Earnest Cavalli

  • Dying Light review: Grim leaper

    Pardon the pun, but zombies have been done to death. In comic books, in films, on TV and certainly in video games. Yet developer Techland, creator of 2011's ambitious yet flawed Dead Island, has decided to take another crack at the virtual zombie apocalypse with Dying Light. The big difference this time is that the game relies heavily on parkour for movement, lending the otherwise brutally violent zombie apocalypse a speed and freedom not often seen in the genre. By itself, this one new element isn't enough to elevate Dying Light above the hordes of similarly themed games, but if the developer could seamlessly attach parkour to some of the better ideas found in Dead Island while polishing that game's poor design decisions, Dying Light has a lot of potential. Dying Light never fully lives up to this potential, but in the attempt, Techland offers an impressive twist on both first-person action games and life among the walking dead.

  • I Am Bread to land butter side up on iOS 'later this year'

    Surgeon Simulator developer Bossa Studios has revealed that its latest bizarrely engrossing experiment in virtual physics, I Am Bread, will reach iOS devices following its PC debut. Before you start seeking metaphorical meanings, the game's title is literal: I Am Bread casts players as a piece of bread attempting to toast itself. That's easier said than done, however, as bread isn't very mobile, so players must flip and flop their weirdly pliable square of carbohydrates through complex stages first. If you need a visual aid, you'll find a gameplay trailer past the break. "I Am Bread for iOS will feature all the new content Bossa is adding to the Steam Early Access version, including this week's major update – an all new garage area in which to find more innovative ways of turning golden brown and Cheese Hunt mode starring Crispbread," Bossa Studios claims. No release date for the iOS version of I Am Bread has been nailed down, beyond a vague "later this year." Bossa plans to first finish the PC version of I Am Bread, before turning its full attention to the iOS game. [Image: Bossa Studios]

  • Evolve's latest footage hunts alone

    Evolve centers around a team of hunters stalking giant, ill-tempered prey, but developer Turtle Rock has also included options for those who prefer to play the lone wolf, as demonstrated in this latest look at the upcoming shooter's gameplay. [Image: 2K Games]

  • 2D fighter Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax will reach the West

    Following its Japanese debut last November, Sega has announced plans to publish Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax on the PlayStation 3 and Vita handheld in Western territories later this year. As the title suggests, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax is a dream match of sorts that pits characters from the Dengeki Bunko line of Japanese light novels against one another in fairly traditional (if visually spectacular) 2D combat. Because Sega's publishing the game, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax also features some notable characters from the company's extensive history in games, including Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles and Virtua Fighter icon Akira. No specific launch date has yet been nailed down for Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, but Sega plans to release the game to both retail and the PlayStation Network at some point this Summer. [Image: Sega]

  • Battlefield Hardline beta test arrives February 3

    Hoping to both stress test its servers and drum up an extra bit of pre-release hype, publisher EA has announced plans for a five-day beta test of its imminent cops versus robbers shooter Battlefield Hardline scheduled to begin on February 3. "There's nothing more valuable to our team than the relationship we have with our community. Their passion feeds our passion and their feedback has definitely helped make Hardline a better game," said Battlefield Hardline executive producer Steve Papoutsis. "We want them to play the hell out of the beta next week and trust that they'll keep that feedback coming so we can continue to fine tune the game." The beta test will be available on PlayStation 3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and on PC via the Origin digital distribution platform. No purchase is necessary to join the beta, but the file is likely to be a big download, so hopefully you have bandwidth to spare. [Image: EA]

  • Valve: Steam Workshop creators have earned over $57 million

    There's tidy cash to be made in designing virtual items for players on the Steam Workshop. According to a recent Valve announcement, the platform has paid out over $57 million to creators since 2011. That figure represents items created for three of Valve's most popular games: Team Fortress 2, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Valve claims the $57 million sum was split between 1,500 creators representing 75 different countries from around the globe. That works out to an average of $38,000 for each creator. Alongside the financial milestone, Valve has announced plans to launch new curated Workshops for Dungeon Defenders: Eternity and Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, as well new Steam Marketplace analytics tools that should make buying and selling items both easier and more nuanced. For more, visit Steam. [Image: Valve]

  • Rovio's head of games flies the coop

    Jami Laes has departed Angry Birds developer Rovio where he lead the games division for nearly the past two years, reports Reuters. Laes was hired in April of 2013 as Rovio's EVP of Games. At the time, he claimed he was a huge fan of Angry Birds and looked forward to building on the franchise's already phenomenal success. "[W]e've only seen a fraction of what can be achieved with great brands like Angry Birds and Bad Piggies and I wanted to be a part of building that story," Laes said. Since announcing his departure from Rovio, Laes has offered no information on why he left. He hopes to launch a new startup in the near future, but offered no further information on his plans when questioned by Reuters. Laes' departure comes just over a month after Rovio laid off 16 percent of its workforce. According to the Wall Street Journal, Laes' role will be filled by industry veteran David Byrne. [Image: Rovio]

  • Visit exotic locations and grind on them in OlliOlli 2

    The debut trailer for OlliOlli 2: Welcome To Olliwood (sequel to the addictive skateboarding platformer OlliOlli) promises "bigger tricks, epic new locations" and a "silky new style and flow," alongside locations ranging from Aztec temples to carnivals populated by zombies. [Image: Roll7]

  • Sony pulls support for Vita's Maps, YouTube apps

    In a brief Twitter message, Sony has announced that official support for the Maps and YouTube apps found on the Vita handheld will soon come to an end. The message offers links to support pages for both apps which reveal exactly when the software will cease to function. While all features of the Maps app (and unspecified features of the Near app) will go dark as part of an update planned to launch in March, the YouTube app will be gone by April 20. Today marks the final day the Vita's YouTube app will be available for download from the PlayStation Network store. Despite the removal of the apps, Vita owners will still be able to access YouTube and numerous (superior) online maps via the handheld's web browser. Our attempts to reach Sony for an official explanation of this decision have so far gone unanswered. [Image: Sony]

  • Mythbusters meet their Doom on January 31

    After more than a decade of debunking myths in reality, the Mythbusters are taking aim at the virtual world, specifically id Software's seminal first-person shooter Doom. The January 31 episode of the hit Discovery Channel series will feature Jamie and Adam examining the game alongside id Software creative director Tim Willits. While it's not feasible to properly test the game's premise by dropping the hosts into a Martian portal to hell, the show still plans to determine whether or not a person could simultaneously tote all the weapons, ammo, armor and gas-powered lawn care implements seen in the game. Additionally, with Willits' assistance and the significant special effects experience of the Mythbusters team, the show will feature a real-world replica of a level from the hit shooter. You can find more details on Mythbusters at the series' website, and you can find this upcoming Doom-themed episode by tuning into the Discovery Channel on January 31 at 9PM (8PM for those in the Central Time Zone). [Image: Bethesda]

  • Ken Levine hints at new first-person sci-fi adventure

    BioShock creator Ken Levine recently let slip on Twitter that he's working on a new game, and that he'd be happy to answer questions. Levine offers no solid details on the project, but we do learn a few basics. According to Levine, the game is set in an original universe and he's currently leaning toward a first-person perspective for players. This plot is sci-fi ("or sci-fi-ish," as Levine describes it), and the scope of the game will be "large-ish," but will rely heavily on story and gameplay elements that can be repeatedly recombined with one another in interesting ways - a design principle Levine dubs "narrative Legos." Those expecting further details soon are likely to be disappointed. Levine claims his team has no intention of showing the game at this year's E3 conference, and the game has only barely begun development. "Stuff in engine. Very rudimentary gameplay. Concept art. Passion system in code. A working board game to demonstrate passions," Levine offers when asked how development of the game is progressing. However, there is progress on one front: After nearly a year, Levine believes he is close to coming up with a name for the small studio he formed after laying off over 90 percent of the employees at Irrational Games. [Image: Wikimedia]

  • Five Nights At Freddy's 3 seeks your Greenlight approval

    Three months after Five Nights At Freddy's 2, developer Scott Cawthon wants players to return to his dark world of murderous animatronic creatures, but first he needs approval from Steam Greenlight. To entice fans, Cawthon has released the above teaser. It tells us little of Five Nights At Freddy's 3, but it does suggest that the game's tone and setting seem to remain the same. And, of course, fuzzy killers are involved. Beyond that, and a few new images suggesting new environments, the game is a mystery. For those who are baffled by all of this, Five Nights At Freddy's 3 will mark the latest entry in a line of games that has (so far) centered around a security guard assigned to protect a Chuck E. Cheese-esque pizza parlor after it closes. As you correctly surmised during childhood, the animatronic creatures that entertain kids over pizza by day become bloodthirsty monsters at night, and each of the Five Nights At Freddy's games boils down to the player's lonely attempt to survive until dawn while fuzzy murder beasts stalk the shadows. It relies on very simple mechanics and plentiful jump scares to create a sense of tension, and these unabashedly cheap scares have made the Five Nights At Freddy's games a hit among YouTube viewers who enjoy watching other people shriek in fear at the sight of a giant, anthropomorphic bird lady. If you'd like to throw your support behind Five Nights At Freddy's 3 you can do so by visiting Steam Greenlight. [Image: Scott Cawthon]

  • Guilty Gear Xrd arcade to receive console-exclusive fighters

    In a recent Japanese-language update, developer Arc System Works reveals plans to add the console exclusive characters of Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- to the fighting game's arcade incarnation. According to a translation by the fighting game devotees at Shoryuken, an update for the arcade game will be released that will both balance the game to more closely mimic its console counterpart and add three new fighters: Sin Kiske, Leo Whitefang and Elphelt Valentine. Sin is an unlockable playable character in the console game, while Leo and Elphelt were both added to Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- as separate DLC characters after launch. Arc System Works offers no word on when it plans to launch the update. [Image: Aksys]

  • Expect two new series from Feminist Frequency in 2015

    Controversial games critic and YouTube star Anita Sarkeesian has outlined plans to launch two new web series in 2015, while continuing to produce her popular Feminist Frequency videos. According to the report (.pdf), Sarkeesian's non-profit organization (also named "Feminist Frequency") has plans for two new productions, a "video series examining the representations of men and masculinity in video games" and a "miniseries presenting examples of positive female characters in video games." No further details on either series are mentioned, but the report does state that Sarkeesian and her colleagues will continue their work as vocal advocates for gender equality in virtual culture. These burgeoning plans follow a successful year for Feminist Frequency in which the group attracted over $400,000 in donations and Sarkessian's efforts were featured in media outlets ranging from Joystiq to the New York Times. She even appeared on one of the final episodes of The Colbert Report to discuss her work and her many, many online detractors. [Image: Feminist Frequency]

  • Microsoft: 6.6 million Xbox consoles shipped in Q2 2015

    In a recent earnings release, Microsoft reveals that during the quarter ending December 31, 2014 it earned revenues of $26.5 billion, partly thanks to the 6.6 million Xbox consoles it shipped in that time. "Our sales engagement worldwide continues to focus on helping customers and partners transition to the cloud and navigate the shifting product mix related to our services and solutions," said Microsoft COO Kevin Turner of what the report describes as "strong holiday performance." Though these figures refer to both Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, they do somewhat back claims Microsoft made following the recent NPD sales report, in which it stated that the Xbox One had, after months of lagging behind the PlayStation 4 in sales, becoming the "best-selling console in the U.S. in November and December." [Image: Microsoft]

  • Elite: Dangerous dev lays off fifteen in Cambridge, UK

    A recent investor update reveals that developer Frontier Developments has laid off 15 employees a little over a month after it launched freeform space simulation Elite: Dangerous. According to the update, Frontier plans to shift its focus entirely to Elite: Dangerous and the Coaster Park Tycoon franchise and has begun moving its development roles from a studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Cambridge, UK. As a result of this consolidation, "15 content creation roles [at the Cambridge studio] have been made redundant," representing five percent of Frontier's total work force. Despite these layoffs, Frontier "continues to recruit in areas such as game and technology programming, server and web front end development." "Coaster Park games appeal to a great many people, as proven by RollerCoaster Tycoon 3," Frontier CCO Jonny Watts says of the studio's new direction. "It is a field for which Frontier has unparalleled expertise and immense passion, and one to which we have long wanted to make a 'no-holds-barred' return. We want Coaster Park Tycoon to be another major step forward for the simulation genre, and sit alongside Elite: Dangerous as a second major self-published franchise." [Image: Frontier Developments]

  • Sony accepting claims on 2011 PSN data breach settlement

    If you were a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment user at the time of the April 2011 Sony hack that disrupted the PlayStation Network for nearly a month and compromised 70 million user accounts, now's your chance to get a piece of the class action settlement levied against Sony last year. To qualify, you must have held a PSN, Qriocity or Sony Online Entertainment account on or before May 14, 2011. Each service is eligible to receive different claims, but PSN users are able to receive either one or two games - if you already received a free game in Sony's 2011 "Welcome Back" promotion, you're only eligible for one; if not, you're eligible to choose two - from a list that includes standouts like LittleBigPlanet and God of War HD. Notably, none of the games on offer are for the PlayStation 4. If none of the games tickle your fancy, you can instead choose free dynamic themes for your PlayStation 3 or free PlayStation Plus subscription time. After wading through multiple pages of bureaucratic legalese, you'll find everything you need to make your claim at the PSN-SOE settlement website. [Image: Sony]

  • Silence: The Whispered World 2 also has words for the PS4

    Alongside its "early 2015" PC, Mac and Xbox One debut, publisher Daedalic Entertainment has announced that lovely, snowbound adventure Silence: The Whispered World 2 will be released on the PlayStation 4. A sequel to 2010's The Whispered World, Silence: The Whispered World 2 casts players as Noah, a 16-year-old boy attempting to find his younger sister in the ethereal world of Silence. The duo enter Silence in an effort to escape from a war in their world, but quickly find that the wondrous land of Silence is also embroiled in conflict (not to mention populated by nasty beasts and self-serving political factions). It's sort of a Chronicles of Narnia situation, only with fewer Christian allegories in the form of sage predatory felines. Though the original Whispered World featured 2D graphics, Silence: The Whispered World 2 employs 3D models and a method the developers call "camera projection" that "allows [the artists] to maintain the high detail level of our hand-drawn art, while still being able to use the benefits of 3D game design." [Image: Daedalic Entertainment]

  • Gearbox seeks help crafting the next Borderlands entry

    Given the massive success of Borderlands 2 and the lesser but still significant success of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, it comes as little surprise that Gearbox is planning another entry in the over-the-top post-apocalyptic shooter franchise. "We are recruiting for next Borderlands. This is the big one," Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford recently tweeted, before offering his business email address to anyone who could be described as an "industry badass." Pitchford outlines no other qualifications, as the studio is seeking myriad people, from writers to art designers to engine programmers. Beyond the help-wanted ad, neither Pitchford nor Gearbox has offered any further information on the next Borderlands game. It will probably feature some iteration of robotic irritant Claptrap and vibrant, color-coded weaponry, but otherwise we're in the dark. [Image: Randy Pitchford/Gearbox]

  • The Game Awards will return, Keighley confirms

    Following a year-end debut that attracted 1.93 million viewers, producer Geoff Keighley has confirmed that The Game Awards will return again in 2015. "As I announced this morning at PAX, I'm excited to already be working on @thegameawards for 2015," Keighley recently tweeted. "Will share more later this Spring." Keighley makes no mention of when the next show will take place, nor does he mention any changes he might have in mind. For those unfamiliar, think of The Game Awards as long-time industry journalist and presenter Geoff Keighley's attempt to capture the gravitas and importance of an event like The Academy Awards, but for gaming instead of films. While his previous gig as host of Spike's superficially similar VGX Awards lacked a certain maturity and refinement, we were pleasantly surprised by the "classy" Game Awards. [Image: The Game Awards]