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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim may have won game of the year awards left, right and centre, but that didn't bring much joy to PS3 owners of the massive RPG. A game-breaking bug on the version for Sony's console saw game save files rocket to extraordinary sizes, with the game's framerate dropping so severly that it became a stuttering, unplayable mess.

PS3 owners have been crying out for a fix since near the game's launch, and it finally seems as though developers Bethesda have come up with the goods, though the location of the fix won't do PlayStation owners much good for the time being.

Bethesda have released the beta version of patch 1.4 via Steam for owners of the PC version of the game. In its reference notes are many quest and bug fixes, but also this interesting line:

Optimized bookshelf script in player-owned houses that would occasionally cause active scripts to lag and also cause an increase to saved games filesize (PS3)

Making explicit reference to the PS3 within the patch notes, it seems that Bethesda have isolated that lag and file save issue. It was those pesky bookshelves! And, while it wont be a major patch point for PC gamers, when that update eventually lands on the PS3, it'll likely prove a massive help for fans of the game.

The only question that remains now is, when will it hit the PS3?

For those looking to give the beta patch a try on the PC (and we urge caution if doing so, as it too may cause problems in its beta stage), you need only open Steam, go to File > Settings, look for the section marked Beta Participation, then click "Change." You'll then be offered the option of taking the Skyrim 1.4 beta for a spin.

The full notes for the PC patch can be found below:

NEW FEATURES


Skyrim launcher support for Steam Workshop*

BUG FIXES

General optimizations for memory and performance

Optimized bookshelf script in player-owned houses that would occasionally cause active scripts to lag and also cause an increase to saved games filesize (PS3)

Improved compiler optimization settings

Memory optimizations related to scripting

Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI

Fixed crash in Haemar's Shame if player had already completed "A Daedra's Best Friend"

Fixed rare crash with loading saved games

Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line

Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save

Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player's home

Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player's house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any furnishing.

Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly

Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells

Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly

Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail

Fixed memory crash with container menu

Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves

Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor's Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions

Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally fail

Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks

QUEST FIXES

The Unusual Gem inside the Thalmor Embassy is now accessible after finishing
"Diplomatic Immunity"

In "Breaching Security", the quest token is no longer required to receive a fortune reading from Olava the Feeble

Fixed issue where Galmar would not complete Joining the Stormcloaks properly if "Season Unending" was an active quest

Fixed issue where starting "Season Unending" after finishing "Joining the Stormcloaks" would prevent "The Jagged Crown" from starting properly.

Fixed issue progressing through "Message to Whiterun" while "Season Unending" was still open would block progression for both quests.

In "Arniel's Endeavor", fixed issue where a quest journal would trigger multiple times
In "Forbidden Legend", the amulet fragment can no longer disappear after player leaves a dungeon without taking it

Fixed rare issue in "Forbidden Legend" where killing Mikrul Gauldurson while sneaking would make his corpse inaccessible

In "The White Phial", the phial can no longer disappear if player leaves dungeon without taking it

"The White Phial" will now start properly if player already has a briar heart in their inventory

Player can no longer get stuck in Misty Grove after completing "A Night to Remember"

Fixed issue where leaving Riften during "A Chance Arrangement" would prevent quest from progressing

In "Darkness Returns", a door in Twilight Sepulcher will properly open if the player leaves the dungeon for an extended period of time before completing the quest

In "Revealing the Unseen", if the player leaves the Oculory for an extended period of time after placing the focusing crystal and returns, the quest will proceed correctly

"Onmund's Request" will now start properly if player has already found Enthir's staff before receiving this quest

Fixed instance where Tonilia would stop buying stolen items and also would not give Guild Leader Armor

"Repairing the Phial" will start properly if player already has unmelting snow or mammoth tusk in their inventory

Finding Pantea's Flute before speaking with Pantea no longer prevents her quest from updating

In "The Break of Dawn", fixed rare instance where a quest object would spawn incorrectly on the Katariah during Hail Sithis

Fixed rare issue in "The Mind of Madness" where player is unable to equip the Wabbajack

Fixed issue in "Pieces of the Past" where Mehrunes Dagon's Razor will not trigger properly if player leaves the cell for extended period of time before activating it

"Blood's Honor" will start properly if you visited and completed Driftshade and an extended period of time passes before starting the quest.

Fixed rare issue where "Dampened Spirits" would not start properly

Fixed issue where killing guards in Cidhna Mine would block progression for "No One Escapes Cidhna Mine"

Fixed numerous issues with "Blood on the Ice" not triggering properly

In "Blood on the Ice", Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm

In "The Cure for Madness", killing Cicero then resurrecting him no longer impedes quest progress

Fixed rare issue in "To Kill an Empire" where an NPC would fail to die properly

Clearing Knifepoint Ridge before starting "Boethiah's Champion" no longer prevents quest from starting.

*Steam Workshop not yet available.

microsoft-Points.jpgMicrosoft are rumoured to be getting rid of the Microsoft Points system used on the Xbox 360 to buy games, movies and other content.

Currently, Xbox 360 gamers must top up an account by using their credit cards (or buying pre-paid cards) to get Microsoft Points, tied into Microsoft's systems, which can then be exchanged for games and other downloads. The currency is also found in some areas of other Microsoft services, including Zune Marketplace, Games for Windows, and Windows Phone.

Bought in odd numbers, users often complain of being left with unusable Microsoft Point "change", which isn't significant enough to purchase anything with.

However, this may all be set to change by the end of 2012. According to Inside Mobile Apps, real-world money will be the currency of choice on the platform going forward, instead of the Microsoft fairy-gold used now.

According to their report, the points system could be completely phased out by the end of the year, with any outstanding Microsoft Points balances being converted into real-world cash to use in Microsoft's stores.

Very much a rumour at this stage (Microsoft has responded with their usual "we do not comment on rumors or speculation" answer), it would make perfect sense going forward. For starters, I don't believe there is a single person out there who wouldn't prefer the transparency of real-world pricing attached to their downloads, not to mention removing the extra step of actually purchasing points before grabbing a download.

Also, with Microsoft positioning themselves ever-more as entertainment leaders, with the Xbox 360 looking more like a media hub with every passing update and the rumoured Xbox 720 seemingly more like a PVR than a games console, a more simple system is needed if they are to reach the mass-market audiences they are aiming for with the video content they are now pushing. It's not rocket science; PS3 gamers have happily been playing regular cash for PSN content since that console launched.

Do you live in a one TV household? If your marathon PS3 gaming sessions are getting interrupted by Dad switching over to Top Gear or your girlfriend popping on a bit of Jersey Shore, then the PS Vita may prove a vital addition to your home life.

YouTube user homer49 has been posting videos of his time spent with a PS Vita, hacked to a custom firmware version 3.55.

However, instead of playing Uncharted: Golden Abyss or another PS Vita game, he's using it to play full-blown PS3 titles like Battlefield 3 and Batman: Arkham City, as shown in the clips below.

He's doing so using the console's Remote Play streaming feature, which, while officially supported with PS3 firmware version 4.0, has so far only been shown to work with Killzone 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2. homer49's hack allows for many more games to take advantage of the function, including Red Dead Redemption and Mortal Kombat too.

Scroll down to see them in action, running very impressively. Let's hope Sony hurry up and roll out this functionality officially on a broader scale in the near future.

Via: Eurogamer

star-wars-old-republic.jpgIf you're one of the many millions still playing BioWare's superb new MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, you may or may not be (depending on your stance when it comes to cheats and exploiting game bugs) pleased to hear a few major fixes are on the way.

The next patch for the game will focus on fixing issues with the Ability Delay, and a glitch where people are gaining more Valor than they should.

Complaints about the Ability Delay have been knocking around since SWTOR launched: gamers pointed out that abilities, which should have been in a cool-down period, were still usable, affecting balancing issues in-game, particularly in PvP. Also, some abilities which should trigger instantly were not firing up either. Both of these issues will be fixed.

The Valor glitch, affecting Ilum PvP, was noted after the latest major patch was issued. Players partaking in a bit of gamer-on-gamer combat were sometimes finding that they were harvesting far more of the lucrative Valor points than they should have. Rather than rolling back everyone's Valor points across the board, the developers will be taking "appropriate measures" with those they have found exploiting the loophole.

Via: Ripten

VIDEO: Resident Evil 6 confirmed - Trailer

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Resident Evil 6 has officially been revealed by Capcom. Another tale of bio-terror, ghoulish monsters and (by the looks of the trailer) hammy B-movie acting, it follows the exploits of series favourites Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy.

The first trailer for the game, released alongside the announcement, seems to suggest the game will follow the same action-orientated approach that has characterised the series since Resident Evil 4 was released, and will feature both single player and co-operative modes.

The story line, according to Capcom, is as follows:

"It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity.

"Due to be by the President's side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world's population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left."

Due out on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 20th 2012 (with a PC version to follow shortly), you can watch the official announcement trailer by clicking the video above.

Play Skyrim on a calculator (sort of)!

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For developers and programmers testing the limits of low-end technology, the ultimate test used to be trying to squeeze a working port of the first person shooter game Doom onto the device.

YouTube user no9sniper goes several steps more crazy. He's porting the massive RPG Skyrim. ONTO A CALCULATOR.

OK, so getting the actual Skyrim game on a graphical calculator is a technical impossibility, but no9sniper's "Choose Your Own Adventure" style approximation of Bethesda's epic role playing game looks charming nonetheless.

If you've got a compatible calculator, you can even download the program and give it a try yourself for some on-the-go giant bashing action.

Click here to download it.

PS Vita sales continue to slide

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Thumbnail image for playstation-vita.jpgSony's quite-wonderful looking new gaming handheld, the PS Vita, continues to struggle to sell significantly in Japan, the first territory in which it has been launched.

Despite healthy week one sales of 324,859 units shifted, week five sees that number dropping dramatically to just 18,361, an-almost 95% slump.

Of course, the period directly after Christmas is always a difficult one for any console, and while other handhelds like the Nintendo 3DS and PSP also saw sales decline, their sales were not as sharply affected as those of the Vita. The Nintendo 3DS managed 100,668 units sold in the same week, many months after its initial launch, while Sony must be frankly embarrassed that their own ageing PSP still outsold the Vita at 22,538.

The importance of a successful worldwide launch in February is now paramount for Sony, and with a slew of AAA titles heading out of the wings around the same time, it's likely figures will soon look more positive.

However, the continued decline of all three major dedicated handheld gaming consoles seems to further the theory that their time has passed, while mobile and tablet gaming's star is on the rise.

Via: Slash Gear

NES-Guinness-RecordThe Guinness World Record for the largest videogame controller on the planet has been broken! British electrical engineering student Ben Allen along with co-creators Stephen van 't Hof and Michel Verhulst put together a gigantic 12ft x 5ft 3 in x 1ft 8 in, 18 stone NES controller to take the title, a joypad so big it needs two people to operate!

"The idea basically came from a brainstorm," said Allen.

"We were sitting around between lectures having a chat and a coffee, someone came up with the NES idea and we ran with it. From the conception to the completion of the controller took about six months, and after spending a lot of time planning, the actual build took about four weeks. There were lots of late nights, and lots of not sleeping! In fact, I even fell asleep on the controller for about half an hour one night!"

Showcasing the achievement at London's Liverpool Street Station, Tech Digest got some hands-on time with the daddy of all retro controllers. Though it takes some getting used to, the oversize buttons responded really well, pushing back against our hands with a satisfyingly spongy feel. Tech Digest, alongside Shiny Shiny's Becca, managed a respectable 67 lines on the NES version of Tetris, a potential record in itself on the unique controller.
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But construction wasn't simply a matter of scaling up components found in a regular NES joypad. After a few nights spent stress-testing the unit in a rowdy local pub, Allen's team quickly realised the original iconic design couldn't withstand the repeated button presses made when playing scaled up to the new size.

"In the original controller there's just a bit of padding on the back of each button and a mesh on the circuit board," explained Allen.

"When you press the pad there it short circuits the mesh and pulls the signal low. Here we do it slightly differently. The mechanical switches in our prototype broke, so we went with a light-based system with a sensor. When you press a button, the light beam hitting the sensor is broken, the sensor filters that information and pushes it to the same electronics as used in the original NES controller, which then in turn registers your intended inputs."

So, could anyone make a working version similar to the record breaking kit on show? Allen, who studies at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, believes so:

"If you wanted to do it at home I reckon you could. Perhaps using a wooden frame rather than the stress-tested steel frame we've built, without the car wheel ball bearings too. Though it's not a cheap thing to do, if you had three guys, working four full-time weeks, you could probably do this, and some more."
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The event was held in order to promote the release of the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2012, which also features other quirky gaming records like "Longest Gaming Session in Free-Fall" and "Largest Competitive Pokémon Videogame Family". We can't begin to imagine what the conversation around that family dinner table must be like!

"We've been burning the midnight oil like ninjas for the 2012 Gamer's Edition: witnessing record attempts, talking to developers and playing as many videogames as we could handle." said Guinness World Records Gaming Editor, Gaz Deaves.

"Gamers all over the world can finally get their hands on the result of our hard labour, and this year's book packed with all the amazing records, facts and feats that they have a right to expect from Guinness World Records."

Out on Thursday 19th January, the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2012 will be available from all good bookstores. And some rubbish ones too!

alienware-x51.jpgAlienware have today announced the launch of the X51 mini gaming desktop. "The smallest desktop Alienware has ever created," according to the press release, it sits in an exciting position between the power of a high-spec gaming PC and the form factor of a games console.

Measuring just 12.5″ deep and 13.5″ wide, it's little bigger than an Xbox 360 but massively more powerful.

As comfortable next to a flatscreen TV as a monitor, it'll sit either horizontally or stand vertically. It's connectivity options include HDMI 1.4, 4x USB 2.0 slots, 2x USB 3.0, Ethernet and speaker connectors.

The differing specification configurations available are as follows:

Processor

Intel® Core™ i3-2120 (3.30GHz, 3MB L3 Cache, 2C)
Intel® Core™ i5-2320 (3.00GHz, 6MB L3 Cache, 4C)
Intel® Core™ i7-2600 (3.40GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 8C)

Graphics

1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 545
1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 555

Memory

4096MB (2x2GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
6144MB (1x4GB) (1x2GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
8192MB (2x4GB) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel

Hard Drive

1TB (32MB Cache) 7,200RPM Hard Drive

Optical

24X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW) (Standard)

Audio

Internal High-Definition 7.1 Performance Audio with Waves MAXX Audio Software

Wireless

Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Wireless LAN

When you keep in mind that all components are of standard size, meaning they'll be easily upgradeable in the future, the X51 seems like a superb addition to the gamer's living room. It's a pity it doesn't come with a Blu-ray drive; the one thing stopping the mini-desktop from being a true living room media hub.

It's an exciting time to a be a PC gamer. With recent massive launches like Star Wars: The Old Republic and Skyrim, and upcoming launches like StarCraft II: Heart of the Storm and Diablo III(as well as mad new concept designs like Razer's Project Fiona tablet), there's plenty of fun to be had and innovative hardware to gawk at.

With prices starting at £699, it's also a very affordable entry into pre-built PC gaming. We'll look forward to getting our hands on one of these when it launches on February 6th.

For more info, click here.

Ah, the interwebz. Pretty much the only "place" in the world where you can see a video game clip of a Renaissance assassin lure a load of beggars into a town square, club drug them and have a wobbly-limbed Skrillex led dubstep street party.

Before killing a few of them with a pneumatic hidden sleeve knife, naturally...

If your brain is still up to the task after your mind has been blown by the above video, why not check out our Assassin's Creed: Revelations review? Sadly, it does not feature sub-sonic bass.

Via: Gamespot

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Not content with revolutionising the way we think about gaming consumption, OnLive have taken this year's CES 2012 to reveal that, not only are they bringing their game streaming platform to Google TVs, but that they've also perfected Windows desktop mirroring on Apple's iPad too.

First, the Google TV announcement. OnLive will be available as an app for Google's web-connected TV platform. After a rocky start, it's now getting stable support at the show from the likes of LG, meaning that more and more Smart TVs will have the search giant's internet-connected platform onboard.

For gamers, this means that you're increasingly going to find the OnLive cloud-gaming service built into new TVs, which means that, providing your internet connection speed is up to the task and you can afford to fork out for a monthly subscription, you'll have instant access to quality PC games direct from your TV, without the need for an expensive rig. It'll even work with the OnLive controller.

OnLive takes games that are stored on remote supercomputers, which you control remotely from the comfort of your home, over the internet. The video of your action is then streamed back in real-time to your PC, tablet or MicroConsole (and now soon Google TV too), allowing you to enjoy the benefits of high-spec PC gaming without the need for specialist hardware.

OnLive have also announced the launch of the OnLive Desktop app for iPad. Using the same streaming principles, it gives Windows 7 users the ability to mirror their desktop on Apple's tablet, using multitouch controls.

While a premium OnLive Desktop Pro app will offer 50 GB of cloud storage, priority access to apps, full-featured cloud-accelerated browsing and additional PC applications for $9.99/month, amazingly the regular OnLive Desktop app (with 2GB of cloud storage) will be totally free. In other words, anyone with a Windows 7 PC and iPad will be able to finally access the full suite of Office applications on the go, and access to any files or other applications they may have on their machines.

"With Thursday's launch of the OnLive Desktop app for iPad, we are pairing the superbly-engineered iPad with as much computing power (and as much applications compatibility) as you need from a high-powered Windows server that could be 1000 miles or more away", said Steve Perlman, OnLive CEO and founder.

"With OnLive Desktop, your iPad literally will be outperforming even most powerful notebook computers, and still be instantly responsive to your touch."

OnLive Desktop is launching initially with iPad, but will soon be available on iPhone, Android, PC and Mac too.

While OnLive gamiing subscriber numbers are currently thought to be fairly low, these two new announcements are sure to boost those figures quite dramatically. For more info, click here.

For more news from CES 2012, click here.

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More bad news for dedicated gaming handhelds like Sony's PS Vita or Nintendo's 3DS; Qualcomm are working on a new generation of mobile Snapdragon chips that will allow for console-quality gaming on the go.

"The next GPU on the Snapdragon S4 is better than the Xbox 360 and the one after that will be better than the PS3," Dave Durnil, Director and General Manager of Advanced Content and Gaming at Qualcomm told Pocket-lint.

"The Snapdragon S4 devices arriving in the coming months will be comparable or better than the PS Vita in terms of graphics."

With more and more gamers turning to mobile devices like tablets or smartphones for their-on-the-go gaming fix, Durnill believes that this next graphical leap will ring the death-knell for dedicated handheld gaming consoles.

"The minute consumers can't differentiate between mobile and consoles is the moment consoles will die," said Durnill.

"Mobile has caught up in terms of graphics experience. The next generation of kids are going to get smartphones or tablets, not a handheld games console or Xbox 360; the barrier of entry is gigantic to go for a dedicated games console."

The next step however is content. Without quality games development studios onboard to deliver AAA games, mobile platforms will still be one step behind. With mobile gaming pricing strategies position for a race to the bottom, it will be interesting to see just who feel it is worthwhile to jump onboard with Qualcomm when the chips arrive in the next few months.

Via: Pocket-Lint

For more news from CES 2012, click here.

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Where's the madness, CES 2012? So far, this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has been a pretty staid affair, with the usual array of incrementally better tablets, smartphones, TVs and audio devices.

Thank the tech gods for Razer then, who at least are trying something a little wacky. They've introduced a new gaming tablet concept called Project Fiona at the show, which is designed to put the power of a dedicated gaming PC into a tablet form factor.

With a twist! A pair of handles sit either side of the screen, each packing an array of gaming buttons, triggers and housing a pair of analog sticks, allowing for a genuine portable gaming PC experience with gamepad controls. Multitouch controls, as you'd expect from a tablet, also feature.

"This first-of-its-kind PC gaming tablet with integrated dual controllers is definitely not for playing casual games about unhappy birds or zombie-killing flora," stresses Razer, taking a little swipe at the rise of casual touchscreen gaming.

As it's just a concept design for the time being, precise details are a little thin on the ground at the moment, but the specs revealed so far read as follows:

- Intel Core i7
- 10.1" 1280x800 display
- Multi-touch screen
- 3-axis gryo
- Magnetometer
- Accelerometer
- Force feedback
- Dolby 7.1 surround sound
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n; and Bluetooth 3.0.

Hit the video below for a trailer for the madcap concept device:

For more news from CES 2012, click here.

diablo-3.jpgBlizzard's long-awaited hack and slash RPG sequel, Diablo 3, is headed to home consoles as well as the PC, the games development giants have confirmed.

Asked whether he could "confirm or deny Diablo 3 [is] coming to consoles" on the microblogging network Twitter, community manager Bashiok replied: "Yup. Josh Mosqueira is lead designer for the Diablo console project."

Blizzard have openly discussed the possibility of bringing the revered dungeon crawler to consoles, but this is the closest yet that we've come to an official confirmation statement from the company, and at least confirms that the project is indeed being worked on.

Diablo 3 has been in development for many years, and has seen few development set backs that have pushed the official, loose release date back to "early 2012". It was initially thought that the process of tailoring the game to the complex Asian markets was causing the delay, but it is now totally feasible that the development of Xbox 360 or PS3 versions are what has caused the string of release set-backs.

Diablo 3 is currently available in an invite-only beta phase on the PC.

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Those longing to get a-tinkering on Windows platforms with Microsoft's Kinect motion sensor for Xbox 360 will be pleased to hear that the Redmond firm will be releasing its Kinect for Windows SDK on the 1st of February.

Microsoft will be releasing APIs, sample code and Kinect drivers. The company are already working with over 200 development teams to get Kinect-compatible apps together in time for the launch of Windows 8.

"With Kinect for Windows, we are investing in creating a platform that is optimised for scenarios beyond the living room, and delivering new features on an ongoing basis, starting with "near mode", said Craig Eisler, corporate vice president in Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business Unit.

"As well, we will be supporting the Windows Embedded platform to enable a range of intelligent systems scenarios. We are building this platform in a way that will allow other companies the opportunity to integrate Kinect into their offerings. We have invested in an approach that allows them to develop in ways that are dependable and scalable."

Those hoping to use Kinect with other platforms are out of luck though; the SDK only caters for those looking to develop apps for Windows 7, 8 and the Xbox 360.

For more news from CES 2012, click here.

xbox-360-logo.jpgIf the latest rumours prove to be true, this year's massive E3 games convention could be one of the biggest yet, as both Microsoft and Sony are said to be launching their next-gen games consoles.

Partners, executives, third parties and the ever-elusive "sources close to the matter" claim that the Xbox 360 successor (expected to be called the Xbox 720) and PlayStation 3 successor (AKA the PS4) are both debuting at the show, alongside the launch details of the previously-announced Wii U console from Nintendo.

In the shows 17 year history, never before have three hardware launches of such a massive size landed in such close proximity.

Though the Xbox 720 has long been rumoured to launch at the show, Sony's early move would be a surprising one. Roughly 18 months younger than the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 is comparatively the new kid on the block of this console generation, leading many to think E3 2013 would be its successors launch pad.

Plenty for gamers to get excited for then; three new home games consoles, a new handheld in the shape of the PS Vita and Nintendo's own 3DS handheld finally finding its feet, 2012 looks to be a bumper year in gaming.

Via: MCV

xcom-cover.jpgThe sci-fi loving conspiracy theorist in me just gave a little squeal of joy. X-COM, the classic PC turn-based strategy game of man-on-alien warfare, is returning to its roots in a new title called XCOM: Enemy Unknown from none-other than Firaxis Games, the team behind Sid Meier's Civilization series.

For those keeping track of all things XCOM, that means two titles touching down in 2012; 2K Marin's first person shooter re-imagining simply titled XCOM (which caused uproar from the series' long-time strategy loving fans) and this newly announced, more traditional take on the series.

"It's been a dream of ours to recreate X-COM with our unique creative vision. We're huge fans of the original game and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-envision a game that is as beloved as X-COM," said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games.

"We were careful to keep XCOM: Enemy Unknown true to the elements that made X-COM such a revered game while delivering an entirely new story and gameplay experience for both die-hard X-COM fans and newcomers to the franchise."

The game, like the original DOS titles, will be turn based with new real-time features, feature destructible tactical environments and, from the first screens shot we've seen, seem to take place in a more futuristic environment than the retro-inspired 2K Marin title.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown comes is due out for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in Autumn 2012.

For the whole story, pick up February's issue of Game Informer.

xbox 360 slim real png.pngWhile the current Xbox 360 generation of Microsoft's console is busy repositioning itself as just as much a catch-up TV and entertainment hub as it is a videogames machine, a new patent relating to a possible Xbox 720 follow-up suggests that the next-gen machine may also have PVR/DVR functionality.

Microsoft have been granted a patent described as "a digital video recorder (DVR) application running alongside a television client component [that] allows users to record media content on the gaming console".

"The DVR application also integrates itself with the console menu," explained the patent.

"Once integrated, users can record media content while playing games. Alternatively, users can record content when the gaming console is turned off. The recorded content can include television programming, gaming experience (whether local or online), music, DVDs, and so on.

"When in the recording state, users can also switch between various other media modes, whether gaming, television, and so on."

It's not the first time PVR functionality has hit a games console. The PS3 had Play TV, which will slightly more successful in Asian territories, was viewed as little more than an overpriced Freeview recorder in the UK.

Combined with Microsoft's Sky streaming deal and catch-up services, an embedded PVR option with Kinect motion and voice control could make for very interesting competition for Sky themselves and the likes of Virgin.

Via: Cnet


Razer are the latest tech manufacturer to tease their CES 2012 hand prior to next week's big show in Las Vegas.

The PC peripheral makers have been making tentative steps into the realm of gaming machines for a few years now, capturing the public eye with the boldly designed Switchblade and Razer Blade machines.

It now looks as if Razer are to make yet another step towards their ultimate goal of reviving PC gaming in the wake of console gaming dominance, posting a new teaser trailer for "Project Fiona", which will be fully revealed at CES 2012.

The video gives away very little, other than promising an "all-new" form factor for PC gaming, as well as suggesting from the clip that high-end games such as Assassin's Creed: Revelations will be playable on the device.

However, with neither the Switchblade nor Razer Blade yet available to buy, will Project Fiona prove to be the final realisation of Razer's gaming machine vision, or just another prototype to linger in development hell?

Well, we'll be sure to find out next week, when the Tech Digest/ Shiny Shiny teams touch down in Las Vegas for the big CES 2012 show.

To sign up for more news on Project Fiona, head over to Razer's dedicated page.

Happy 30th birthday, Commodore 64!

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Commodore64.jpgHappy 30th birthday, Commodore 64!

The bulky brown home computing box of choice of the 1980's hits the three decade landmark this month, and is fondly remembered by many a tech fan (including this very Tech Digest writer) as their first experience with home computing.

A tame machine by today's standards, its 8-bit charms with a MOS Technology 6510 processor running at a 1MHz, 64k of memory and 16-colour graphics chip were as good as it got upon release in 1982.

For many, the machine was also their first taste of the delights of gaming at home, stuffing cassette tapes into the C64 rather than stuffing their pocket money into the local arcade machines. They took an age to load, but offered hours upon hours of fun. Anyone who has ever pulled off a split-kick double takedown in International Karate +, or ran through the legs of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters will sing the machine's praises.

Anyone looking to get into making chiptune music should definitely check out the C64 too. The likes of Rob Hubbard, David Whittaker and Martin Galway were doing trailblazing stuff with game soundtracks using the machines SID chip, the influence of which can be heard in music by the likes of Crystal Castles. Just check this selection of tracks if you need convincing.

Though getting off to a slow start after being revealed at the 1981 CES show,17 million units Commodore 64 units went on to be sold. Dominating the 1980s, the machine fell out of vogue by the 1990s as Nintendo, Sega and Amiga machines become increasingly popular, and by the middle of the decade Commodore had filed for bankruptcy. A Commodore 65 prototype was built, but never hit mass production.

While it's very easy to get your hands on a Commodore 64 emulator (there's even one as an app for Apple devices), and just as easy to pick up a retro machine from eBay, a new company called Commodore USA in 2012 began to produce a new machine called the Commodore 64x. A great gift for fans of the original machine, it completely keeps the bulky build of the computer, but adds modern specifications like dual-core, 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525 chip, an Nvidia Ion 2 GPU, Wi-Fi and a Blu-ray drive.

So, were you the lucky owner of a Commodore 64 back in the 1980s? What were your fondest memories of the machine? Share them via the comments section below, our Twitter feed or our Facebook page, and we'll publish some of the best in a Tech Digest post!

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