We’re back with another early edition of this week’s gaming news.
Personally, I’m not much of a music ‘bot. I like what I like but can’t usually explain why. I have a fairly eclectic taste, but I can’t really say I have a deep appreciation for any of it. When it comes to games, I only tend to notice the music when it’s really bad, becomes part of the gameplay, or just kicks too much ass to ignore. The first and third are pretty few and far between for me. But, I know there are tons of people with a serious love for game music, and this first one is just for them. If you’re one of those people, you probably already own an album called “The Greatest Video Game Music.” Well, like all things video games, successful ventures get sequels. The Greatest Video Game Music 2 is on its way and is currently available for preorder on iTunes. This second volume will feature 17 tracks from popular games recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. For a limited time you can actually download a free track from the album, Halo‘s Never Forget / Peril. You can snag the free track here. The full album will be released on November 6th. Here’s the full tracklist:
- Assassin’s Creed: Revelations – Main Theme
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Far Horizons
- The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker – Dragon Roost Island
- Final Fantasy VII – One-Winged Angel
- Mass Effect 3 – A Future for the Krogan/An End Once And For All
- Halo – Never Forget/Peril
- Sonic the Hedgehog – A Symphonic Suite
- Chrono Trigger – Main Theme
- Luigi’s Mansion – Main Theme
- Kingdom Hearts – Fate of the Unknown
- Super Metroid – A Symphonic Poem
- Diablo III – Overture
- Batman: Arkham City – Main Theme
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Icarus Main Theme
- Fez – Adventure
- Portal – Still Alive
- Little Big Planet – Orb Of Dreamers (The Cosmic Imagisphere)
In a presentation at the first Edmonton Comics & Entertainment Expo, Bioware has revealed that Dragon Age III: Inquisitions was in pre-production longer than both of its franchise predecessors and Mass Effect. Jon Perry, Cinematic Designer, also bragged that “one level in Dragon Age III is as big as all of the levels in Dragon Age II.” That’s a pretty massive scope. Beyond that, there was a hint that the player will be able to control their own castle, and a few pieces of concept art. No release window has been set, but it’s possible this picture of castle could be one you control in the game:
Zombietron’s certainly made no secret of his excitement for BioShock Infinite. Are you just as excited for February 26, 2013? Then you will want to get started on unlocking in-game content through BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution, a puzzle game available to those who preorder any of the three upcoming editions. That link will let you order from several mass retailers or direct from Irrational’s store. I may be crazy, but I think I might be more interested in the preorder bonus than the actual game.
Quite some time ago I reported in VGQH that Michael Fassbender was getting involved with the possible Assassin’s Creed movie. News has been pretty stale on that project ever since, but new activity has roused the story. Ubisoft Motion Pictures announced yesterday that they have teamed up with New Regency to develop in “close collaboration.” While the screenplay is currently a work in progress, production is being “fast tracked” as “the creative pieces come together.” Ubisoft will reportedly retain creative control over “key elements.” New Regency apparently became interested in the partnership after recently working with Fassbender on Twelve Years a Slave (2013; with Brad Pitt and Benedict Cumberbatch; directed by Steve McQueen). Release windows were not discussed, but more details will likely be developing soon.
You’ll likely notice today that the PlayStation Store update you were expecting didn’t happen (assuming you’re North American). The switch has already taken place in Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries, but it has had some technical hiccups. While most of the issues have been address, SCEA has decided to postpone the American launch until they can insure it will run smoothly. The “old” store is completely functional and will continue to be the interface until further notice. A revised release date has not been revealed, but you’ll read about it in VGQH when we know more.
On a somewhat related note, PS3 System Software 4.30 will be launching today. For trophy hunters, you will now see your trophy list un PlayStation Network on the XMB. Additionally, your current level and progress to the next level will also be visible in your list. At long last, your Vita trophies will now be visible in your PS3 list as well. Don’t care about trophies? There is one other big change. Beginning in November, Sony is retiring the Life With PlayStation services on PS3. New users will unable to obtain the application with the new firmware. Among the services being discontinued is Folding@home, “a distributed computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding and studying the causes of a variety of diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s as well as various cancers.” Since the introduction of the PS3, over 15 million users (myself included) have contributed over 100 million hours of processing time to the Stanford University project. An explanation for ending this service was not provided, but Vijay Pande of Folding@home did provide a little information about what we’ve accomplished with it over the years:
The PS3 system was a game changer for Folding@home, as it opened the door for new methods and new processors, eventually also leading to the use of GPUs. We have had numerous successes in recent years. Specifically, in a paper just published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, we report on tests of predictions from earlier Folding@home simulations, and how these predictions have led to a new strategy to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The next steps, now underway at Stanford, are to take this lead compound and help push it towards a viable drug. It’s too early to report on our preliminary results there, but I’m very excited that the directions set out in this paper do appear to be bearing fruit in terms of a viable drug (not just a drug candidate).
Sony isn’t the only one with an interface update. The new dashboard for XBox 360 is rolling out worldwide, bringing with it the SmartGlass application which will go live this Friday. According to Microsoft’s Major Nelson, “When the Xbox SmartGlass app launches on tablets, PCs and smartphones, it will include key foundational experiences for interacting with your Xbox 360, such as dashboard and app navigation and Internet Explorer control, like text input, scrolling and pinch and zoom.” This new app is basically Microsoft beating Nintendo to the punch on the WiiU. In addition to announcing its imminent release, Nelson also provided a list of what games and apps will see immediate use of the function:
- Ascend
- Dance Central 3
- Forza Horizon
- Halo Waypoint
- Home Run Stars
- Karaoke
- Kinect Sesame Street TV
- Prima Games
- ESPN
- NBA Game Time
- UFC
- Elections 2012
- HBO GO
- MSN
- NBC News
- NOW TV
- Slacker Radio
- TODAY
- Univision
Do you remember the XBox Hardware with Subscription model Microsoft was talking about several months ago. It has been released in Microsoft stores for a while now and it is being deemed not just a success, but “absolutely pivotal” to the Microsoft business model. Having already expanded the pilot program to Best Buy and select GameStops, the strategy will be moved to all GameStops, Wal-Mart, and Toys ‘R’ Us in the next few months. The strategy is similar to a cell phone contract, where you can get your XBox 360 and a Kinect for the introductory price of $99, provided you sign a two year contract for a Gold Live membership at $14.99 a month. It has been so successful that Microsoft’s general manager for interactive entertainment marketing, Matt Barlow, apparently told The Wall Street Journal that they already plan to include it on future hardware. Read that how you like, but it seems pretty obvious that Microsoft’s mythical next-gen console will use this structure. While I initially loathed the concept, I am slowly warming to it. A Gold membership wouldn’t mean much to someone like me, who primarily plays offline, but a similar set up from Sony with a two year PS+ membership seems right up my alley, assuming Sony doesn’t turn to a pay to play online strategy like Microsoft’s with the PS4.
Interested in accessing the God of War: Ascension multiplayer beta? Of course you are. Sony has revealed that there will be two paths to the beta. First and obvious, join PlayStation Plus. All members will get the beta. Second, play the Rise of the Warrior social game. This “graphic-novel style story” will see you “embark on a quest for redemption that leads you toward becoming the next Champion of the Gods.” During the game you will be choosing a faction, Spartan or Trojan. By competing in challenges you will be able to earn a week’s beta access for your faction. Learn more at the official website. The game is coming March 12, 2013. Actual launch date for the beta is not yet announced.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD:
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Steve Masters, Lead Designer for Assassin’s Creed III, may have exposed a clue to what we’ll be seeing in next week’s game. He recently told the Official XBox Magazine that what they’re “trying to do is bring some finality to Desmond’s story… to actually wrap up what you’ve opened and experienced with him. So we’re trying to make it a little bit more direct with the storyline, but at the same time there are still going to be plenty of little mysterious bits for you to dig into, especially in the side stuff.” There will apparently “be a big leap forward in the story.” That seems pretty final for Desmond, in one way or another. However, Masters went on to say that they want “you to feel a good sense of progress in what’s going on in the story.” Progress is not an ending. I expect that we will finally be able to see resolution on the horizon, but I’d expect that Ubisoft has plans to make an Assassin’s Creed III trilogy for Connor, much as they did for Ezio. Does that mean we wouldn’t see Desmond’s story end until Connor’s third trip? Or would we somehow see Connor’s tale be completed by a new, modern assassin. It seems odd that they would end their star’s tale in what would essentially be a side game, like Brotherhood or Revelations, instead of a numbered title. We’ll all know in shortly over a week, as ACIII releases on October 30th.
Also a possible spoiler is the PlayStation Blog‘s coverage of the PS3-exclusive missions for Assassin’s Creed III involving Benedict Arnold. All you’re getting from me is that link though. If you want to know what they have to say about it, you’ll have to read it from them. I don’t want to be spoiled any further.
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That wraps it up for this edition. What I was expecting to be a short one today turned out pretty robust. Will we have another big installment on Friday?