuts the life bar in Dragon Buster</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIAU4EYfGXM" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FOIAU4EYfGXM%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOIAU4EYfGXM&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOIAU4EYfGXM%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><a href="/dragon-buster/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Buster</a> may not be familiar to a lot of people, but it's notable for being the first game to feature a life bar, which has become a mainstay feature of modern games.</p><h3>Atari releases Paperboy, makes delivering newspapers fun</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5a0hQPsprM" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fk5a0hQPsprM%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dk5a0hQPsprM&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fk5a0hQPsprM%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Newspaper delivery may not sound like the most compelling model for an arcade game, but Paperboy was popular enough to justify a sequel, and was subsequently ported to nearly 20 platforms, including iOS and the Xbox 360.</p><h3>King's Quest jump starts an adventure game renaissance</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0TLhR51uGY" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fr0TLhR51uGY%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dr0TLhR51uGY&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fr0TLhR51uGY%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Sierra Entertainment is known for creating numerous PC adventure games in the '80s and '90s, but its reign began with the success of <a href="/kings-quest-quest-for-the-crown/" data-ref-id="false">King's Quest: Quest for the Crown</a> in 1984.</p><h3>Current president of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, gets his first break</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JMY2dMnK_E" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F4JMY2dMnK_E%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4JMY2dMnK_E&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F4JMY2dMnK_E%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Balloon Fight is responsible for launching the career of Nintendo's current president and CEO, the affable Satoru Iwata, who is credited as a programmer on the game.</p><h4><em>What do you remember about gaming in 1984? Let us know in the comments below.</em></h4> Wed, 07 May 2014 16:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gaming-highlights-from-1984/1100-6419436/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-of-tanks-updated-review/1900-6415755/ <p style="">Odds are my latest tank--just like the one before it--is going to wind up a smoldering heap on some artillery-pockmarked hillside alongside the decimated husks of friend and foe alike. I've already accepted my fate well before the first echoes of cannon fire thunder across the countryside. Still, that doesn't stop my mind from racing with excitement over the strategic possibilities and crazy armored showdowns ahead as I prep for battle in this tank-centric strategic multiplayer shooter. That's because the deeper you delve into it, the more World of Tanks grows into a delightful playground of deadly rolling metal and military might.</p><p style="">The original PC version of World of Tanks has evolved and grown quite a bit in the three years since it first launched, with a sweeping array of updated visual flourishes, fresh battlegrounds, and lots of extra tanks added to the pile. While this steady drip of enticing new content goes a long way toward keeping longer-time players in the fight, it's the strong foundation that's most important. It's easy to imagine armored-warfare history buffs salivating over the attention to detail found throughout the game design. From the authentic look of each tank model to the way each one functions and handles on the battlefield, the little details are meticulous. What's cool, however, is that World of Tanks is anything but stuffy and overcomplicated. Grabbing your first tank and rolling into battle is effortless, and a streamlined control scheme allows for lots of maneuverability without bogging you down in an overabundance of commands. In essence, you drive, aim, and shoot. It's simple, though the tactical nuances of battle run far deeper than that, and this accessibility carries over into the flow of combat.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418703" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418703/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">World of Tank's 15-on-15 matches are often epic in scope but short and explosive once munitions start flying. It's not long before skirmishes erupt at key choke points along each map, as the front lines clash and pave the way for the artillery duels and heavily armored pushes not far behind. Getting blown up sidelines you to watch the battle unfold as a spectator, though you can jump out of the match and start a new one with a different tank too. This staggered approach to matches keeps you close to the action, and each encounter is as thrilling as the last.</p><p style="">Players who are interested in venturing down deep in the rabbit hole of munition types, armor possibilities, and crewmember training will find that these systems add interesting depth to the combat. But they're just as easily left to the periphery if your focus is on the action and strategizing on the fly. With an emphasis on victory through killing or capture, battles rarely bump up against the 15-minute time limit anyway. Sweeping wins are as common as narrow ones, however, thanks to good matchmaking that balances the types and levels of tanks in each conflict. A few of my favorite wins even boiled down to last-tank-standing affairs, which is an intense way to win the battle for your team. Losses can be spectacular fun too, like that priceless moment I drove my damaged Panzer full speed off a cliff and came crashing down onto an enemy tank below, destroying us both in the process.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525377" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525377"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png"></a><figcaption>Incoming pew-pew at every o'clock!</figcaption></figure><p style="">Tank variety is one of the biggest draws here, because gaining experience from each match lets you gradually upgrade the tanks in your garage to boost their effectiveness. The massive tree of unlockable vehicles you can get access to is impressive in its breadth and variety. With several hundred tanks across 10 tiers and seven different countries, there's a ridiculous amount of armor on parade here. Light, medium, and heavy tank types offer a nice range of assault strategies and capabilities to pick from, but a slew of artillery units and self-propelled "tank killers" round out the great mix.</p><p style="">Equally impressive is the wide range of battlefields you fight across, which are large, numerous, and detailed. Matches unfold across sprawling vistas that run the gamut from gorgeous countrysides and mountain terrain to cramped urban industrial settings and windswept deserts. The terrain itself also plays a huge role in how you approach each encounter, and it's a lot of fun to test out different vehicles in different locations. Maps are well designed with cover, structures, hills, choke points, and lots of other elements that have a major impact on the flow of battle and what tactics you have to use.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="left"><p style="">It's not long before skirmishes erupt at key choke points along each map, as the front lines clash and pave the way for the artillery duels and heavily armored pushes not far behind.</p></blockquote><p style="">Gaining access to new tanks and maps, however, is a slow and often grindy process. The grind itself isn't always a bad thing, because upgrading and unlocking tanks is a substantive reward for your efforts on the battlefield. The better you do, the more experience you gain with a given tank to upgrade its components, which in turn grants access to higher tiers of vehicles. When you do make progress, it's very satisfying. The problem is that it can be quite a slow affair until you get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of certain tanks and how to best use them. Getting blown up a lot before you can do damage and earn points can put the brakes on your upgrading groove in a hurry. Slowness aside, it's an important system that adds incentive to keep playing hundreds of matches. I'm drawn to the grind, because it has pushed me to improve my prowess in battle. Matches are fun on their own, but the quest to constantly work toward more powerful and varied tanks is a vital component to World of Tanks' ability to lure you back for another round of explosions. If you're not in any rush to the top, then the measured progression is far less of an issue.</p><p style="">It's good that spending real-world money isn't necessary to have a blast with World of Tanks. Earning experience naturally in battle lets you unlock new gear and tank tiers, while spending in-game silver coin adds them to your roster. Premium gold lets you buy everything from additional space in your garage and temporary experience boosts to bonus tanks, but buying the higher-end kit isn't cheap. If you're not hell-bent on unlocking the exclusive tanks--which are reasonably powerful but are still balanced and can't be upgraded--you can get by without digging too deep into your pockets.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525379" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525379"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png"></a><figcaption>That's some real heavy metal.</figcaption></figure><p style="">World of Tanks is a slick-looking game with a ridiculous amount of great content to back up its accessible tank-on-tank combat. Recent graphical updates and new additions add to the experience in excellent ways. Making progress in unlocking the massive range of vehicles can be slow going, but the thrill of strategic battles well fought and the eventual rewards for your hard efforts steamroll the sluggish moments into the dirt.</p> Wed, 07 May 2014 16:18:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-of-tanks-updated-review/1900-6415755/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-xbox-one-sans-kinect-may-outsell-ps4-new-3/2300-6418702/ Nintendo posts a $457 million loss, a research firm thinks that Xbox Ones without Kinect could outsell the PS4, and Pokémon Ruby is getting remade! Wed, 07 May 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-xbox-one-sans-kinect-may-outsell-ps4-new-3/2300-6418702/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gameplay-world-of-tanks/2300-6418703/ The free-to-play strategic game World of Tanks continues to get updated graphics, maps, modes and features. Wed, 07 May 2014 15:54:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gameplay-world-of-tanks/2300-6418703/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/three-big-questions-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-needs-to-answer/1100-6419492/ <p style="">By this point, you've probably seen the announcement trailer for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. If you haven't, allow me to paint a picture: Kevin Spacey is a futuristic business tycoon who enjoys launching into extended soliloquies about the viability of imposed democracy, and interspersed between his political musings are a number of scenes involving explosions, gunfire, and one very unfortunate Golden Gate Bridge.</p><p style="">I'll admit it's a pretty exciting trailer as far as pure spectacle goes. But the more I watch it, the more questions I have about Advanced Warfare. It's not exactly a teaser trailer, but as a longtime Call of Duty player, I can't help but look at this footage within the context of the overall series. Here's what I've been asking myself for the past few days...</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418631" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418631/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><h3><b>How often can we use that cool tech?</b></h3><p style="">The Advanced Warfare trailer is absolutely packed with sci-fi gadgetry. Throughout these brief snippets of gameplay you see characters using invisibility cloaks, wall-climbing gloves, hoverbikes, and exo suits that provide some truly impressive leaping abilities. And that's just the stuff that I actually understand. (Were those...infrared grenades?)</p><p style="">There's a lot of stuff there--a collection of tech that looks poised to add some much-needed diversity to the series' trademark run-and-gun gameplay. But will those gadgets be a consistent part of your arsenal, or specific moments in a campaign that maintains strict control over when and where you're allowed to use them?</p><p style="">See, Call of Duty has this little habit of giving you access to fun toys, but only for a few fleeting moments. Remember the wing suit in <a href="/call-of-duty-black-ops-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Black Ops II</a>? That was pretty fun! For the one level you had access to it. Even the canine companion in <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Ghosts</a> made for an interesting change of pace up until the point the game forgot he existed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522997" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522997"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Sure, that roller coaster of unpredictability has always been a hallmark of Call of Duty campaigns. But there are ways to maintain the excitement of a blockbuster action movie while giving players access to a broader selection of tools and weapons. I'd love to see all that tech from the trailer generously interspersed throughout the campaign, resulting in myriad options for how to approach each battle instead of using wall-climbing gloves because you happen to be in the wall-climbing glove level.</p><p style="">Considering how well established the Call of Duty formula is, that might be asking for a lot. This has never been a weapon wheel kind of shooter, one of those games where you can carry a small military's worth of supplies at any given moment. But if the 11th game in a series isn't the right time for reinvention, I don't know what is.</p><h3><b>Will Kevin Spacey be a memorable villain?</b></h3><p style="">One thing the Call of Duty franchise has always lacked is a memorable villain. Sure, the <a href="/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3/" data-ref-id="false">Modern Warfare</a> games had Makarov, and he was a pretty awful guy. But I can't for the life of me recall a single character detail about him. I think he was in Spetsnaz? Then again, he was a Russian video game character and <i>every</i> Russian video game character was in Spetsnaz at one point or another. How do you think Zangief learned all those sick moves?</p><p style="">Then there was Black Ops II, which was probably the clearest example of a Call of Duty game trying to establish a villain's motivations. Treyarch did a commendable job explaining why Raul Menendez turned into such a villainous creature, but once he crossed that threshold, there wasn't much to him as a character as the story progressed. Like Makarov, Menendez was perfectly functional as a catalyst for the overall plot and a means to explain why you're being thrown into one crazy situation after the next. But how often have you thought about these characters once you finished those campaigns?</p><p style="">That's precisely why I'm so intrigued by the appearance of Kevin Spacey. Anyone who has seen Spacey's recent work on <i>House of Cards</i> knows that he's got a knack for playing the scheming, power-hungry tyrant. But more importantly, Spacey is an actor who can chew up the scenery and leave a lasting impression in the viewers' minds.</p><p style="">Will that translate into a video game where (A) Spacey's likeness has been filtered through the nascent art of computerized performance capture, and (B) the vast majority of screen time will be spent not on him, but on the player dispensing enough bullet shells to fill the entirety of the Grand Canyon?</p><p style="">I just hope there's a scene of him eating ribs.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522998" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522998"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><h3><b>What will Sledgehammer's contribution to the series be?</b></h3><p style="">Remember when Treyarch was considered the Call of Duty B team? The studio that Activision had filling those off years when Infinity Ward was busy working on its next entry in the series? Well, a lot has changed since <a href="/call-of-duty-3-working-title/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 3</a>.</p><p style="">Treyarch has now established itself as a studio capable of making some truly great shooters, serving as the experimental yin to Infinity Ward's more predictable yang. While Infinity Ward was wrapping up the Modern Warfare trilogy, Treyarch was throwing all kinds of crazy new ingredients into the pot.</p><p style=""><a href="/call-of-duty-black-ops/" data-ref-id="false">Black Ops</a> introduced the COD points system that reshuffled the way new equipment was unlocked in multiplayer, and its sequel brought in those strike force missions that almost felt like a tactical strategy game. Oh, and let's not forget the plot that spanned four decades while simultaneously introducing branching story decisions. You can certainly argue how well those additions worked out, but it's hard to make the case that Treyarch hasn't been willing to mix things up.</p><p style="">Now we have Sledgehammer Games, the third major studio in Activision's stable of Call of Duty teams. How will Sledgehammer shape its own identity apart from Treyarch and Infinity Ward? Will there ever be a point when we play a Call of Duty game and think, that's <i>so</i> Sledgehammer? In other words, can it pull a Treyarch?</p><p style="">Maybe that will happen right out of the gate with Advanced Warfare, but more likely than not it will take a couple of games before Sledgehammer carves out its own niche within this trio of teams. Maybe it will be the studio that broadens the series' rigid shooter formula with all those gadgets, or perhaps it will be the studio that focuses on characters and narrative, beginning with the performance of Kevin Spacey in Advanced Warfare.</p><p style="">Yes, those are pretty huge maybes. But hopefully we'll get some answers to these questions when the Electronic Entertainment Expo rolls around next month. Until then, we'll have to wait and see.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Wed, 07 May 2014 15:43:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/three-big-questions-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-needs-to-answer/1100-6419492/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-gameplay-the-shaun-me/2300-6418701/ Shaun jetpacks to the Big Spread Ranch and tries to court some ladies of the night, if he could only put his chainsaw away. Wed, 07 May 2014 15:29:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-gameplay-the-shaun-me/2300-6418701/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/borderlands-2-vita-gameplay-bullymong-challenge/2300-6418700/ Sir Hammerlock sends Maya on her first mission in some direct-feed PS Vita gameplay of Borderlands 2. Wed, 07 May 2014 14:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/borderlands-2-vita-gameplay-bullymong-challenge/2300-6418700/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-pokemon-omega-ruby-and-alpha-sapphi/2300-6418698/ The next Pokemon games will re-create the Game Boy Advance titles Ruby and Sapphire with a "spectacular new world." Wed, 07 May 2014 14:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-pokemon-omega-ruby-and-alpha-sapphi/2300-6418698/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-battlefront-2-s-online-support-to-continue-after-server-shutdown/1100-6419495/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525511" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525511"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/star-wars-battlefront-ii/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/star-wars-battlefront-ii/">Star Wars: Battlefront II</a> is on the increasingly long list of games that will be affected by the GameSpy server shutdown at the end of May. Fortunately, it's also among the games that will continue to be playable online anyway thanks to a third-party service.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-1-pc-s-online-multiplayer-will-survive-despite-gamespy-shutdown/1100-6419388/" data-ref-id="1100-6419388" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-1-pc-s-online-multiplayer-will-survive-despite-gamespy-shutdown/1100-6419388/">As with Halo: Combat Evolved</a>, third-party online service GameRanger has come to save the day for fans of Battlefront II's online multiplayer. GameRanger creator Scott Kevill has confirmed on <a href="https://pay.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/24tocf/star_wars_battlefront_2_will_be_losing_its_online/chavbwq?context=3" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="https://pay.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/24tocf/star_wars_battlefront_2_will_be_losing_its_online/chavbwq?context=3">Reddit</a> that Battlefront II, which was already supported by GameRanger, will continue to be playable even after GameSpy goes offline. "People are already playing it just fine on GameRanger," he wrote, "and will continue to after May 31. (I've already simulated it with GameSpy blocked and cut-off.)"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is especially good news for gamers who only just picked up the game recently as part of a Steam sale on <em>Star Wars</em> games. Battlefront II was apparently such a big seller that Steam ran out of CD keys, as a message on the game's <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/6060/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/6060/">Steam page</a> reads, "We are currently out of keys for this title. We've requested more from the publisher and will have those soon. Should you purchase this title, your key will be delivered as soon as we receive it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Steam page also offers up a brief statement informing owners and potential buyers of the game that multiplayer will no longer be available through any official means. "As of May 31, 2014, online functionality, including network multiplayer and wireless chat, will no longer be available for this title," reads the game page. "We regret any disappointment as a result of the shutdown of the services supporting these online features."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Of course, that's not actually the case for those who opt to use <a href="http://www.gameranger.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.gameranger.com/">GameRanger</a>, which allows gamers to host their own servers for a wide range of computer games, including some being affected by the GameSpy shutdown.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Unfortunately, GameRanger's services don't also extend to consoles, as the GameSpy shutdown's effect isn't limited to PC games. <a href="/borderlands/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/borderlands/">Borderlands</a> and <a href="/sid-meiers-civilization-revolution/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/sid-meiers-civilization-revolution/">Civilization Revolution</a> on the PlayStation 3 are among those <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-ps3-going-offline-next-month/1100-6419135/" data-ref-id="1100-6419135" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-ps3-going-offline-next-month/1100-6419135/">going offline</a>, although in the case of certain games (including those two), developers have indicated they hope to get them back online.</p><p style="">A new <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/">Star Wars: Battlefront</a> is currently in development at Battlefield maker DICE. Electronic Arts said yesterday it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/" data-ref-id="1100-6419470" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/">plans to show the game off at this year's E3</a> in June.</p><table data-max-width="true" class="mceItemTable"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""><br /></p> Wed, 07 May 2014 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-battlefront-2-s-online-support-to-continue-after-server-shutdown/1100-6419495/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-shares-rising-fast-after-earnings-report/1100-6419485/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525233" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525233"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">[UPDATE] EA's share value is still growing. At press time, shares are trading up <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AEA&ei=ipZqU4CIJ4XE6wHEhYDwAw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">more than 20 percent</a> to $33.95. </p><p style=""><em><strong>The original story is below.</strong></em></p><p dir="ltr" style="">One day after Electronic Arts reported <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-claims-it-s-top-next-gen-game-publisher-in-the-west-as-profits-increase/1100-6419466/" data-ref-id="1100-6419466">better-than-expected financial results for its latest quarter</a>, including revenue of $1.12 billion a profit of $367 million, the company's share value is <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:EA&ei=o0tqU9DtNMOaqQHJhYHQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">climbing at a significant clip</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Right now, EA shares are up more than 16 percent to $32.63 from their closing price yesterday of $28.05. That's a gain of more than $4.50 per share. Analysts for brokerage firms Sterne Agee and Cowen & Company said through investor notes today that EA's results for the quarter were ahead of expectations.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">EA's current share value is the highest its been since 2008. Shares have been <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&chdv=1&chvs=maximized&chdeh=0&chfdeh=0&chdet=1399492800000&chddm=34017&chls=IntervalBasedLine&q=NASDAQ%3AEA&&ei=WFNqU9iUNcjDrQG-u4DQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">trending generally upward so far in 2014</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Looking ahead, EA has a number of marquee titles on its hands for the fall season, including <a href="/dragon-age-inquisition/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Age: Inquisition</a>, <a href="/the-sims-4/" data-ref-id="false">The Sims 4</a>, and a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-will-announce-a-major-frostbite-3-game-at-e3-what-do-you-think-it-is/1100-6419476/" data-ref-id="1100-6419476">"major" Frostbite 3-powered game</a> that will be announced at E3. EA plans to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-will-announce-a-major-frostbite-3-game-at-e3-what-do-you-think-it-is/1100-6419476/" data-ref-id="1100-6419476">show off six new games</a> during its press conference at the show next month. <a href="/star-wars-battlefront/" data-ref-id="false">Star Wars: Battlefront</a>, from Battlefield developer DICE, will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/" data-ref-id="1100-6419470">also be on-hand during the presentation</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> Wed, 07 May 2014 13:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-shares-rising-fast-after-earnings-report/1100-6419485/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-s-total-number-of-cars-revealed-plus-members-get-10-discount/1100-6419494/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525469" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525469"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">After its recent announcement regarding how much <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-s-what-driveclub-s-free-playstation-plus-edition-includes/1100-6419359/" data-ref-id="1100-6419359">content the free Plus Edition contains</a>, <a href="/driveclub/" data-ref-id="false">Driveclub</a> developer Evolution Studios has now revealed the number of cars and tracks found in the full game, as well as the discount Plus members will be entitled to on it.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Evolution has previously described the Plus Edition as "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-racer-driveclub-is-super-accessible-but-also-deep/1100-6419299/" data-ref-id="1100-6419299">feature-complete</a>," limited only by the number of tracks and cars players have access to. We now know those numbers--10 cars, 11 tracks, and one location (India)--are roughly a fifth of what's in the full game, which contains 50 cars, 55 tracks, five locations, and 50 tour events, according to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/05/07/driveclub-playstation-plus-edition-details-2/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation Blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The standard edition will be sold at retail and on the PlayStation Store, as you'd expect it to be. Alternatively, Plus members can elect to upgrade from the Plus Edition to a digital version of the full game for $49.99 (a $10 discount). Evolution said last year it intended to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-ps-plus-edition-will-offer-discounted-upgrade/1100-6413950/" data-ref-id="1100-6413950">offer Plus members a discount</a> when it launched, but after being repeatedly <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-delayed-to-early-2014-sony-confirms/1100-6415646/" data-ref-id="1100-6415646">delayed</a>, it became unclear if one was still planned</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's important to note that Plus members who take advantage of the discount will only have access to the full game's content "as long as your PlayStation Plus subscription remains active." It's possible this means that, if your Plus membership expires, you'll be asked to pay an additional fee to get unrestricted access, but that is currently unclear. (Even game director Paul Rustchynsky <a href="https://twitter.com/Rushy33/status/464126059496353792" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">doesn't seem to know</a>.) GameSpot has reached out to Sony for clarification.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Following a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-racer-driveclub-delayed-again-but-gets-a-new-director/1100-6419279/" data-ref-id="1100-6419279">delay last month</a>, Driveclub is now set for release on October 7 exclusively on the PlayStation 4. It will run in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/1080p-30fps-for-ps4-game-driveclub-is-absolutely-the-best-thing/1100-6419324/" data-ref-id="1100-6419324">1080p at 30fps</a> and has been <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-racer-driveclub-is-super-accessible-but-also-deep/1100-6419299/" data-ref-id="1100-6419299">described by Rustchynsky</a> as "super-accessible, but also deep."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Wed, 07 May 2014 12:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-s-total-number-of-cars-revealed-plus-members-get-10-discount/1100-6419494/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-sidecars-bars-and-musi/2300-6418696/ A couple of moments with Conway on the open road. Wed, 07 May 2014 12:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-sidecars-bars-and-musi/2300-6418696/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-dev-s-profits-are-up-but-shares-are-falling-fast/1100-6419493/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525470" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525470"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Candy Crush developer King today reported earnings for its first quarter ended March 31, showing big gains for profit, player engagement, and monetization. But it wasn't all good news for the social game studio. Wall Street isn't thrilled, as the company's shares are <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=KING&ei=o0tqU9DtNMOaqQHJhYHQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">currently down more than 15 percent</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">For the quarter, King posted a profit of $127 million, an increase of $75 million (142 percent) year-over-year. Daily active users rose to 143 million for the quarter, up by 107 million (297 percent) compared to last year. Compared to last quarter, daily active users are up 19 million. Monthly active users are on the rise as well, jumping 249 percent to 481 million year-over-year and 18 percent compared to last quarter.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Not only are player numbers on the rise, but the amount of money people are spending is also going up. Monthly Unique Payers in the first quarter were 11.9 million, an increase of 190 percent compared to last year. However, this is a decrease from last quarter, when Monthly Unique Payers stood at 12.2 million. Monthly Gross Average Bookings per Paying User rose to $18.02 in the quarter, up 13 percent ($2.10) from last year and up 4 percent from last quarter. Overall, King generated record quarterly bookings of $480 million.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style="">"We are pleased with our first quarter 2014 results and are executing on our plan to build a strong portfolio of games," King CEO Riccardo Zacconi said in a statement.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Three King titles were in the top 10 grossing games for iTunes, Google Play, and Facebook during the quarter, though these were not specified. King also pointed out that it's not just Candy Crush Saga that's boosting the company's bottom line. The company says games other than Candy Crush Saga rose by 33 percent in terms of revenue during the quarter.</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> Wed, 07 May 2014 12:27:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-dev-s-profits-are-up-but-shares-are-falling-fast/1100-6419493/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Wed, 07 May 2014 21:38:26 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-to-integrate-skylanders-like-figurines-with-wii-u-and-3ds/1100-6419497/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525617" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525617"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/280/2802776/2525617-nfp.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">Nintendo will be integrating Skylanders-like figurine business named NFP-nfc, the company <a href="http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/events/140508/04.html" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">announced at its fiscal meeting today</a>.</p><p style="">Analyst Dave Gibson was present and live-tweeted the event, stating that <a href="https://twitter.com/gibbogame/status/464215580199772160" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Nintendo demonstrated the Mario figure across many games "including saves"</a>.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525620" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525620"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/280/2802776/2525620-nfc+3ds.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><span>Gibson also </span><a href="https://twitter.com/gibbogame/status/464216071675727872" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">tweeted </a><span>that Nintendo would be showcasing the Nintendo Figurine Platform (NFP) game and figures at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. The 3DS will also reportedly be getting an infrared reader so that the figures will be able to be used across the Wii U and 3DS.</span></p><p style="">The intergration of figures into games has been featured most recently in the Skylanders series, published by Activision. Disney has released its own take on the figurine game, launching Disney Infinity last summer and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/disney-infinity-has-sold-3-million-starter-packs-since-launch/1100-6417220/" data-ref-id="1100-6417220">selling more than 3 million $75 starter packs to date</a>.</p><p style="">Yesterday Nintendo posted its report for the fiscal year ending March 31, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-sales-slow-to-a-crawl-as-nintendo-posts-457-million-loss/1100-6419475/" data-ref-id="1100-6419475">revealing a loss of 46.4 billion yen ($457 million)</a>. The Wii U console has sold 2.72 million units in the last 12 months.</p><p style="">Do you think Nintendo should be investing into figurine games? Let us know in the comments below.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Zorine Te is an associate editor at GameSpot, and you can follow her on <a href="https://twitter.com/ztharli" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @ztharli</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><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Wed, 07 May 2014 18:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-to-integrate-skylanders-like-figurines-with-wii-u-and-3ds/1100-6419497/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-review/1900-6415756/ <p style="">We all have quests. It's why the story of the hero's journey, in all its many forms, has resonated with humanity for as long as people have been sitting around campfires and telling stories. Nobody gets it easy in this life. We all face obstacles and setbacks. We all, at one time or another, go looking for something, whether it's a place to call home, a fulfilling career, or a love to call our own. The antiques delivery driver Conway is looking for an address on Dogwood Drive, and the only way he can get there is by finding the elusive highway known as the Zero. Conway is the unconventional hero figure at the center of the very unconventional quest that is Kentucky Route Zero, and in its third act, this journey into parts unknown becomes an utterly captivating work of uncompromised artistic vision.</p><p style="">Act III of Kentucky Route Zero begins with a flashback, a conversation between Conway and Lysette, the woman he delivers antiques for. Their conversation recalls an old tragedy that clearly haunts Conway, and establishes memory and loss as themes that run throughout the act; characters frequently talk about the ways in which they've been shaped by moments in the past, and those moments sometimes intrude on the present. Conway's quest isn't realistic, but the hearts and minds of the characters, people who are as damaged and hopeful and dedicated as any of us, give you something to stay latched on to even when Kentucky Route Zero's narrative leaves logic behind and detours into the realm of dreams.</p><div data-height="100%" data-width="100%" data-ref-id="2300-6418696" data-embed-type="video"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418696/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">And even at its most dreamlike, Kentucky Route Zero remains deeply concerned with very real, concrete matters. Characters are crushed by debt. They are forced into difficult situations by massive corporations that don't care at all about the struggles of individuals, only about their own profits. Kentucky Route Zero is a lyrical game that is very much about life in America today. Modern America can be a disorienting place in which the way forward isn't always clear for ordinary people, and in Kentucky Route Zero, as you search for the titular highway Conway needs to find in order to make what will be the last delivery in the history of Lysette's Antiques (the end of another small business in America), you're told to scan radio stations until you find something familiar yet strange, and then drive until the station cuts out. Life in contemporary America feels familiar yet strange to a lot of people, and the America of Kentucky Route Zero will feel familiar yet strange to anyone who has spent time on its highways, passing through its small towns.</p><p style="">Kentucky Route Zero has always challenged traditional notions of player control and choice. You don't play as any one character--you might be choosing dialogue options for Conway one moment, and then choosing the tone an unheard voice on the telephone is using the next. Your role is not that of a traditional player in a traditional adventure game; it's something closer to that of a collaborator. This approach is manifested most powerfully in one unforgettable scene at a small-town bar. In Act III, Conway and company meet up with a pair of young musicians, Junebug and Johnny, who drag them to a gig at a bar called The Lower Depths. When Junebug and Johnny take the stage, something incredible happens. The roof flies away to reveal the moon and stars, and your choices influence the words of the hauntingly beautiful song that Junebug sings. It's a transcendent moment in which the beauty that always quivers under the surface of Kentucky Route Zero bursts forth, transporting the characters, and you, to someplace truly magical.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2525584" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525584"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2525584-2014-05-06_00035.jpg"></a><figcaption>When you see the horses, you know you're on the right track.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Conway's journey is always taking you to new and unexpected places--recall <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/kentucky-route-zero-act-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Act II</a>'s forest where time and space functioned in unusual ways and a bluegrass band provided soulful accompaniment to your explorations. Places like this give the entire journey a feeling of true discovery, and in Act III, Kentucky Route Zero ventures so boldly beyond our expectations that it achieves a special kind of greatness. There are worlds within worlds in Kentucky Route Zero--literal worlds under the surface, virtual worlds in dusty old computers, and worlds of memory locked away in the troubled hearts of its characters. Toward the end of Act III, you explore the virtual realm that exists in the consciousness of a moldy old machine called Xanadu--you're exploring a world in a computer while exploring a world in a computer, and just as the world of Xanadu has connections to the reality of Conway and his companions, Kentucky Route Zero has very real things to say about our world and our lives.</p><p style="">The game's meanings aren't simple, its logic not straightforward. It is, in its own way, as dreamlike as a typical Haruki Murakami novel, and every bit as captivating. Like Murakami's work, it can take on a life of its own in your own mind because it operates according to rules that belong more to the subconscious than to the conscious, effortlessly blending the concrete and the magical. Kentucky Route Zero is not, in any sense, a typical adventure game. It's an incredible one.</p> Wed, 07 May 2014 17:31:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-review/1900-6415756/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gaming-highlights-from-1984/1100-6419436/ <p dir="ltr" style="">Turn back the clock 30 years to 1984. Ronald Reagan was reelected into his second term as president of the United States, the United Kingdom signed an agreement to transfer ownership of Hong Kong back to China, and Mark Zuckerburg, the founder of Facebook, was born.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Those events, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">many more</a>, made a lasting impact on society for the decades that followed, but 1984 was also a hallmark year for video games. A major hardware manufacturer found itself backed into a corner, while another introduced a console that would forever change the shape of the North American video game industry.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's a look at the major events in video gaming that took place 30 years ago, in 1984.</p><h3 dir="ltr">Atari announces the Atari 7800, sells out to Commodore</h3><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525232" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525232"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1406/14063904/2525232-atari7800.jpg"></a><figcaption>The Atari 7800 was eventually delayed until 1986.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Atari unveiled the Atari 7800 console in 1984, as a follow-up to the failed Atari 5200. The 5200 launched just prior to the North American <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_video_game_crash_of_1983" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">video game crash</a> in 1983, which saw an oversaturated gaming market decimate Atari's market valuation by almost two-thirds. Unfortunately for Atari, it would be forced into a buyout by one of its competitors, Commodore, in 1984. As a result, the Atari 7800 was delayed until 1986. A total of 59 games were released for the 7800 before the system was discontinued in 1991.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><h3>Nintendo teases its NES prototype, the Advanced Video System</h3><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525238" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525238"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1406/14063904/2525238-avs.jpg"></a><figcaption>The AVS was eventually released as the NES in '85.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Nintendo found its footing in North America in the arcades, like many video game publishers of the day. It would eventually break into the home market with the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, but roughly a year earlier, it revealed its breakthrough console as the Nintendo Advanced Video System during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. When the system was eventually released as the NES, Nintendo omitted accessories such as the keyboard and the data storage unit.</p><h2 dir="ltr"> </h2><p style=""> </p><h3>Alexey Pajitnov creates the legendary puzzle game, Tetris</h3><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png" data-ref-id="1300-2524822" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png" data-ref-id="1300-2524822"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1406/14063904/2524822-tetrisfirst.png"></a><figcaption>A screenshot of the first version of Tetris, running on the Soviet Electronika 60 computer.4</figcaption></figure><p style="">The legendary game Tetris was created by researcher Alexey Pajitnov on an Electronika 60 computer while he was employed at the Soviet Academy of Sciences of the USSR. It's one of the most widely played video game in history, having landed on nearly every platform and operating system since its inception. Its success and worldwide appeal inspired some developers to create inventive interpretations of Tetris' simple yet challenging puzzle mechanic, including <a href="/tetrisphere/" data-ref-id="false">Tetrisphere</a>, <a href="/welltris/" data-ref-id="false">Welltris</a>, and <a href="/tetris-64/" data-ref-id="false">Tetris 64</a>, which featured a mode called Bio Tetris that altered the game's speed based on your heart rate, which was recorded via a biometric ear clip.</p><h3>Space simulation games blast off with Elite</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuvbZpH1QuE" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FAuvbZpH1QuE%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAuvbZpH1QuE&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FAuvbZpH1QuE%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><a href="/elite/" data-ref-id="false">Elite</a> is one of the earliest space sims, but it's still regarded as one of the best examples of the genre. The co-founder of CCP games, Thorolfur Beck Kristjansson, <a href="http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/features/interviews/eve.shtml" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">cites</a> it as the primary influence in creating the successful massively multiplayer online role-playing game <a href="/eve-online/" data-ref-id="false">EVE Online</a>. The Elite series is currently making a comeback in the crowd-funded <a href="/elite-dangerous/" data-ref-id="false">Elite Dangerous</a>, which is in beta.</p><h3>Namco debuts the life bar in Dragon Buster</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIAU4EYfGXM" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FOIAU4EYfGXM%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOIAU4EYfGXM&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FOIAU4EYfGXM%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""><a href="/dragon-buster/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Buster</a> may not be familiar to a lot of people, but it's notable for being the first game to feature a life bar, which has become a mainstay feature of modern games.</p><h3>Atari releases Paperboy, makes delivering newspapers fun</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5a0hQPsprM" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fk5a0hQPsprM%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dk5a0hQPsprM&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fk5a0hQPsprM%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Newspaper delivery may not sound like the most compelling model for an arcade game, but Paperboy was popular enough to justify a sequel, and was subsequently ported to nearly 20 platforms, including iOS and the Xbox 360.</p><h3>King's Quest jump starts an adventure game renaissance</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0TLhR51uGY" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fr0TLhR51uGY%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dr0TLhR51uGY&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fr0TLhR51uGY%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Sierra Entertainment is known for creating numerous PC adventure games in the '80s and '90s, but its reign began with the success of <a href="/kings-quest-quest-for-the-crown/" data-ref-id="false">King's Quest: Quest for the Crown</a> in 1984.</p><h3>Current president of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, gets his first break</h3><div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JMY2dMnK_E" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F4JMY2dMnK_E%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D4JMY2dMnK_E&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F4JMY2dMnK_E%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Balloon Fight is responsible for launching the career of Nintendo's current president and CEO, the affable Satoru Iwata, who is credited as a programmer on the game.</p><h4><em>What do you remember about gaming in 1984? Let us know in the comments below.</em></h4> Wed, 07 May 2014 16:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gaming-highlights-from-1984/1100-6419436/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-of-tanks-updated-review/1900-6415755/ <p style="">Odds are my latest tank--just like the one before it--is going to wind up a smoldering heap on some artillery-pockmarked hillside alongside the decimated husks of friend and foe alike. I've already accepted my fate well before the first echoes of cannon fire thunder across the countryside. Still, that doesn't stop my mind from racing with excitement over the strategic possibilities and crazy armored showdowns ahead as I prep for battle in this tank-centric strategic multiplayer shooter. That's because the deeper you delve into it, the more World of Tanks grows into a delightful playground of deadly rolling metal and military might.</p><p style="">The original PC version of World of Tanks has evolved and grown quite a bit in the three years since it first launched, with a sweeping array of updated visual flourishes, fresh battlegrounds, and lots of extra tanks added to the pile. While this steady drip of enticing new content goes a long way toward keeping longer-time players in the fight, it's the strong foundation that's most important. It's easy to imagine armored-warfare history buffs salivating over the attention to detail found throughout the game design. From the authentic look of each tank model to the way each one functions and handles on the battlefield, the little details are meticulous. What's cool, however, is that World of Tanks is anything but stuffy and overcomplicated. Grabbing your first tank and rolling into battle is effortless, and a streamlined control scheme allows for lots of maneuverability without bogging you down in an overabundance of commands. In essence, you drive, aim, and shoot. It's simple, though the tactical nuances of battle run far deeper than that, and this accessibility carries over into the flow of combat.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418703" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418703/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p style="">World of Tank's 15-on-15 matches are often epic in scope but short and explosive once munitions start flying. It's not long before skirmishes erupt at key choke points along each map, as the front lines clash and pave the way for the artillery duels and heavily armored pushes not far behind. Getting blown up sidelines you to watch the battle unfold as a spectator, though you can jump out of the match and start a new one with a different tank too. This staggered approach to matches keeps you close to the action, and each encounter is as thrilling as the last.</p><p style="">Players who are interested in venturing down deep in the rabbit hole of munition types, armor possibilities, and crewmember training will find that these systems add interesting depth to the combat. But they're just as easily left to the periphery if your focus is on the action and strategizing on the fly. With an emphasis on victory through killing or capture, battles rarely bump up against the 15-minute time limit anyway. Sweeping wins are as common as narrow ones, however, thanks to good matchmaking that balances the types and levels of tanks in each conflict. A few of my favorite wins even boiled down to last-tank-standing affairs, which is an intense way to win the battle for your team. Losses can be spectacular fun too, like that priceless moment I drove my damaged Panzer full speed off a cliff and came crashing down onto an enemy tank below, destroying us both in the process.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525377" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525377"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/416/4161502/2525377-wot2.png"></a><figcaption>Incoming pew-pew at every o'clock!</figcaption></figure><p style="">Tank variety is one of the biggest draws here, because gaining experience from each match lets you gradually upgrade the tanks in your garage to boost their effectiveness. The massive tree of unlockable vehicles you can get access to is impressive in its breadth and variety. With several hundred tanks across 10 tiers and seven different countries, there's a ridiculous amount of armor on parade here. Light, medium, and heavy tank types offer a nice range of assault strategies and capabilities to pick from, but a slew of artillery units and self-propelled "tank killers" round out the great mix.</p><p style="">Equally impressive is the wide range of battlefields you fight across, which are large, numerous, and detailed. Matches unfold across sprawling vistas that run the gamut from gorgeous countrysides and mountain terrain to cramped urban industrial settings and windswept deserts. The terrain itself also plays a huge role in how you approach each encounter, and it's a lot of fun to test out different vehicles in different locations. Maps are well designed with cover, structures, hills, choke points, and lots of other elements that have a major impact on the flow of battle and what tactics you have to use.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="left"><p style="">It's not long before skirmishes erupt at key choke points along each map, as the front lines clash and pave the way for the artillery duels and heavily armored pushes not far behind.</p></blockquote><p style="">Gaining access to new tanks and maps, however, is a slow and often grindy process. The grind itself isn't always a bad thing, because upgrading and unlocking tanks is a substantive reward for your efforts on the battlefield. The better you do, the more experience you gain with a given tank to upgrade its components, which in turn grants access to higher tiers of vehicles. When you do make progress, it's very satisfying. The problem is that it can be quite a slow affair until you get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of certain tanks and how to best use them. Getting blown up a lot before you can do damage and earn points can put the brakes on your upgrading groove in a hurry. Slowness aside, it's an important system that adds incentive to keep playing hundreds of matches. I'm drawn to the grind, because it has pushed me to improve my prowess in battle. Matches are fun on their own, but the quest to constantly work toward more powerful and varied tanks is a vital component to World of Tanks' ability to lure you back for another round of explosions. If you're not in any rush to the top, then the measured progression is far less of an issue.</p><p style="">It's good that spending real-world money isn't necessary to have a blast with World of Tanks. Earning experience naturally in battle lets you unlock new gear and tank tiers, while spending in-game silver coin adds them to your roster. Premium gold lets you buy everything from additional space in your garage and temporary experience boosts to bonus tanks, but buying the higher-end kit isn't cheap. If you're not hell-bent on unlocking the exclusive tanks--which are reasonably powerful but are still balanced and can't be upgraded--you can get by without digging too deep into your pockets.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525379" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png" data-ref-id="1300-2525379"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/416/4161502/2525379-wot3.png"></a><figcaption>That's some real heavy metal.</figcaption></figure><p style="">World of Tanks is a slick-looking game with a ridiculous amount of great content to back up its accessible tank-on-tank combat. Recent graphical updates and new additions add to the experience in excellent ways. Making progress in unlocking the massive range of vehicles can be slow going, but the thrill of strategic battles well fought and the eventual rewards for your hard efforts steamroll the sluggish moments into the dirt.</p> Wed, 07 May 2014 16:18:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-of-tanks-updated-review/1900-6415755/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-xbox-one-sans-kinect-may-outsell-ps4-new-3/2300-6418702/ Nintendo posts a $457 million loss, a research firm thinks that Xbox Ones without Kinect could outsell the PS4, and Pokémon Ruby is getting remade! Wed, 07 May 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-xbox-one-sans-kinect-may-outsell-ps4-new-3/2300-6418702/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gameplay-world-of-tanks/2300-6418703/ The free-to-play strategic game World of Tanks continues to get updated graphics, maps, modes and features. Wed, 07 May 2014 15:54:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gameplay-world-of-tanks/2300-6418703/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/three-big-questions-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-needs-to-answer/1100-6419492/ <p style="">By this point, you've probably seen the announcement trailer for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. If you haven't, allow me to paint a picture: Kevin Spacey is a futuristic business tycoon who enjoys launching into extended soliloquies about the viability of imposed democracy, and interspersed between his political musings are a number of scenes involving explosions, gunfire, and one very unfortunate Golden Gate Bridge.</p><p style="">I'll admit it's a pretty exciting trailer as far as pure spectacle goes. But the more I watch it, the more questions I have about Advanced Warfare. It's not exactly a teaser trailer, but as a longtime Call of Duty player, I can't help but look at this footage within the context of the overall series. Here's what I've been asking myself for the past few days...</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418631" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418631/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><h3><b>How often can we use that cool tech?</b></h3><p style="">The Advanced Warfare trailer is absolutely packed with sci-fi gadgetry. Throughout these brief snippets of gameplay you see characters using invisibility cloaks, wall-climbing gloves, hoverbikes, and exo suits that provide some truly impressive leaping abilities. And that's just the stuff that I actually understand. (Were those...infrared grenades?)</p><p style="">There's a lot of stuff there--a collection of tech that looks poised to add some much-needed diversity to the series' trademark run-and-gun gameplay. But will those gadgets be a consistent part of your arsenal, or specific moments in a campaign that maintains strict control over when and where you're allowed to use them?</p><p style="">See, Call of Duty has this little habit of giving you access to fun toys, but only for a few fleeting moments. Remember the wing suit in <a href="/call-of-duty-black-ops-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Black Ops II</a>? That was pretty fun! For the one level you had access to it. Even the canine companion in <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Ghosts</a> made for an interesting change of pace up until the point the game forgot he existed.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522997" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522997"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/536/5360430/2522997-10259130_700329616695432_3653449287122842329_o.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Sure, that roller coaster of unpredictability has always been a hallmark of Call of Duty campaigns. But there are ways to maintain the excitement of a blockbuster action movie while giving players access to a broader selection of tools and weapons. I'd love to see all that tech from the trailer generously interspersed throughout the campaign, resulting in myriad options for how to approach each battle instead of using wall-climbing gloves because you happen to be in the wall-climbing glove level.</p><p style="">Considering how well established the Call of Duty formula is, that might be asking for a lot. This has never been a weapon wheel kind of shooter, one of those games where you can carry a small military's worth of supplies at any given moment. But if the 11th game in a series isn't the right time for reinvention, I don't know what is.</p><h3><b>Will Kevin Spacey be a memorable villain?</b></h3><p style="">One thing the Call of Duty franchise has always lacked is a memorable villain. Sure, the <a href="/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-3/" data-ref-id="false">Modern Warfare</a> games had Makarov, and he was a pretty awful guy. But I can't for the life of me recall a single character detail about him. I think he was in Spetsnaz? Then again, he was a Russian video game character and <i>every</i> Russian video game character was in Spetsnaz at one point or another. How do you think Zangief learned all those sick moves?</p><p style="">Then there was Black Ops II, which was probably the clearest example of a Call of Duty game trying to establish a villain's motivations. Treyarch did a commendable job explaining why Raul Menendez turned into such a villainous creature, but once he crossed that threshold, there wasn't much to him as a character as the story progressed. Like Makarov, Menendez was perfectly functional as a catalyst for the overall plot and a means to explain why you're being thrown into one crazy situation after the next. But how often have you thought about these characters once you finished those campaigns?</p><p style="">That's precisely why I'm so intrigued by the appearance of Kevin Spacey. Anyone who has seen Spacey's recent work on <i>House of Cards</i> knows that he's got a knack for playing the scheming, power-hungry tyrant. But more importantly, Spacey is an actor who can chew up the scenery and leave a lasting impression in the viewers' minds.</p><p style="">Will that translate into a video game where (A) Spacey's likeness has been filtered through the nascent art of computerized performance capture, and (B) the vast majority of screen time will be spent not on him, but on the player dispensing enough bullet shells to fill the entirety of the Grand Canyon?</p><p style="">I just hope there's a scene of him eating ribs.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522998" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2522998"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2522998-10298334_700329690028758_7712115674594597657_o.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><h3><b>What will Sledgehammer's contribution to the series be?</b></h3><p style="">Remember when Treyarch was considered the Call of Duty B team? The studio that Activision had filling those off years when Infinity Ward was busy working on its next entry in the series? Well, a lot has changed since <a href="/call-of-duty-3-working-title/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty 3</a>.</p><p style="">Treyarch has now established itself as a studio capable of making some truly great shooters, serving as the experimental yin to Infinity Ward's more predictable yang. While Infinity Ward was wrapping up the Modern Warfare trilogy, Treyarch was throwing all kinds of crazy new ingredients into the pot.</p><p style=""><a href="/call-of-duty-black-ops/" data-ref-id="false">Black Ops</a> introduced the COD points system that reshuffled the way new equipment was unlocked in multiplayer, and its sequel brought in those strike force missions that almost felt like a tactical strategy game. Oh, and let's not forget the plot that spanned four decades while simultaneously introducing branching story decisions. You can certainly argue how well those additions worked out, but it's hard to make the case that Treyarch hasn't been willing to mix things up.</p><p style="">Now we have Sledgehammer Games, the third major studio in Activision's stable of Call of Duty teams. How will Sledgehammer shape its own identity apart from Treyarch and Infinity Ward? Will there ever be a point when we play a Call of Duty game and think, that's <i>so</i> Sledgehammer? In other words, can it pull a Treyarch?</p><p style="">Maybe that will happen right out of the gate with Advanced Warfare, but more likely than not it will take a couple of games before Sledgehammer carves out its own niche within this trio of teams. Maybe it will be the studio that broadens the series' rigid shooter formula with all those gadgets, or perhaps it will be the studio that focuses on characters and narrative, beginning with the performance of Kevin Spacey in Advanced Warfare.</p><p style="">Yes, those are pretty huge maybes. But hopefully we'll get some answers to these questions when the Electronic Entertainment Expo rolls around next month. Until then, we'll have to wait and see.</p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Wed, 07 May 2014 15:43:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/three-big-questions-call-of-duty-advanced-warfare-needs-to-answer/1100-6419492/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-gameplay-the-shaun-me/2300-6418701/ Shaun jetpacks to the Big Spread Ranch and tries to court some ladies of the night, if he could only put his chainsaw away. Wed, 07 May 2014 15:29:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/grand-theft-auto-san-andreas-gameplay-the-shaun-me/2300-6418701/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/borderlands-2-vita-gameplay-bullymong-challenge/2300-6418700/ Sir Hammerlock sends Maya on her first mission in some direct-feed PS Vita gameplay of Borderlands 2. Wed, 07 May 2014 14:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/borderlands-2-vita-gameplay-bullymong-challenge/2300-6418700/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-pokemon-omega-ruby-and-alpha-sapphi/2300-6418698/ The next Pokemon games will re-create the Game Boy Advance titles Ruby and Sapphire with a "spectacular new world." Wed, 07 May 2014 14:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-pokemon-omega-ruby-and-alpha-sapphi/2300-6418698/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-battlefront-2-s-online-support-to-continue-after-server-shutdown/1100-6419495/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525511" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525511"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2525511-battlefront2.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""><a href="/star-wars-battlefront-ii/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/star-wars-battlefront-ii/">Star Wars: Battlefront II</a> is on the increasingly long list of games that will be affected by the GameSpy server shutdown at the end of May. Fortunately, it's also among the games that will continue to be playable online anyway thanks to a third-party service.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-1-pc-s-online-multiplayer-will-survive-despite-gamespy-shutdown/1100-6419388/" data-ref-id="1100-6419388" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/halo-1-pc-s-online-multiplayer-will-survive-despite-gamespy-shutdown/1100-6419388/">As with Halo: Combat Evolved</a>, third-party online service GameRanger has come to save the day for fans of Battlefront II's online multiplayer. GameRanger creator Scott Kevill has confirmed on <a href="https://pay.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/24tocf/star_wars_battlefront_2_will_be_losing_its_online/chavbwq?context=3" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="https://pay.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/24tocf/star_wars_battlefront_2_will_be_losing_its_online/chavbwq?context=3">Reddit</a> that Battlefront II, which was already supported by GameRanger, will continue to be playable even after GameSpy goes offline. "People are already playing it just fine on GameRanger," he wrote, "and will continue to after May 31. (I've already simulated it with GameSpy blocked and cut-off.)"</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This is especially good news for gamers who only just picked up the game recently as part of a Steam sale on <em>Star Wars</em> games. Battlefront II was apparently such a big seller that Steam ran out of CD keys, as a message on the game's <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/6060/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/6060/">Steam page</a> reads, "We are currently out of keys for this title. We've requested more from the publisher and will have those soon. Should you purchase this title, your key will be delivered as soon as we receive it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Steam page also offers up a brief statement informing owners and potential buyers of the game that multiplayer will no longer be available through any official means. "As of May 31, 2014, online functionality, including network multiplayer and wireless chat, will no longer be available for this title," reads the game page. "We regret any disappointment as a result of the shutdown of the services supporting these online features."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Of course, that's not actually the case for those who opt to use <a href="http://www.gameranger.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.gameranger.com/">GameRanger</a>, which allows gamers to host their own servers for a wide range of computer games, including some being affected by the GameSpy shutdown.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Unfortunately, GameRanger's services don't also extend to consoles, as the GameSpy shutdown's effect isn't limited to PC games. <a href="/borderlands/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/borderlands/">Borderlands</a> and <a href="/sid-meiers-civilization-revolution/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/sid-meiers-civilization-revolution/">Civilization Revolution</a> on the PlayStation 3 are among those <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-ps3-going-offline-next-month/1100-6419135/" data-ref-id="1100-6419135" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/borderlands-ps3-going-offline-next-month/1100-6419135/">going offline</a>, although in the case of certain games (including those two), developers have indicated they hope to get them back online.</p><p style="">A new <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/">Star Wars: Battlefront</a> is currently in development at Battlefield maker DICE. Electronic Arts said yesterday it <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/" data-ref-id="1100-6419470" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/">plans to show the game off at this year's E3</a> in June.</p><table data-max-width="true" class="mceItemTable"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""><br /></p> Wed, 07 May 2014 13:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-wars-battlefront-2-s-online-support-to-continue-after-server-shutdown/1100-6419495/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-shares-rising-fast-after-earnings-report/1100-6419485/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525233" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525233"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2525233-eae3new.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">[UPDATE] EA's share value is still growing. At press time, shares are trading up <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AEA&ei=ipZqU4CIJ4XE6wHEhYDwAw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">more than 20 percent</a> to $33.95. </p><p style=""><em><strong>The original story is below.</strong></em></p><p dir="ltr" style="">One day after Electronic Arts reported <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-claims-it-s-top-next-gen-game-publisher-in-the-west-as-profits-increase/1100-6419466/" data-ref-id="1100-6419466">better-than-expected financial results for its latest quarter</a>, including revenue of $1.12 billion a profit of $367 million, the company's share value is <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:EA&ei=o0tqU9DtNMOaqQHJhYHQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">climbing at a significant clip</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Right now, EA shares are up more than 16 percent to $32.63 from their closing price yesterday of $28.05. That's a gain of more than $4.50 per share. Analysts for brokerage firms Sterne Agee and Cowen & Company said through investor notes today that EA's results for the quarter were ahead of expectations.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">EA's current share value is the highest its been since 2008. Shares have been <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&chdd=1&chds=1&chdv=1&chvs=maximized&chdeh=0&chfdeh=0&chdet=1399492800000&chddm=34017&chls=IntervalBasedLine&q=NASDAQ%3AEA&&ei=WFNqU9iUNcjDrQG-u4DQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">trending generally upward so far in 2014</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Looking ahead, EA has a number of marquee titles on its hands for the fall season, including <a href="/dragon-age-inquisition/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Age: Inquisition</a>, <a href="/the-sims-4/" data-ref-id="false">The Sims 4</a>, and a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-will-announce-a-major-frostbite-3-game-at-e3-what-do-you-think-it-is/1100-6419476/" data-ref-id="1100-6419476">"major" Frostbite 3-powered game</a> that will be announced at E3. EA plans to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-will-announce-a-major-frostbite-3-game-at-e3-what-do-you-think-it-is/1100-6419476/" data-ref-id="1100-6419476">show off six new games</a> during its press conference at the show next month. <a href="/star-wars-battlefront/" data-ref-id="false">Star Wars: Battlefront</a>, from Battlefield developer DICE, will <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-star-wars-battlefront-will-be-shown-at-e3/1100-6419470/" data-ref-id="1100-6419470">also be on-hand during the presentation</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> Wed, 07 May 2014 13:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-shares-rising-fast-after-earnings-report/1100-6419485/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-s-total-number-of-cars-revealed-plus-members-get-10-discount/1100-6419494/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525469" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525469"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/123/1239113/2525469-driveclub1.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">After its recent announcement regarding how much <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/here-s-what-driveclub-s-free-playstation-plus-edition-includes/1100-6419359/" data-ref-id="1100-6419359">content the free Plus Edition contains</a>, <a href="/driveclub/" data-ref-id="false">Driveclub</a> developer Evolution Studios has now revealed the number of cars and tracks found in the full game, as well as the discount Plus members will be entitled to on it.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Evolution has previously described the Plus Edition as "<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-racer-driveclub-is-super-accessible-but-also-deep/1100-6419299/" data-ref-id="1100-6419299">feature-complete</a>," limited only by the number of tracks and cars players have access to. We now know those numbers--10 cars, 11 tracks, and one location (India)--are roughly a fifth of what's in the full game, which contains 50 cars, 55 tracks, five locations, and 50 tour events, according to the <a href="http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/05/07/driveclub-playstation-plus-edition-details-2/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">PlayStation Blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The standard edition will be sold at retail and on the PlayStation Store, as you'd expect it to be. Alternatively, Plus members can elect to upgrade from the Plus Edition to a digital version of the full game for $49.99 (a $10 discount). Evolution said last year it intended to <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-ps-plus-edition-will-offer-discounted-upgrade/1100-6413950/" data-ref-id="1100-6413950">offer Plus members a discount</a> when it launched, but after being repeatedly <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-delayed-to-early-2014-sony-confirms/1100-6415646/" data-ref-id="1100-6415646">delayed</a>, it became unclear if one was still planned</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It's important to note that Plus members who take advantage of the discount will only have access to the full game's content "as long as your PlayStation Plus subscription remains active." It's possible this means that, if your Plus membership expires, you'll be asked to pay an additional fee to get unrestricted access, but that is currently unclear. (Even game director Paul Rustchynsky <a href="https://twitter.com/Rushy33/status/464126059496353792" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">doesn't seem to know</a>.) GameSpot has reached out to Sony for clarification.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Following a <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-exclusive-racer-driveclub-delayed-again-but-gets-a-new-director/1100-6419279/" data-ref-id="1100-6419279">delay last month</a>, Driveclub is now set for release on October 7 exclusively on the PlayStation 4. It will run in <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/1080p-30fps-for-ps4-game-driveclub-is-absolutely-the-best-thing/1100-6419324/" data-ref-id="1100-6419324">1080p at 30fps</a> and has been <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-racer-driveclub-is-super-accessible-but-also-deep/1100-6419299/" data-ref-id="1100-6419299">described by Rustchynsky</a> as "super-accessible, but also deep."</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSmokingManX" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @TheSmokingManX</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table> Wed, 07 May 2014 12:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/driveclub-s-total-number-of-cars-revealed-plus-members-get-10-discount/1100-6419494/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-sidecars-bars-and-musi/2300-6418696/ A couple of moments with Conway on the open road. Wed, 07 May 2014 12:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/kentucky-route-zero-act-iii-sidecars-bars-and-musi/2300-6418696/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-dev-s-profits-are-up-but-shares-are-falling-fast/1100-6419493/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525470" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2525470"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2525470-kingoffice.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Candy Crush developer King today reported earnings for its first quarter ended March 31, showing big gains for profit, player engagement, and monetization. But it wasn't all good news for the social game studio. Wall Street isn't thrilled, as the company's shares are <a href="https://www.google.com/finance?q=KING&ei=o0tqU9DtNMOaqQHJhYHQDw" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">currently down more than 15 percent</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">For the quarter, King posted a profit of $127 million, an increase of $75 million (142 percent) year-over-year. Daily active users rose to 143 million for the quarter, up by 107 million (297 percent) compared to last year. Compared to last quarter, daily active users are up 19 million. Monthly active users are on the rise as well, jumping 249 percent to 481 million year-over-year and 18 percent compared to last quarter.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Not only are player numbers on the rise, but the amount of money people are spending is also going up. Monthly Unique Payers in the first quarter were 11.9 million, an increase of 190 percent compared to last year. However, this is a decrease from last quarter, when Monthly Unique Payers stood at 12.2 million. Monthly Gross Average Bookings per Paying User rose to $18.02 in the quarter, up 13 percent ($2.10) from last year and up 4 percent from last quarter. Overall, King generated record quarterly bookings of $480 million.</p><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p style="">"We are pleased with our first quarter 2014 results and are executing on our plan to build a strong portfolio of games," King CEO Riccardo Zacconi said in a statement.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Three King titles were in the top 10 grossing games for iTunes, Google Play, and Facebook during the quarter, though these were not specified. King also pointed out that it's not just Candy Crush Saga that's boosting the company's bottom line. The company says games other than Candy Crush Saga rose by 33 percent in terms of revenue during the quarter.</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> Wed, 07 May 2014 12:27:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-dev-s-profits-are-up-but-shares-are-falling-fast/1100-6419493/
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