Gadgets and Video Games

EA DICE has been a fairly prolific developer during the current console generation, churning out both a high-profile title based on original IP ( Mirror’s Edge ), as well as ones based on established franchises like Battlefield . EA was searching for a way to capitalize on the downtime between these blockbuster releases — a game which would be relatively quick and painless to create, while still standing up to the quality standards set by their previous releases. Thus, the idea for Battlefield 1943 was born. Battlefield 1943 producer Patrick Liu explained the studio’s unique design philosophy while making the game, which boiled down to “make the game as long as resources last.” They maximized the amount of content they produced under this strategy by settling on the somewhat smaller scope of the game early, and focusing on recreating the Battlefield experience to adhere to that scope

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GDC: EA DICE on building a bite-sized Battlefield

After narrowly escaping Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ’s impact crater in late 2009, Raven Software’s tardy , time-bending first-person shooter, Singularity , finally appears to have settled on a new ETA. Speaking in an investor conference call following the release of the company’s latest financial results , Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith mentioned that both Singularity and star vehicle / vehicle star Transformers: War for Cybertron were due some time in May 2010. If neither of those appeal to you, Shrek Forever After: The Game is also set to release during the same month. But … really

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Activision: Singularity, Transformers: War for Cybertron due in May 2010

It’s a well-known fact that anything signed by a founding member of The Who is immediately imbued with supernatural properties. Imagine, if you will, the raw, unbridled power a Rock Band guitar would gain if tenderly handled and Hancocked by frontman Roger Daltrey. We’re pretty sure it would be incapable of missing notes at that point. Such an artifact is now attainable, if you’re willing to dish out enough cash to claim it

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Roger Daltrey-signed guitar periphs auctioned for Teenage Cancer Trust

While most of Skate 3 ’s marketing SLAVE has focused on the team-driven aspects of the game — a campaign which is admittedly only two trailers deep — today’s video update provides a THRASHER glimpse at a pre-order incentive: Black Box Skate Park. It’s an underground FALLEN , industrial-looking warehouse enclosure home to various pipes, ledges, and curved surfaces — a place where lots of skateboarding can be done. Check it out in the ZERO trailer above. Gallery: Skate 3 Pre-order Skate 3, get Black Box Skate Park originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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Pre-order Skate 3, get Black Box Skate Park

Alpha-build UI Five years ago today, Blizzard unleashed the World of Warcraft , a scourge that went on to ruin countless lives and make venture capitalists around the globe throw millions at any monkey with an MMO idea. The game has sold beyond 8.6 million units in the US and that’s not even accounting for the millions of players happily handing over $15 a month for an Azeroth fix. The full cultural and financial impact of World of Warcraft can’t yet be comprehended, as the phenomenon marches on into the Cataclysm . One day we may be able to grasp the myriad ways WoW has impacted gaming, but that date with epiphany appears to still be a ways off. World of Warcraft celebrates five years of domination originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST

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World of Warcraft celebrates five years of domination

Rejoice! Come December 8, you’ll be able to grab your own copy of the Borderlands soundtrack in store or via iTunes, as Sumthing Else Music has announced (via Big Download ) that it’s handling the publishing rights. There is one issue, however. “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” by Cage The Elephant will not be included on the disc, so you’re going to need to continue rocking your F5 finger on this YouTube page if you want to keep listening to it.

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Borderlands soundtrack escapes the vault on Dec. 8

If the recent price drop has encouraged you to hedge your bets and replace your aging, bound-to-die Xbox 360 with a quiet, new, Jasper-equipped 120GB Elite, you’ll want to pay attention. As relayed to us by tipster Paolo, and confirmed by a Microsoft representative, the Hard Drive Transfer Kit – which is currently available for eligible consumers by calling 1-800-4MY-XBOX – is “out of stock at the moment” and the company does “not know when inventories will be restored.” Of course, it’s “working on resolving this shortage as quickly as possible” but in the interim, if you want to get data of your old ‘box and you didn’t buy the 120GB drive at retail (which comes with the HDD transfer kit) Microsoft Support recommends that you “use your old hard drive.” Not the most elegant solution, especially if you’re trying to unload that old Xbox. We’ve asked Microsoft to clarify when we might expect the Kits to be restocked and we’ll share with you if and when we hear back. Xbox 360 Hard Drive Transfer Kit out of stock, restock date unknown originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds

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Xbox 360 Hard Drive Transfer Kit out of stock, restock date unknown

Tags: arcade, for-800, inferno-pool, islands, points-each-, rainbow-islands, table-border, wednesday-

Finally, two years after the original release of BioShock , Mac owners get a chance to see what all of the fuss has been about. Andrew Ryan opens the doors of Rapture again on October 7, inviting Mac gamers (yes, they exist …

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BioShock opens Rapture to Mac owners October 7

Good prices come to those who dawdle, as Steam cuts two-thirds off the price of Braid , making the indie classic a steal at $5. Put it this way: The puzzles and gameplay are easily worth $5, with the academic self-pleasuring, overly-pretentious narrative being gravy that others had to pay an extra $10 for. Braid was one of our top games of 2008 , and with its price reversed so far, we really don’t know what else we can say to convince you it’s totally worth it

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Steam weekend deal brings Braid down to $5