Photo: HTC ReVIVE

On the eve of Mobile World Congress, Valve and HTC revealed their joint project to bring their version of VR gaming to the world. Promising a single-room sized experience with an incredible refresh rate of 90Hz and one 1200 x 1080 screen over each eye. Developer units will be ready this Spring and the retail models will be out in time for the holidays. The gamer gets to use their own head phones and it goes without saying that the better your headphone choice, the better your audio experience will be. 

The trailer for “Re VIVE”  touts the endless possibilities reachable through VR, and with this being powered by Valve’s VR tech, make no mistake those possibilities are quite good. Heading into the market against Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift it makes one wonder, is this the next technologic step for gaming or is this a short-lived fad? I for one, hope that VR is the next big thing, so I can game without staring at your ugly mugs.

Picking one up at launch? Disugsted at the thought? Sound off below!

Via Playstation Blog

The PS Vita turns three this week, and Sony is celebrating by giving gamers mad deals on a stack of Vita games. While some of the titles may not be as sought after as a few of the critics choice sale items. It’s a great chance to snag up some games you may have missed. Might as well buy “Dracula X Chronicles” a third time while you’re at it. List below 

The sale will be live tomorrow after the weekly PlayStation Store update:

Disney released the “Star Wars Rebels” skin pack for “Minecraft” on all systems today. The pack gets you access to over 20 characters in the “Rebels” Universe. What price do they ask for? A scant $2.99 to add this to your block-crafting glee. This skin pack joins it’s friends from “Doctor Who” Volume 1 and 2, the festive skin pack and others as more content for your open-world adventure. Sound off below if you’re picking this up!

FanX 2015 is just behind us, and among the throngs of celebrities was Donald Mustard, Founder and Creative Director of ChAIR. In the interview he talks about his thoughts on mobile gaming, what it’s like working with EPIC Games and even mentions that they are working on an unannounced project. You can listen directly just after the logo, or read the short interview! Check it out!

That was a great panel, I enjoyed hearing your take on the industry:

Mustard: I like that too, you know, I love the Industry but I love seeing the more human side of it as well. I love the stuff where I can hear the process and the behind the scenes stuff.

What is different between working with EPIC and making your own IP?

Mustard: This is actually what we liked about EPIC. After Undertow and Advent Rising we knew being acquired was in our future, we were being courted by EA and Microsoft, but EPIC was saying, “We’ll buy you and you can keep doing what you’re doing.” While the others were saying, “It’ll be great, we’ll buy you and you can work on one of these titles.” That’s not what I wanted, we wanted to make our own games. So I have the advantages of doing what I want as a smaller studio, but with the resources of a larger studio.

Imagine in 15 or so years, the President of the United States will be someone who played “Mario.”

How do you feel about mobile games and their effect on the Industry?

Mustard: I know this topic is really divisive but, I personally love it. I love that there are so many different games now, that games are everywhere. I love that games appeal to my mom as much as they appeal to me and my kids. When we were growing up, most games were targeted to us, and I love that this is a big thing. Just imagine in the next 10-15 years, the President of the United States will be someone who played “Mario.” Games are not just our culture, but the culture of the entire world. In a large part mobile has allowed for that to happen, since so much power is in your pocket. I believe hardcore games will be around forever and so will casual.

What games are you playing now and what are your favorites?

Mustard: I am obsessed with two games now. The first is “Destiny”, and you know I have a lot of friends at “Bungie”, but I am not a “Halo” fan. I loved their core mechanics and shooting and vehicles, but the world never captured me. “Destiny” is that with an amazing meta game with the world and weapons and leveling. So I love that and “Hearthstone”, I just got my character in “Destiny” to level 32, so I’m moving up. 

 You can find more about ChAIR Entertainment at their website, you can also find Donald Mustard on Twitter.

The key points for gamers to appreciate about Windows 10 deal directly with Xbox and Microsoft’s continued push to integrate gaming and multimedia throughout the usual US household. On Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Microsoft’s <> announced the following things to look forward to in the coming months:

• Windows 10 will come with the Xbox App which allows for Xbox gaming on a PC or a console. Users will be able to see their recent play list from their devices as well as their friends and what they’re doing and how they’re connected. The Xbox app will also enable cross-device multiplayer through Xbox Live.
• Game DVR on Xbox One and on PC through the Xbox App. Gamers will be able to use simple and fast controls to save the last 30 seconds of game experience. The natural and great moments in gaming happen unexpectedly and the DVR feature allows for players to save the moments they want to share and to edit those moments before they share them.
• The Xbox App will enable players to stream games installed on their Xbox One to any PC device. If a user wants to play the last game they were on in their living room, with Windows 10 anyone with a PC and an Xbox can do so. Game streaming is not just for consoles and mobile gaming devices.
• Windows 10 will come with DirectX 12 which will consume half as much resources for the same video and gaming features in games using DirectX 11. Microsoft is promising better and faster graphics with lower battery consumption by games made for mobile devices.

 
Image: Microsoft.com

Windows Insiders were promised new builds next week that enable the Xbox app and streaming gaming. The builds will be in a beta state as Microsoft continues a collaborative development process with end users that a few years ago, under Steve Ballmer’s leadership, would seem like a concept foreign to Microsoft. This Microsoft is truly heading in exciting directions and if you’d like to be a part of the conversation, now is the perfect time to become a Windows Insider here.

Image: Microsoft.com

The crew assembles to talk about releases for 2015. With so many games ahead what else could you be excited for? While Lance continues his hate of Playstation, the crew also weighs in on Playstation Nows new sub service and the endless possibilities this brings. If that isn’t enough they then give their gaming resolutions.

Sony’s game streaming service, Playstation Now, is a brilliant idea that most people haven’t given its due. The ability to play top quality games on your TV via just the internet is revolutionary and should have been one of the most talked about things of 2014. Unfortunately for Sony and all of us, the pricing model was completely out of line with the service being rendered. Sure, five bucks to rent a game for a week isn’t a bad deal, but who in the hell would pay $20 to rent Final Fantasy XIII for a month when they could just pick it up used for $10 at their local Gamestop?

Well, Sony apparently heard the outcry, and starting January 13, gamers will be able to buy unlimited access to all 100+ games for only $20 a month or $45 for three months. While it’s a bit surprising that they didn’t launch the model this way to begin with, it’s definitely a welcome change, and one that I and the good folks over at the Big Shiny Podcast have been clamoring for since we heard about the service.

The change comes just in time too, as Playstation Now will soon be available in new Samsung TVs as well as Sony ones.

Following the staggering success of Twitch, Valve has announced that you can begin watching game broadcasts through “Steam” starting today! All you need to do is opt in to the Steam Beta from your settings panel to begin viewing other broadcasts. There is mention that the number of simultaneous viewers could fluctuate as the service is tested and perfect. Yet again, Steam is changing their platform in an incredible way. You can get more info at the Broadcasting Beta Page.

The crew reassembles after a two week hiatus to discuss Alien: Isolation, The Evil Within, Advanced Warfighter, Dance Central, The Evolve Big Alpha and the new Zelda info! We also introduce a new segment this week called “Bring Out Your Dead!” where we talk about a key element that is a stable in gaming and suddenly is gone.

We also got a new mascot drawn and inked by Avin Hart. What do you think?

“AC Unity” aims to give us an “Assassin’s Creed” experience like we’ve never had before. Players pick up armor and weapons that modify your play style as you choose the equipment. With thousands of possible combinations of items and weapons it is possible that no one Assassin will be the same. Don’t forget the game modes that focus on co-op which will force players to work together to succeed. There are loads of disguises as well to let the player work through group missions. Different abilities including group healing and assassin’s cache also add a new element to the experience. You can check the full preview below! Will you be snagging this on November 11?