It’s certainly no secret that the XBox 360 had a few issues with overheating. Estimates are that the Red Ring of Death cost Microsoft over a billion dollars. Obviously, cooling has been a priority issue in the development of the XBox One. The next-gen console can reportedly identify when it’s overheating and cool itself accordingly. Which seems obvious and I thought all computer products had this built in. If the 360 isn’t cooling itself, why the hell does it sound like a jet engine? According to Microsoft’s GM of Console Development, Leo del Castillo, “We can’t prevent misuse of the product [such as blocking the vents], but we can certainly anticipate it. The way we designed the box, we don’t actually intend it to ever have to go to maximum speed under normal environmental conditions.” The console can reportedly dial down its power requirement in an overheat situation, something that was not possible with the 360’s hardware. Del Castillo as indicated they may also provide some other cue for gamers to recognize when their console is overheating, allowing them to self-correct the situation. Which basically means they’ll warn you if your console needs a break. The console still has no release date, but Microsoft has promised big news at Gamescom in Germany next week.
Had trouble keeping up on all the games recently, especially Capcom titles? The publisher wants to make it easy for you by releasing the Capcom Essentials Bundle on October 8th for PS3 and 360. The $60 bundle includes four retail titles and a download card for Mega Man 10. This is your chance to get Devil May Cry 4, Super Street Fighter IV, Dead Rising 2, and Resident Evil 6 for the same price as one new retail release. It also includes a Capcom branded string backpack. This is a perfect time for a bundle like this if you’re just looking to fill time while you save for your next-gen console.
With the new consoles approaching there are several titles that will release on both generations. The question arises, for games like Battlefield 4, if you buy the game on release for current consoles will you have start over on your multiplier progress if you upgrade to next-gen. The answer for that game is “no.” Multiplayer progress can be imported from your PS3/360 copy to your PS4/XB1 copy. It is presumed but not confirmed that Call of Duty: Ghosts will follow suit. What about DLC? Should you forego purchasing the Season Pass on a game because you plan to upgrade later? Again, Microsoft says “no” (I expect Sony to offer the same deal but that is not confirmed yet). The Season Pass guarantee from Microsoft says that any pass you buy for a game on 360 will automatically credit you with the equivalent Season Pass when you buy the XB1 copy. For the thriftiest of you, this probably doesn’t matter since you’ll either buy early and stick with the old version or just wait for next-gen. However, GameStop is offering a pretty sweet deal for those who plan to upgrade. They’re offering to sell you a next-gen game for $9.99 when you trade in the same title from current-gen. That doesn’t mean you can trade in your PS3 Battlefield 4 for the PS4 Call of Duty, it has to be a same title swap. Which is a great deal for people whose impatience is worth $10.
Nintendo may be the butt of gamer jokes but Sony is clearly offering them the sincerest form of flattery. It all started with Sony Smash Bros. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Their latest flattery is Vita Pets, coming in 2014. Creative Director Kevin Oxland wants you to believe this is not Nintendogs (“We set out to make something that was more than just a pet sim – we wanted to make something that felt like a real game, with characters, fun and adventure, so that’s exactly what we did.”) but don’t be fooled. It will come with four different puppies to dress, bathe, and feed. They can also go adventuring and solve puzzles on Castlewood Island.
A recent statement by Michael Pattison of Capcom makes it sound as if Resident Evil 7 will take the long-running franchise back to its survival horror origins. Resident Evil 6 didn’t sell as well as hoped (5million units out of the expected 7million) despite the developers attempt to make the title more mainstream. Rather than trying to reach all gamers, their plans now seem to be more targeted on their classic fans. Does this mean it’s back to the fixed camera and only being able to shoot while standing still? Probably not, as 15 year old game mechanics won’t function well with a modern audience. Instead, the developers are looking toward two of this year’s best titles for inspiration, Tomb Raider and The Last of Us. According to Pattison, “A lot is said about the saturation of this zombie, post-apocalyptic survival horror. But it is still alive and well. The Last of Us shows a good direction of what the consumers want. Tomb Raider as well, we spoke to R&D and they looked at that and they enjoyed that experience. I think that proves there is still a strong market for that sort of content.” I, for one, would love to see another Resident Evil that brings back the creepiness, the slower pace, the conservation of resources, and the more deliberate action. Hopefully we’ll hear more about this soon.
After announcing that they’ve scaled back the number of regions where the XBox One will launch Microsoft is offering a little hope to those delayed areas with the announcement that its games will be region free (like the PS4 and the PS3 before it). Of the original 21 territories promised the new console at launch, only thirteen will get it in the first wave. Those eight markets that have been cut, as well as others that were never in the initial schedule, now have the option of importing an XBox One. It’s more expensive and you may find yourself unable to acquire the appropriate DLC, but at least it’s an option. Music and video content, such as Netflix, will be “geo-restricted.” Albert Penello, Microsoft’s Director of Marketing, explains why Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland were cut from the November launch: “Launch volumes are not really an issue. This was simply a software issue in terms of getting local language and voice support in the dash. It’s pretty straightforward, but disappointing I know for people who are missing launch.” The cut territories can expect their consoles “as soon as possible” in 2014. Microsoft has indicated those affected territories will likely receive a game bundled with their hardware when it eventually releases.
Dead Rising 2 and its accompanying Case Zero are now available for free as part of Microsoft’s Games for Gold program. This offer will remain until August 31st. New games are planned for September 1st and 16th but haven’t been announced yet.
Previously advertised as coming in the “launch window” for next-gen consoles, Eidos Montreal’s Thief has now been narrowed down to February 25, 2014. The game will release simultaneously for XBox 360, XB1, PS3, and PS4.
That rounds out this week. Gamescom is next week and I fully expect some major news, perhaps even launch dates and day one titles for the next-gen consoles. I’m thinking one of them drops on Guy Fawkes Day and the other is coming November 19th. Any other guesses? And does it strike anyone else as funny that Guy Fawkes Day coincides with mid-term election day in the U.S. this year?