septembre 2014 ~ GamerLn

dimanche 28 septembre 2014

GTA Online Creator Throwback Jobs: Red Dead Tribute Special

We've already seen some great nostalgic fan-Created GTA Online Jobs made in tribute to classic Rockstar titles and favorite missions from the GTA series. Today, we're heading back to the Old West with ones themed around the tale of John Marston's struggle to escape his past, 2010's Red Dead Redemption. Read on for a brief description of each Job, and if you'd like to add it to your game just click on the title link and select "Add to Game" to bookmark it for your next GTA Online session.

Red Dead Redemption by LordSando (Xbox 360)

As long as you’re willing to overlook the occasional shipping container (think of them as abandoned railway cars), you could easily slip back in time and be convinced you've been transported to the Old West in this Deathmatch set around the dusty confines of the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness. There's a back-to-basics feel to the restrained placement of Pistols, Sawn-Offs and Molotovs here and the varied elevation of the setting, paired with the generous cover, make for a well-balanced and tactical Deathmatch. Plus the opening standoff, with each team starting out facing each other, nicely approximates Red Dead's last-man-standing style Duels.

Marston's Ranch by TheMckeever (PS3)

With the haze of New Austin far off in the distance, this rural retreat that’s reminiscent of Beecher's Hope is a great setting for a well-pitched Deathmatch. Pistols are the order of the day but, if you look hard enough, you may very well find a Sawn-Off or a Grenade to mix things up. Unless the Wright Brothers took an undocumented trip cross country, we're not sure if the Duster is completely on-theme... but we'll let that slide.

Tesoro Azul by JaseTheChase (Xbox 360)

"Do you long for the days when Deadeye was king and the only thing between you and death was the speed of your draw with a Double-Action Revolver?" reads the description for this GTA Online take on Red Dead multiplayer mode "Hold Your Own", which has racked up over 600 plays at the time of this writing. JaseTheChase has used shipping containers and other Props to create a faithful replica of Tesoru Azul, one of the hideout locations in Nuevo Paraiso. The aim here is simple: grab the opposing team's bag and take it back to your base. Weapons are locked to Pistols but you can also find some Molotovs scattered around for fiery fun.

Red Dead Race by Zidane (PS3)

These steeds might not eat straw but this Sanchez Point-to-Point Race across the Grand Senora Desert, compliments of a long time member of the GTAGaming gang (and a Commissioner in the GTAGaming Crew), takes us back to playing Red Dead's Grand Prix. It's all here - weaving through cacti, cutting through brush and speeding along the rail track - albeit with a different kind of horsepower involved.

RED DEAD by ScarfacexD16 (Xbox 360)

This Team Deathmatch takes place at the old sawmill and surrounding valleys located at the foot of Mount Chiliad and Mount Gordo. It features a good range of cover and elevation for a back-to-basics, Pistols-only shootout. Just beware of taking cover close to the gas tank at the back of the house. There's something a bit more combustible than manure inside...

Red Dead by ElusiveBlk202 (PS3)

Another Deathmatch commencing with a close proximity Red Dead-style duel, but this time starting ammo is restricted so you really need to make every shot in the chamber count. From there it all goes down in an enclosed space surrounded by train carriages and removed from the modern trappings of civilization. Rocks are your cover and bushes your hiding spots, with a raised area in the center providing some great coming together moments.

Tall Trees by adeadzombiebones (Xbox 360)

The mountainous and wooded Tall Trees area of West Elizabeth is a popular hunting ground in Red Dead and this GTA Online Job, set in Raton Canyon, substitutes Pistols and Shotgun skirmishes for skinning bearhides. Expect many tense shootouts as players make the most of the ample cover provided by the forest.

GRAB THE BAG by BigSo786 (PS3)

Grab the Bag is one of Red Dead's best-loved multiplayer modes and this GTA Online version by BigSo786 is a fitting tribute. The central bags, protected at the beginning by potent Actors, and the small playing area make for an intense start as all four teams converge. Once things spread out, varied elevation and a good spread of weapon pickups offer scope to mix up your tactical approach.

If you've spotted or created an epic GTA Online Job themed around one of our games, a certain mission or even your favorite movie, be sure to tag it #throwback on Social Club and drop us a link either here in the comments or via Mouthoff, so we can check it out.

CO-OP MODE REVEALED IN NEW CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE TRAILER

This "full package" Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare trailer showcases everything the game has to offer...including the all-new Exo Survival co-op mode.

samedi 27 septembre 2014

Grand Theft Auto V Release Dates and Exclusive Content Details for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC

Rockstar Games is proud to announce that Grand Theft Auto V will arrive on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 18, 2014 with the PC version to follow January 27, 2015.

Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will feature a range of major visual and technical upgrades to make Los Santos and Blaine County more immersive than ever. In addition to increased draw distances and higher resolution, players can expect a range of additions and improvements including:

- New weapons, vehicles and activities
- Additional wildlife
- Denser traffic
- New foliage system
- Enhanced damage and weather effects, and much more

Grand Theft Auto V for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC will also feature enhanced radio selections with over 100 additional new songs and new DJ mixes from returning DJs across the game’s 17 radio stations.

All players who pre-order the game will get $1,000,000 in-game bonus cash to spend across Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA$500K each for your Story Mode and for your GTA Online in-game bank accounts).

A host of new, exclusive content also awaits for players returning from the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions including rare versions of classic vehicles to collect from across the Grand Theft Auto series such as the Dukes, the Dodo Seaplane and a faster, more maneuverable Blimp; activities including wildlife photography and new shooting range challenges, new weapons and more.

Enhancements to Grand Theft Auto Online include an increased player count, with online play now for up to 30 players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. All existing gameplay upgrades and Rockstar-created content released since the launch of Grand Theft Auto Online will also be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC with much more to come.

Existing players will be able to transfer their Grand Theft Auto Online characters and progression to their choice of PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC. For more info about gaining access to exclusive content for returning players, please visit rockstargames.com/V/bonuscontent.

Check out the brand new GTAV trailer, entitled "A Picket Fence and a Dog Named Skip" – and enjoy these sixteen new screenshots taken from the PlayStation 4 version of the game.

THE GRIFFINS ARE GOING TO SPRINGFIELD!

The Simpsons and Family Guy have a lot in common, beyond both being notable entries in the animated sitcom genre and being mainstays of Fox's Animation Domination lineup. They both revolve around dysfunctional, working class nuclear families and feature small towns populated by a number of bizarre and memorable supporting characters. ...And both shows are well past their prime at this point. With both series having hundreds of episodes under their belts, it seems there's very little for either The Simpsons or Family Guy to do that hasn't already been done. So why not have the Simpsons and the Griffins cross paths?

That's basically the premise behind Family Guy's Season 12 premiere, "The Simpsons Guy." The two shows may have poked jabs at each other in the past, but this is the first time we're seeing Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin interacting together for an entire episode. And not just a normal half hour episode, but a double-length episode. The results are stronger than average for the show given its recent quality, even if the episode never takes full advantage of the crossover premise.

This is still a Family Guy episode rather than a Simpson one, so Quahog is where the adventure begins. Seth MacFarlane and the gang actually take a surprisingly long time to set up the crossover, especially compared to the various Star Wars spoofs from years past. The entire first segment of "The Simpsons Guy" is devoted to Peter's latest crazy scheme and giving the Griffins a reason to leave Quahog and venture forth on their trip to Springfield. The material in these early minutes is amusing enough (and appropriately timed given how the writing pokes fun at the Internet's tendency to overreact to non-controversies). But I still found myself wishing that the writers would just get on with it and bring in the Simpsons crew already.

The episode definitely picks up once Peter and his family arrive in Springfield. The writers hit up all the gags you would expect. The characters acknowledge the difference in skin tones between Quahog and Springfield and the fact that no one really knows in which state Springfield is located. A lot of the humor in this episode comes from merely contrasting similar characters from both shows - Mayor Quimby and Mayor West, Lenny and Quagmire, Carl and Cleveland, and a really great double-cameo I won't spoil here.

Of course, most of the focus is on the Griffin and Simpson families, as the characters quickly pair off and go about their business. Homer and Peter bond over their mutual love of beer, careless parenting, and harebrained schemes. Stewie finds a new role model in mischief-making in Bart. Lisa the over-achiever tries to help Meg find something she's good at doing. And Lois and Marge share some sort of housewife bond. That last pairing is defintiely the most underutilized in the episode, and I would have liked to see those characters play off one another a bit more.

But there's plenty of fun to be had in watching the Homer/Peter and Bart/Stewie scenes. I'm always glad when a Family Guy episode focuses on Stewie's evil mastermind side as opposed to just playing him as the well-spoken, effeminate genius baby and Evil Stewie comes out to play a bit here. And in general, it's entertaining to see the characters trade catchphrases and recurring jokes back and forth. In the case of long-running gags like prank phone calls to Moe or Peter's "Road House!" bit, what's old becomes slightly new again.

It's also interesting to see how the two shows merge stylistically. The Simpsons used to be the poster child for subversive television, but it's a pretty tame and innocent show by today's standards. Family Guy tends to be darker and more crude, relying on shock humor much more. You can see the more wholesome world of the Simpsons begin to collide with Family Guy's brand of humor. There's a rape joke, references to animal cruelty and self-mutilation, and other elements you simply wouldn't see in an episode of The Simpsons. But it works precisely because it highlights the gulf between the two shows and the rift that grows between the Simpson and Griffin families as the episode progresses.

The shift in setting also causes the writers to downplay a signature Family Guy element - the cutaway jokes. This is a good thing. The cutaways are so often a crutch on this show, and one of the main reasons why the largely cutaway-less American Dad is a superior comedy. Not only do the writers remain much more focused on the here and now of their premise, but those few cutaways that do crop up in Springfield are more memorable. The funniest moment of "The Simpsons Guy" comes when Peter tries to teach the completely clueless Homer how to set up a cutaway. In general, this episode is pretty successful in its attempts at meta-humor. It pokes fun not just at the similarities between the two shows, but other animated sitcoms. The characters acknowledge the creative desperation that inspires TV crossovers in the first place.

In terms of animation, "The Simpsons Guy" is able to capture the world of Springfield pretty well. The Simpsons characters look very much like their usual selves. Springfield itself appears a little more wide-open and three-dimensional. It's only when Family Guy's tendency to rely on flashier panning shots and computer-animated spectacle that the animation stands out as being very un-Simpsons-like.

The novelty of seeing these two animated worlds cross paths can only support an episode for so long, and this is where "The Simpsons Guy" falters. After a while the writers attempt to introduce a conflict that tears the Simpsons and Griffins apart, which includes the big fight between Homer and Peter that Fox has emphasized in their previews. The whole thing comes across as forced. One would think that the simple act of putting Peter and Homer in a room together would be enough conflict for both families to deal with, but the episode pulls a random swerve instead and never quite recovers.

LOL Even BlackBerry is making fun of the bendable iPhone 6

BlackBerry CEO John Chen wants you to know that his newly unveiled Passport smartphone won't fold under pressure.

The bent aluminium body of the iPhone 6.Screenshot by Claire Reilly/CNET

"I challenge you to bend the Passport," Chen said at the company's launch event for the device.

Chen was quick to bring up the issue, without actually mentioning the iPhone by name, only referring to it as that "other phone." It isn't the first time he has slammed his competitor, previously criticizing its weaker battery life and inferior security.

It's the latest barb fired off at Apple since the emergence of "bendgate," or reports that the thinner aluminum bodies of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are prone to bending. Photos have popped up online of warped iPhones stressed from simply being in a pocket.

APPLE RESPONSE HERE

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: "THE INVASION" REVIEW

IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD -- AGAIN! :(

→ SEPTEMBER 26, 2014 Note: This week's episode of TMNT is available to watch early on Nick.com, in addition to the broadcast premiere tonight at 8pm ET/PT, hence us publishing this review early!

Keep in mind, full spoilers from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 2 finale do follow.

In some ways -- okay, a lot of ways -- TMNT's Season 2 finale was a repeat of the Season 1 finale. Like that episode, this week's hour-long finale centered on the Kraang's invasion of Earth, as well as an attack from Shredder's crew. In fact, "The Invasion" hit a lot of theexact same plot points as "Showdown" (Splinter vs. Shredder, Leo sacrificing himself, etc.), the major difference being that pretty much everything was dialed up to 11. (As Casey Jones put it, "Dude, this is worse than that giant Technodrome thing last year!")

But perhaps the finale's greatest strength was in how it subtly entered darker emotional territory for the Turtles. Compared to the Season 1 finale, the stakes were higher, the dramatic impact was greater and, most importantly, the characters' actions were met with real consequences. As a result, we got a finale that subverted expectations by taking what we know about the Turtles' ability to always succeed, and turn that on its head.

At the same time, "The Invasion" maintained a good sense of fun (a key ingredient in this version of TMNT) and included a humorous side-adventure with Raphael and Casey. This meant the boys were topside for most of the finale, leaving them with basically zero context for the invasion. Still, that didn't stop them from getting in on the action. In fact, with Kraang Prime hitting the scene, we got to see, through Raph and Casey's perspective, the terraforming of Earth. ("Now that isreally messed up!")

It was a nice touch showing the distinct differences between a "pure" mutation and a typical one -- particularly with the humans, who in the finale turned into Kraang-like monsters rather than the usual, animal-based mutants. Likewise, the arrival of the Earth Protection Force offered a rare but much-needed glimpse at military intervention, allowing the Turtles to focus on Shredder and Kraang Prime.

Another funny -- and ingenious -- moment came when April brought Irma to the lair. In the '87 TMNT, Irma was still a good friend of April's but eventually became an ally to the Turtles. In this version, it felt like Irma was heading that same way, but -- again, subverting expectations -- she actually turned out to be a highly sophisticated Kraangdroid -- in this case, Kraang Subprime (voiced by comedian Gilbert Gottfried)! Not only was this a great twist on the character, but if you think about it, Irma's true identity was hinted at throughout Season 2: the fact that she never bundled up in cold weather, Ho Chan referencing her special "powers," etc. What's more, this was a subtle nod to theTurtlenator, which in the '87 series was an enemy robotalso disguised as Irma. Good stuff.

Additionally, "The Invasion" included a not-oft-seen dispute between Leonardo and Donatello, who couldn't agree on their next move. Same as the Season 1 finale, Leo sacrificed himself so that his friends could escape. Only this time, Leo's actions were met with devastating results. First, I have to mention the awesome fight sequence between Leo and the wave upon wave of Foot-bots, which was both skillfully animated and "shot." I was also impressed with Leo's ability to take down Rahzar, Fishface and even Tiger Claw with ease.

Granted, it was a foregone conclusion that Leo's duel with Shredder would end badly, but who'd have thought that Leo would be incapacitated for the whole rest of the episode? It was definitely a bold move on the part of the writers, but a strong one. Here, we saw the consequences of Leo going alone to face the enemy, and for once, they weren't pretty. That said, it did speak to his character as a leader and what it means to take charge in unfavorable circumstances.

Leo, NOOOOO!

Another great action sequence was the Shredder/Splinter fight, made even more epic by the surprise appearance of Leatherhead. I especially loved how, despite Leatherhead's immense size and raw power, he was no match for Shredder's combat experience. Rather, Leatherhead gave Splinter just enough time to recover and go back to fighting for round two. Naturally, this circled back to Mikey, Donnie, Raph and April, who were forced to watch their master defeated by Shredder. Going back to the emotional weight of this episode, I think the most powerful moment here was the bro hug between Mikey and Raph, as the former consoled the latter, letting him know it was all going to be okay.

Of course, the showstopper in "The Invasion" was the debut of the long-awaited Turtle Mech -- an appropriate climax, considering Season 2 was the season of Super Mecha Robo Force Five. It was also a nice touch -- since this was Donnie's pet project -- to have him be the one to yell "Booyakasha!" as they went toe-to-toe with Kraang Prime. Overall, some great action bits here, particularly the electro-harpoon and April's psychic energy blast.

But as I mentioned before, this was a darker storyline for TMNT, and unlike "Showdown," our heroes did not emerge victorious. Moreover, "The Invasion" ended on a major cliffhanger, with April, Casey and the Turtles (including an unconscious Leo) heading upstate -- in the Party Wagon, no less! -- to regroup at April's family cabin. Again, this was a pretty somber way to close out the season but very much in keeping with the dangerous path all these characters have taken.

(Also, Karai saving Splinter -- NICE!)

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