Heavy Rain creator details the difficulties of game engines and what he hopes the future holds

Heavy Rain development studio Quantic Dream is notorious for long development times. The studio's also notorious for critically-loved games with strong cinematic cores, and games that often look very different from the competition. Part of that is game design, but another major piece of the puzzle is the engines driving those games -- each game that Quantic Dream makes is built in a unique game engine, which is both very expensive and very time-consuming. The studio's founder and lead, David Cage, explained as much to us in an interview at DICE 2013. "Quantic Dream is a very special company in the sense that we do a lot of things that wouldn't make any sense in any other company. We haven't done any sequels so far, we work on new IPs each time. And we pretty much develop a new engine each time we develop a new game." But Cage doesn't harbor much love for that last part -- the game engine bit. He says that his studio opted out of the current console generation's game engine of choice (Unreal Engine 3) because, "we work with Sony, [and] we want to create the best technology for the hardware and see how far we can go." As a result, even Cage's latest work (Beyond: Two Souls) is crafted in a new engine -- the same one used to build the Kara demo we saw last March -- intended to show off the PlayStation 3's late-generation graphical and processing chops. Yes, even with the next PlayStation (codenamed "Orbis") waiting in the wings, his second-party Sony studio is still showing off the aging PS3's prowess. Beyond: Two Souls is more than just a showpiece, of course, with Quantic Dream employing actress Ellen Page to motion performance-capture the game's main character, and the same emphasis on storytelling the studio's practiced previously. Still, Cage hopes for a future where technology isn't something he and his studio need be concerned with.Filed under: Gaming, Software, HD, SonyComments

Dish Network to close 300 Blockbuster stores in the US

Blockbuster was once the largest movie rental company in the country before digital services such as Netflix and others began to seriously encroach on its turf. Blockbuster was forced to close many of its stores around the country and eventually filed bankruptcy. Satellite TV company Dish Network purchased Blockbuster in 2011 for $320 million. Dish Read The Full Story

Veronica Mars movie looks for crowdfunding, would have digital copies near release (video)

There's been no shortage of movie projects that lean on crowdfunding to get production underway. Producing a movie based on a major TV series like Veronica Mars, however? That's fresh. Creator Rob Thomas has obtained support from Warner Bros. and lead actress Kristen Bell for a Kickstarter funding drive that, if it hits its $2 million goal, will shoot a full-length Veronica Mars feature this summer with a premiere around early 2014. Pledge makers would be rewarded with anything from a copy of the script through to a speaking role in the title. To us, the real highlight is the planned release strategy -- like an increasing number of movies, we'd be watching digital copies "within a few days" of the opening, rather than months. While Thomas and crew can't declare the fundraiser over until April 12th, it's advancing quickly enough that the focus is less on whether or not the project will go forward and more on its chances at becoming an internet-backed blockbuster.Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, AltCommentsSource: Kickstarter

Five Xbox 360 Kinect games announced for 2011

Microsoft has announced five new, exclusive games for Xbox 360 that will work with the console’s upcoming Kinect motion gaming system.  The titles - “Steel Battalion Heavy Armor” (Capcom), “Rise of Nightmares” (SEGA), “codename D” (Grasshopper Manufacture), “Haunt” (NanaOn-Sha) and “Project Draco” (Grounding) – all debuted at the Tokyo Game Show 2010; they’re expected to arrive sometime in 2011.

The titles themselves range from 3D flying to first-person shooters, though full details on how players will control them using Kinect is yet to be seen.  Similarly, it’s unclear whether the games are single-player or take advantage of Kinect’s support for more than two simultaneous gamers. • “codename D” (Grasshopper Manufacture, Microsoft Game Studios). From the famed makers of “killer7” and the “NO MORE HEROES” series comes “codename D” from SUDA 51 for Microsoft Game Studios. You must fight for your life to survive an evil amusement park filled with twisted and eerie creatures. With “codename D” for Kinect for Xbox 360, you are the controller as you unleash devastating effects to destroy enemies and objects. • “Project Draco” (Grounding, Microsoft Game Studios). The director of the cult hits “Phantom Dust” and “Panzer Dragoon,” game director Yukio Futatsugi, brings you an epic 3-D flying shooter. With the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360, you will be able to nurture and learn to communicate with your dragon as you develop its skills and train it as a partner in combat. Then join friends* on Xbox LIVE to feel the rush of flight as you take to the skies together and experience breathtaking vistas and engage in thrilling battles. • “Haunt” (NanaOn-Sha, Microsoft Game Studios). Gather friends and family to delve deep into a haunted house dripping with mystery — you’ll need every ounce of your wit and cunning if you hope to unravel the veil of rumors that hide its darkest secret. Dodge traps and outwit ghosts, ghouls and frights that lurk with glee around each and every corner. Take a deep breath and immerse yourself in “Haunt,” spooky fun for Kinect for Xbox 360. • “Steel Battalion Heavy Armor” (Capcom, From Software). This all-new game revives the fan-favorite “Steel Battalion” series. With the support of Microsoft, Capcom and From Software join forces to bring this groundbreaking collaborative project to Xbox 360. Manhattan, 2082: In a world where computers and almost all modern technology have been lost, the greatest nations of the world continue to battle for supremacy. The American army lands in New York to begin its first big offensive of a long ground war. Soldiers fire from the trenches as scorched bunkers belch black smoke. As comrades continually fall to the unrelenting crossfire of bullets, the Vertical Tanks make their relentless advance. Experience the battlefield as never before with Kinect for Xbox 360. • “Rise of Nightmares” (SEGA). “Rise of Nightmares” offers a spine-tingling horror experience that uses the innovative new controls of Kinect for Xbox 360 to give players the ultimate fright. Using their whole body, players will experience fear and tension as never before in this exclusive Kinect for Xbox 360 horror adventure. Kinect will arrive on November 4th as part of a 250GB Xbox 360 bundle priced at $399.99.  It’ll also be available with a 4GB version of the console, and as a standalone peripheral for existing 360 owners, priced at $299.99 and $149.99 respectively. Press Release: Xbox 360 Ushers in New Era in Entertainment With Five New, Exclusive Kinect Games by Legendary Japanese Creators “Steel Battalion Heavy Armor” (Capcom), “Rise of Nightmares” (SEGA), “codename D” (Grasshopper Manufacture), “Haunt” (NanaOn-Sha) and “Project Draco” (Grounding) unveiled for Kinect for Xbox 360 at Tokyo Game Show. TOKYO — Sept. 16, 2010 — Today, Microsoft Corp. and the industry’s leading Japanese storytellers showcased 10 transformative games, including five exclusive titles for Kinect for Xbox 360, the controller-free entertainment experience releasing exclusively on Xbox 360 this November. Phil Spencer, corporate vice president for Microsoft Game Studios, and Takashi Sensui, general manager of the Home & Entertainment Division for Microsoft, delivered the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) keynote address alongside legendary Japanese creators including Goichi Suda, also known as “SUDA 51,” chief executive officer of Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.; Keiji Inafune, global head of production of Capcom and From Software; Yukio Futatsugi, game director for Grounding; Shigenobu Matsuyama, producer for “METAL GEAR SOLID: RISING”; and Masaya Matsuura, president for NanaOn-Sha Co. Ltd., who appeared via video. Capcom and SEGA delighted the TGS audience with two exclusive games for Kinect for Xbox 360: “Steel Battalion™ Heavy Armor,” a unique battle experience, and the first-person horror adventure “Rise of Nightmares.” Microsoft also previewed a new portfolio of Kinect for Xbox 360 games including eerie amusement-park thriller “codename D” by Grasshopper Manufacture, 3-D adventure game “Project Draco” by Grounding, and the chilling mystery “Haunt” by NanaOn-Sha. “Microsoft has never been more committed to Japanese developers, the heart of innovative gameplay, thrilling stories and iconic heroes,” Spencer said. “To date, Japanese games have already grossed more than $2 billion on Xbox 360, and today’s announcements signal tremendous opportunities for Japanese developers to deliver the future of gaming with Kinect.” “This is the biggest year in our history with controller-free entertainment, the best blockbuster games, movies, television, music and sports all coming to Xbox 360,” Sensui said. “With the talent of the best creators from Japan, we’re able to bring even more fresh and unexpected experiences to millions of people around the world.” Five Exclusive Titles for Kinect for Xbox 360 Looking for adventure and a rush of adrenaline? Microsoft introduced five immersive, exclusive Kinect for Xbox 360 games available in 2011: • “codename D” (Grasshopper Manufacture, Microsoft Game Studios). From the famed makers of “killer7” and the “NO MORE HEROES” series comes “codename D” from SUDA 51 for Microsoft Game Studios. You must fight for your life to survive an evil amusement park filled with twisted and eerie creatures. With “codename D” for Kinect for Xbox 360, you are the controller as you unleash devastating effects to destroy enemies and objects. • “Project Draco” (Grounding, Microsoft Game Studios). The director of the cult hits “Phantom Dust” and “Panzer Dragoon,” game director Yukio Futatsugi, brings you an epic 3-D flying shooter. With the magic of Kinect for Xbox 360, you will be able to nurture and learn to communicate with your dragon as you develop its skills and train it as a partner in combat. Then join friends* on Xbox LIVE to feel the rush of flight as you take to the skies together and experience breathtaking vistas and engage in thrilling battles. • “Haunt” (NanaOn-Sha, Microsoft Game Studios). Gather friends and family to delve deep into a haunted house dripping with mystery — you’ll need every ounce of your wit and cunning if you hope to unravel the veil of rumors that hide its darkest secret. Dodge traps and outwit ghosts, ghouls and frights that lurk with glee around each and every corner. Take a deep breath and immerse yourself in “Haunt,” spooky fun for Kinect for Xbox 360. • “Steel Battalion Heavy Armor” (Capcom, From Software). This all-new game revives the fan-favorite “Steel Battalion” series. With the support of Microsoft, Capcom and From Software join forces to bring this groundbreaking collaborative project to Xbox 360. Manhattan, 2082: In a world where computers and almost all modern technology have been lost, the greatest nations of the world continue to battle for supremacy. The American army lands in New York to begin its first big offensive of a long ground war. Soldiers fire from the trenches as scorched bunkers belch black smoke. As comrades continually fall to the unrelenting crossfire of bullets, the Vertical Tanks make their relentless advance. Experience the battlefield as never before with Kinect for Xbox 360. • “Rise of Nightmares” (SEGA). “Rise of Nightmares” offers a spine-tingling horror experience that uses the innovative new controls of Kinect for Xbox 360 to give players the ultimate fright. Using their whole body, players will experience fear and tension as never before in this exclusive Kinect for Xbox 360 horror adventure. Take Aim and Jump in the Ring on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 Japanese developers Treasure and Spike announced the revival of two beloved downloadable,* controller-based experiences on Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360 — putting your avatar directly into the fighting ring and bringing arguably one of the best 2-D shooters to international audiences for the first time: • “Fire Pro Wrestling” (Spike, Microsoft Game Studios). Your avatar makes its debut as a pro wrestler! From Spike, creator of the “Fire Pro Wrestling” series, comes this pro wrestling game for everyone. Customize your avatar wrestler, choosing from a wide selection of costumes, before you step into the arena and run wild. Unlock new moves as you advance your wrestling career. Face off against family and friends in offline and online competitive play modes, including single match and tag teams. Ding-ding, round one! • “Radiant Silvergun” (Treasure, Microsoft Game Studios). The classic scrolling shooter from Japan and spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed “Ikaruga” receives an international release in this revival on Xbox LIVE Arcade on Xbox 360, the first ever since SEGA Saturn. “Radiant Silvergun” will see the return of the unique seven-weapon system among other fan-favorite gameplay features, as well as improvements, including the addition of a new system to enhance the challenging original chain system. Home for the Best Games in 2010 and Beyond The destination for the biggest blockbusters like “Dead Rising 2,” “Fable III” and “Halo: Reach,” Xbox 360 bolstered its impressive lineup with these previews: • “Body and Brain Connection” (NAMCO BANDAI Games). “Body and Brain Connection” challenges players to exercise both mind and body in the most cerebral and energetic party game ever from the originators of the video game brain training craze. Players of all ages must think fast and act even faster as they answer math, logic, reflex, memory and physical questions using the full-motion capabilities of Kinect for Xbox 360. Featuring over 20 different activities in single-player and multiplayer modes, the game lets up to four friends compete in fun and engaging activities as they strive for the youngest brain age. A daily progress tracker makes sure that players are up to date with their current brain age as they continue to stimulate both mind and body. • “Child of Eden” (Ubisoft). “Child of Eden” is a “multi-sensory shooter” that will send players diving into a kaleidoscopic matrix of synchronized music and mind-blowing visuals that will usher forth yet another landmark game experience from the mind of renowned game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, its creator. “Child of Eden” thrusts the player in the center of a battle to save Project Lumi, a mission to reproduce a human personality inside Eden, the archive of all human memories. As the project nears completion, the archive is invaded by an unknown virus. The player’s mission is to save Eden from the virus to restore hope and peace. • “METAL GEAR SOLID: RISING” (Kojima Productions). “METAL GEAR SOLID: RISING” is the highly anticipated debut of Hideo Kojima’s critically acclaimed “METAL GEAR SOLID” franchise on Xbox 360. “METAL GEAR SOLID: RISING” will star Raiden, one of the most popular characters in the “METAL GEAR SOLID” universe, in a new, lightning bolt action adventure on Xbox 360. Relevant Entries on SlashGearMicrosoft Kinect Priced $149.99 at GameStop, Bundled Pricing IncludedMicrosoft Kinect Getting Showcased at 13 Macy StoresXbox 360 250GB Kinect bundle official for Nov 4thMicrosoft Xbox Kinect Official Name for Project NatalThe King’s XBOX Games!

'Kick-Ass 2' Trailer Promises More Profane Beat Downs

Chloe Grace Moretz charmed fans of both nerdiness and violence as the teenage heroine Hit-Girl back in 2010's box office hit comic book adaptation Kick-Ass. Now she's back for more beat downs in Kick-Ass 2.The sequel's trailer finally hit YouTube on Wednesday, to the joy of many excited fans. It's embedded above and promises more action-packed combat and foul-mouthed humorWhile some denigrated the first Kick-Ass for its profanity level and violence-prone child protagonist, the movie was a success with movie-goers as well as many film critics. The second installment brings Moretz back as Hit-Girl, and introduces Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. The surefire summer blockbuster is slated to hit theaters on Aug. 16

Quantic Dream's 12-minute PS4 tech demo is ready for your viewing pleasure (video)

Now that the dust has settled from Sony's E3 press conference, Quantic Dream's posted the entirety of its PS4 tech demo, The Dark Sorcerer. Over on the PlayStation Blog, the studio's director, David Cage, laid out the finer points of their experience with performance capturing and going from flexing the PS3's graphical muscle to working with the next-gen powerhouse. When it comes to technical details, the Heavy Rain developer's comedic sketch was rendered at 1080p in real-time (lighting and all), includes one million polygons for the set and just shy of a million for every on-screen character, which each boast 350MB of textures and roughly 40 different shaders.Impressed with what you see? Cage says it's bound to get better. As it stands, the engine used for the demonstration is in its first iteration, and is missing features that are scheduled for the final version. "We can feel that we are closing in little by little on the kind of graphic quality we find in CG films," Cage notes. Venture past the break for the video or hit the bordering source link for more background.Filed under: Gaming, SonyCommentsSource: PlayStation Blog, PlayStation (YouTube)

Blockbuster ditches plans for Netflix competitor

When Dish bought Blockbuster after its bankruptcy last year, the company had plans to overhaul their movie streaming and DVD-by-mail service for Dish customers by using Blockbuster stores to sell mobile devices that would be used to stream Blockbuster movies. However, it turns out Dish is going to pull a 180 and scrap its plans Read The Full Story

Blockbuster launches new Android app

Blockbuster was once the largest movie rental company in the country. The company has seen its popularity decline significantly in recent years as more and more people move to streaming movie rentals and mail-order services from Netflix and others. Blockbuster has closed many of its locations around the country, but there are still some Blockbuster Read The Full Story

Fujitsu eye-tracking tech uses built-in motion sensor, infrared LED for hands-free computing (video)

Eye-tracking technology looks to be one of the major tropes at CEATEC this year. One of many companies demoing a gaze-following setup is Fujitsu, which is showing off a prototype desktop PC with a built-in sensor and infrared LED. This configuration should be cheaper than many other eye-controlled solutions out there, as the components are integrated directly into the computer and no external hardware is needed. It's sweet and simple: the camera captures the reflection of light on the user's eye, and image processing technology then calculates the user's viewing angle to allow for hands-free navigation on-screen. We got a brief eyes-on with Fujitsu's demo, which shows off the eye-controlled tech working with a map application. Even without any detectible calibration, the system did a respectable job of navigating around Tokyo based on how we moved our eyes. Panning from right to left works especially seamlessly, but moving up and down required a bit more effort -- we caught ourselves moving our whole head a few times. This is an early demonstration of course, though Fujitsu has already enumerated several applications for this technology, from assisting disabled users to simply eliminating the need to look down at the mouse and keyboard. See the gaze detection in action in our hands-on video past the break.Continue reading Fujitsu eye-tracking tech uses built-in motion sensor, infrared LED for hands-free computing (video)Filed under: Desktops, Misc, PeripheralsFujitsu eye-tracking tech uses built-in motion sensor, infrared LED for hands-free computing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Blockbuster On Demand for iOS looks to take on Netflix

Blockbuster On Demand has been available on a heap of devices for a while now, but the app just launched on iOS today, allowing users to stream Blockbuster content on their devices using a per-movie payment scheme. The app launched on Android back in January, and it looks like the company is wanting to spice Read The Full Story