Peter Molyneux’s first post-Lionhead game, Curiosity, holds a big mystery and now it promises DLC with a colossal price tag. The game — the first of 22 experiments — will reveal a secret to the gaming guinea pig who deals the final blow to a single black cube. Shortly after its release, chisels that pack a mightier punch to the monolith will arrive as DLC for those who long to crack the container open. Prices for the downloadable tools will start around $1 (59 pence) for an iron implement and reach up to roughly $78,000 (£50,000) for a one-of-a-kind diamond version that hits 100,000 times harder. Once the secret is revealed, 22 Cans will use social media to study how the winner proves the milestone and spreads the news. Curiosity is expected to drop in about six weeks for iOS and PC, but feel free to begin pondering the secret of life, the universe and everything that lies inside the digital fortune cookie.

Peter Molyneux divulges DLC details for Curiosity, we apply for a loan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s not every day you get to speak with the folks who make one of the most advanced game engines in the world, but today at E3, Crytek (you know, the folks responsible for Crysis) let us in on some of the secrets behind its latest game platform, CryEngine 3. We sat down with Kirthy Iyer, an animation technologist at Crytek, and had him walk us through some of CE3′s tools that are enabling publishers to build games for any platform — including PC, PS3 or Xbox 360 — faster and better than ever. Among the highlights are a “multi-layer navigation mesh” that automates the movements of AI-controlled game characters, and super realistic water rendering technologies. We could go on singing CryEngine’s praises, but instead we’ll let you get all the details from Mr. Iyer in the video after the break. Enjoy.

Continue reading Crytek’s CryEngine 3 makes it easier than ever for devs to build games as pretty as Crysis

Crytek’s CryEngine 3 makes it easier than ever for devs to build games as pretty as Crysis originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook has known for some time now that its app-monetization process was more SucksVille, than FarmVille. Now, it’s just announced that it’s rolling out the new silky-smooth two-step payment process. This means you can stock up on Farm cash sans typing, and forget about the real cost until your mobile bill turns up. Currently most US and UK networks are on board, but more international operators will be added as soon as they can. If you already have payments integrated in your app, you should be good to go, but if you don’t, and you want a slice of the pie, there’s an API and instructions via the source link.

Facebook smooths the way for carrier billing on in-app purchases originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Sony’s PlayStation keynote last night here at E3, PlayStation.Blog made a sort-of-surprise announcement when it officially detailed the $40 Move Racing Wheel — something we only caught passing glimpses of during our liveblog. Naturally, we decided to drop by Sony’s booth to find out whether the peripheral might potentially pass muster for you serious virtual racers out there. Our verdict after some racing in LittleBigPlanet Karting? Definitely not, but it sure is interesting despite a few quirks. Join us past the break where we’ll break it down with text and video.

Continue reading Sony PlayStation Move Racing Wheel hands-on (video)

Sony PlayStation Move Racing Wheel hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elgato first announced its Game Capture HD device mere weeks ago, but since the thing went on sale earlier this month, we hadn’t gotten a chance to see it in the flesh. Naturally, given E3′s all-things-gaming nature, Elgato brought the device to E3 and we got a chance to get our hands on one. In case you forgot, the Game Capture HD’s a lightweight, palm-sized device that plugs in between your Xbox or PS3 and your TV to capture footage of you pwning family and friends. It then converts the footage into Elgato’s preferred H.264 format and dumps it on your PC or Mac so you can share your gaming exploits with the world. Still not ready to drop $200 on the thing? Perhaps our gallery of pics can persuade you.

Elgato Game Capture HD hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 21:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over that past couple years, we’ve found that Razer’s usually good for a surprise or two at any trade show it attends, and today at E3 we got to lay eyes on the latest product to emerge from the company’s skunkworks. Called Artemis, that lovely bit of kit you see above is a prototype Razer’s cooked up for MechWarrior Online aficionados. It features modular construction with one section housing 12 mechanical keys and sliding throttle input, a central unit housing an 8-inch LCD display (to serve as a secondary screen during gameplay) and an adjustable force-feedback flight stick module.

Naturally, what we saw on the show floor wasn’t functional, but Razer told us that all of the controls are integrated and will be fully customizable — so key/button combos can be used — when it hits the market. Razer informed us that, while they do plan to sell Artemis in some form, for now they are simply soliciting feedback on this initial design so that it can be tailored to player preferences before being sold. The prototype took around five months to construct, so with the iterations that are likely to ensue after E3, it’s safe to say that Artemis won’t go on sale anytime soon. But, the game it’s built for isn’t even out of closed beta yet, so it makes sense for Razer to take its time and get it right. While you wait for version 2.0, check out our gallery of pics below, and the promo video after the break.

Continue reading Razer unveils Artemis prototype controller for MechWarrior Online, we go eyes-on

Razer unveils Artemis prototype controller for MechWarrior Online, we go eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nyko’s Free Fighter joystick was unveiled earlier today, and now that E3 2012 has officially begun, we decided we’d head out to the show floor and get our grubby mitts on the thing in person. Anyone who’s spent time in an arcade will feel right at home laying hands on Free Fighter, as it uses

authentic Sanwa Denshi components — the buttons provide a pleasant, loose clicking sensation when pressed, and the stick itself is fluid, yet precise. We got a chance to play a bit of Soul Caliber with a pair of Nyko’s controllers, where we found the programmable macros and turbo functions to be quite useful, given our meager digital fighting skills.

Setting macros up is easy peasy: simply press and hold one of the keys until it changes color from red to blue, then input over 20 directional or button commands as you like. Custom turbo creation is similarly simple, just press both the turbo key and button you want turbo-fied, then tap chosen button up to five times in the cadence of your choosing and you’re good to go. These two features will appeal to novices, as they make fighting games more accessible, but it’ll also help pros rack up combos, too. And for those who aren’t into one-on-one combat, Nyko informed us that because of the Free Fighter’s modular design, the company may make a compatible flight stick or other controller modules in the future.

Nyko Free Fighter arcade joystick hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every June, Nyko outs all sorts of gaming peripherals at E3, and this year is no different. It’s latest is the ambidextrous Free Fighter arcade-style joystick for PS3 that can be set up for either left- or right-handed gamers. It can be further customized to suit button-mashers of all styles with two variable-speed turbo keys and four programmable macros to let you perform complex combos with a single press. Plus, every button’s backlit, and the whole thing comes with a detachable, expandable base to keep it from sliding around in your lap while you’re hurling hadoukens and slinging sonic booms. It’ll hit store shelves in September with $180 price tag, but if you can’t wait until then, check the gallery of press pics below and stay tuned for our hands-on from the E3 show floor.

Continue reading Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3

Nyko Free Fighter joystick brings flexible controls, arcade flair to the PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peter Molyneux has revealed what he’s been up to since he left Lionhead. At E3, he paid a visit to Spike TV, bringing with him several screens from his upcoming title, Curiosity. He didn’t give away much on what we can expect from 22 Cans’ first effort, although we’d hazard a guess at something “conceptual.” It’s set to arrive on PC and iOS in around six weeks and Molyneux was showing off those stills from his iPad. Hit up the source for the full — but brief — interview.

Peter Molyneux reveals first game from his new studio: Curiosity coming to iOS and PC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At this point, most people (in the tech world, at least) are quite familiar with Gaikai’s cloud gaming platform, which lets users have a not-quite-console quality gaming experience on any device. The technology has found its way onto Facebook and in LG TVs, and now Gaikai’s bringing gaming to Samsung TVs, too. Called Samsung Cloud Gaming (SCG), it’ll be available via the Smart Hub on Samsung 7000 series and up Smart TVs in the US this summer. The technology powering SCG is the same as what’s behind LG’s service, but Sammy’s customized the UI to suit its sensibilities. We got a chance to speak with Gaikai CEO David Perry about his company’s latest partnership, so join us after the break for more.

Update: Video hands-on added after the break. We also demoed the service playing Darksiders, and aside from some mild stuttering the button masher was smooth enough to play using a USB-connected controller. We’re told that the software we viewed isn’t final, so it may not reflect the final look.

Continue reading Gaikai-powered cloud gaming coming to Samsung Smart TVs (update: hands-on video and impressions)

Gaikai-powered cloud gaming coming to Samsung Smart TVs (update: hands-on video and impressions) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We didn’t spot it on stage during the pre-E3 2012 press conference, but Sony’s PlayStation Blog is showing off a new PS Move Racing Wheel on the way. This framework apparently fits around the Move, featuring different grip styles with twist throttles and paddle shifters depending on what kind of racing you’d like to do. The “precise motion tracking” afforded by the Move appears to be targeted at titles like the upcoming LittleBigPlanet Karting, but it’s hard to see how this will be real wheel, or even controller, alternative for serious gamers. It certainly seems to be fair competition for Microsoft’s Wireless Speed Wheel that was introduced last year or the Nintendo Wii Wheel, but frankly we’re surprised that’s a battle anyone else wanted to be in. Either way, we expect to get our hands on it this week before it hits stores this fall for $39.99.

Sony reveals $40 PlayStation Move Racing Wheel for LittleBigPlanet Karting and more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you were wondering what Sony planned next for the PS Move, the answer is apparently… books. Just displayed at its pre-E3 press conference, Wonderbooks will let users turn physical books into the best pop-up adventure of all time. As seen in the presentation, it could project images onto the book, letting users peer own dark tunnels, cast spells or even dodge a flying dragon that escaped from the pages. On the downside, the task looked a bit complicated for the target audience, requiring them to manipulate the book, look at their TV to see the effects and wave a wand with their other hand. There was a bit of a demo fail during the presentation, we’ll see if things work more smoothly when we get some hands-on time tomorrow. The first PlayStation 3 Wonderbook title available is by none other than Harry Potter writer JK Rowling, who brings the Book of Spells for muggles to try their hands at Hogwart’s best-known incantations. One other book was also mentioned, Diggs Nightcrawler. Check out our liveblog for all of the details.

Update: Check after the break for two new trailers from the PlayStation.Blog, one for Wonderbook in general and another specifically for Book of Spells.

Continue reading Sony’s Wonderbook is PS Move-augmented reading, launches with J.K. Rowling’s ‘Book of Spells’

Sony’s Wonderbook is PS Move-augmented reading, launches with J.K. Rowling’s ‘Book of Spells’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thought Sony’s E3 2012 presser would be about a next-gen console? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but that doesn’t mean there’s no news on the PlayStation front, as Sony’s just informed the world that the PlayStation Suite has been renamed PlayStation Mobile. Not only that, but it’s opening PS Mobile to third-party Android manufacturers, and as was rumored, HTC is the first handset maker not named Sony to get certified — meaning that you’ll soon be able to get your PlayStation on using the Taiwanese outfit’s hardware. Unfortunately, we don’t know when HTC will debut its first such handset, nor when other Android makers will get in on the action, but it’s nice to see Sony finally start to share the gaming love.

Continue reading HTC officially a maker of PlayStation certified handsets, PlayStation Suite is now PlayStation Mobile

HTC officially a maker of PlayStation certified handsets, PlayStation Suite is now PlayStation Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s pre-E3 press conference is underway and the company just announced the PS Vita would get a couple of new video apps soon in Hulu Plus and Crackle. The Vita YouTube app was announced previously, but it looks like this is just the start of Sony expanding its Entertainment Network from the PS3 to the handheld. There’s no word yet on exactly when they will arrive, but keep an eye on our liveblog for all the details as they’re revealed.

Sony is bringing Hulu Plus, Crackle to PlayStation Vita originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 21:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s proud of its homegrown search product — so proud, that gamers hooked on its Xbox Live service will find themselves uttering that word aloud in a bid for hands-free control. Announced today at its E3 keynote, the company’s expanding Bing Voice search functionality with the ability to navigate by genre. Simply saying, “Bing comedy,” will bring up a host of titles allocated to that category. And non-English speakers will get to enjoy this new perk as well, as the service will now extend to 12 additional countries. Stay tuned for more live coverage of E3 2012 as the show unfolds.

Follow our liveblog of Microsoft’s E3 keynote right here!

Microsoft enhances Xbox Live Bing Search with genre navigation, extends support to 12 additional countries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can’t wait for the E3 showroom floors to officially open — and thankfully, neither can Nintendo. The company is upholding its promise to blanket the media with news by kicking things off with a pre-E3 press event, getting the upperhand on Microsoft and Sony by a few days. The company’s president Satoru Iwata will be on-hand for an event that will most likely involve some game announcements, for starters. Will Nintendo offer up some more info on the Wii U or some welcome changes to the 3DS? Join us right here at 6PM ET to find out!

Nintendo pre-E3 press conference liveblog! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Love your Linux games, but hate painful installs? Ubuntu maker Canonical understands, and has kicked the usual, less snappy, procedure to the curb creating a new approach for the Humble Indie Bundle. The company already expanded Linux gaming, recently adding EA titles to its Ubuntu Software Center, and now you can download the Humble quintet from there as a single file, and install it in one go. In true open source style, you can pick the price you’d like to pay at Humble’s site and even juggle how that sum is distributed to the games’ developers and charities. So with the install obstacle gone, trundle on past the break and see if the promo video seals the deal.

Continue reading Canonical tag teams with Humble, wraps up Indie Bundle installation with bow (video)

Canonical tag teams with Humble, wraps up Indie Bundle installation with bow (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy June! We’re out holding things down in sunny, smoggy downtown Los Angeles, preparing for the on-coming storm of video game goodness. It’s shaping up to another exciting year for all things Electronic Entertainment Expo, albeit one a bit less focused on the hardware side. Things unofficially kick off on Monday, with press conferences from two of the big three — Microsoft and Sony. Nintendo will round things out on Tuesday morning, officially opening the show.

So, what sort of action can we expect to see over the week in LA? We’ve compiled a quick list of what we’re looking forward to over the next several days.

Continue reading E3 predictions: what to expect when you’re Electronics Entertainment Expoing

E3 predictions: what to expect when you’re Electronics Entertainment Expoing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 09:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How could we forget the GAEMS personal gaming environment? Looking something like a cross between a laptop from the eighties, and a bomb disposal unit, the all-in-one Xbox system was always going to make an impression. Well, with E3 just around the corner, it looks like there might be another model on the way. All we know at the moment is that it’s called “Sentry,” and will have more of a personal entertainment leaning. This being based on the fact that on top of the Xbox gaming, GAMES only went as far to tease that services like Netflix, HULU and YouTube will be increasingly central to it. The firm is also revealing a new device with the working title “Project Vanguard,” about which it’s even more secretive. Either way, better make more room on that luggage rack.

Continue reading GAEMS announces new Sentry Xbox 360 suitcase, teases Project Vanguard

GAEMS announces new Sentry Xbox 360 suitcase, teases Project Vanguard originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 06:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that wall of coverage Nintendo promised for next week’s E3 festivities? Yeah, well, apparently that extends to scooping itself a bit with a Pre-E3 event, two days ahead of its official, real deal Tuesday press conference. Tomorrow, the company’s president Satoru Iwata will be hosting a web broadcast with information about the Wii U. According to Nintendo, the early bird event will offer up some more info with regards to games for the much awaited next generation console — and we’ll be liveblogging the news, for your reading pleasure at 6PM ET, so get those plumber caps ready.

Nintendo can’t wait for its own E3 press conference, schedules pre-E3 broadcast for tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jun 2012 19:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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