Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Announced

I've been a fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise ever since I saw the first trailer of Altair running atop the roofs of Jerusalem. Well, we've come a long way since then, what with dual hidden blades and tree running and whatnot. With five games in the series (not counting handheld games) it's obvious that the Assassin's Creed games are a hit, which makes the fact that the next installment in the game has officially been revealed!

The developers of the Assassin's Creed games have long stated that Assassin's Creed 3, the most recent game in the series, would be the end of Desmond's journey. What they didn't say was that it would be the end of the Assassin's Creed story. The newest installment just announced goes by the name Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

Black Flag puts players in control of a brand new assassin, one that is as unique as all the others in the series. You play as Edward Kenway, a blood thirsty pirate who terrorizes the seas of the Caribbean, a pirate so fierce that the great Blackbeard himself speaks of the man with admiration and a hint of fear in his voice. Speaking of Blackbeard, he appears to be a character (at least a minor one) in this game, though detail of his involvement have yet to be announced. He could be a comrade to Kenway or could work as an informant. He could also take on the role of a Da Vinci  type character (giving Kenway weapons and upgrades) or a Davenport type character, supplying Kenway with a mentor.

Speaking of Kenway, that name should sound familiar as it was the last name of Assassin's Creed 3 main character Connor's father, Haytham Kenway. It is speculated that Edward Kenway is the grandfather of Connor, which would put the timeline of Assassin's Creed IV before the events of Assassin's Creed 3.

If you love dual wielding then this game will be perfect for you, that is if the CGI trailer that was released is indicative of the gameplay. The trailer, which is featured below, shows Kenway dual wielding flintlocks and cutlasses in a beautiful ballet of carnage. The trailer also appears to reveal things like special take downs (like jumping off a ledge while holding an enemy by the shoulders and smashing his face into the spot where you were just standing) and possibly even destructible scenery that you can use to take down enemies.

Naval combat, which was introduced in the last game, will make a bigger and more profound showing in this game. I mean, you are playing as a pirate so ship-to-ship combat is essential. Players will be able to engage enemy ships and board them in an attempt to kill the captain, plunder the booty and leave the remains to Davy Jones' locker! In addition to that, the naval aspect will also allow you to recruit a crew and, most likely, upgrade them much in the same way you did your Assassins in previous games.

There is no solid information on the game other than what the trailer revealed, but nonetheless this game looks to be awesome and just as action packed as the last game. Combat appears to be more visceral and Kenway seems like he is going to make for one heck of a character. It will be interesting to see how they tie in the story from previous games and what the story will be like. Will we be strapping into the Animus again? And if so, whose past life will we be diving into if Desmond's story has supposedly come to an end?

I guess all those questions will be answered when Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is release on October 29th, 2013 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii U and the newly announced PlayStation 4.

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Video Game Challenge is On Again with National STEM 2013

I myself am not much of a gamer, but the thought of kids using their creativity in conjunction with technology is the perfect learning tool.  So it gives me great joy to report that the 2013 National STEM Video Game Challenge is now accepting entries through the end of April.  This will be STEM Video Game Challenge’s third year. 

Businesses sponsoring this event are impressive:  Microsoft’s Xbox 360, the Entertainment Software Association, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, E-Line Media, the Hive Digital Media Learning Fund in The New York Community Trust, the AMD Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency that will assist with broadening the reach of the Challenge through the inclusion of museums and libraries as gaming venues outside of schools.

If you know a kid in middle or high school who loves to play video games, encourage them to try and create their own!  There are many game-making platforms like Gamestar Mechanic, Microsoft’s Kodu, GameMaker and Scratch that make it simple.  Students are even allowed to enter a written design idea.  Even if their game does not win the challenge, the experienced gained is priceless.  Just creating a game is a wonderful tool to spark imagination and a reward all on its own.  Groups can enter as well as individuals. 

If your child’s school has a computer lab/classroom, let the teacher know about the challenge, and maybe it could become a class project.  Now you have helped the teacher and the student!
The prizes are new laptop computers with design software and a cash prize for the sponsoring organization. 

If you do not have a computer at home for your student to work on, Laptop or Computer Rentals can make a creative kid's dreams come to life.  Call a Technology Rental Agent Contact today for short-term rental information.

God of War: Ascension Anticipation

Although Kratos has usually been a violent, angry, and maniacal murderer on a warpath, seeking only vengeance against the gods, this is not the case in the latest installment of the God of War franchise. God of War: Ascension takes players through the part of Kratos’ life in which he is evolving from man to demi-god. Players will see into Kratos’ humanity as opposed to the other God of War releases in which Kratos took pity on no one. This story will be of a man that transitions from kindness to violence and rage. I prefer the violent Kratos, but I am also with those who are anticipating the arrival of God of War: Ascension.

The multi-player feature in ascension is what intrigues me most and I think will be a big surprise to players. An intense battle for FAVOUR (experience) ensures players will need to use teamwork and tactics to defeat their opponents and earn enough to become a champion of the gods. Opening chests, capturing altars, and of course dismembering your enemies all earn your team FAVOUR. The shockwaves of intensity from the gameplay does not stop even after match one beta tester blogged. “Even a full 10 minutes after exiting the multiplayer beta of God of War: Ascension I still have a slight shake in my hands from the tension and the created adrenaline, which is a testament to the quality of the experience.”

Shown at the Sony E3 press conference in 2012 the single player demo begins with beasts charging Kratos while he uses his blades of chaos to mutilate them.

We still have roughly three months until the release of God of War: Ascension and I personally am biting my nails in anticipation.  This game will not only take us deeper into the life and logic of Kratos, but also let us lose ourselves in a multiplayer experience unlike most out there.

Source: Softpedia - Quick Look: God of War: Ascension Multiplayer Beta - with Gameplay Video

New Release Date Info for The Last of Us and BioShock Infinite

I've got good news and bad news. The good news is that one of the most highly anticipated games in recent memory has finally been given an official release date. The bad news? Another highly anticipated game has been delayed.....again. So what would you like to hear about first? The bad news? Well, in the words of the great farm boy/pirate Westley, as you wish.

The bad news is that BioShock Infinite has been delayed yet again, this time until March 26, 2013. This news came directly from Creative Director and Co-Founder of Irrational Games Ken Levine. In an interview about the delay, Levine was quoted saying, "When Rod Fergusson came on board, we looked at the game. He was there for about a month and he said, 'look, I've been looking at the schedule and looking at the game and frankly you could really benefit from another three or four more weeks for polish and bug fixing.'"

"We talked about it. I knew I'd probably get beat up in the press a little bit about it. But at the end of the day, if it's going to make a better game we're going to do it. So the new date is March 26. That's my bad news."

This marks the second delay for BioShock Infinite, as the game was originally supposed to be released in October of 2012. After the first delay was announced, two key BioShock Infinite developers left the company. Delays can severely hurt a game, though they can also do wonders for it as well. A game that is released later than originally announced can benefit from not having the bugs and having more polish, though the game has to be worth the wait. Interestingly enough, the original BioShock was delayed and it turned out just fine.

Now on to the good news! The good news comes courtesy of the Spike TV Video Game Awards. During the awards show, Naughty Dog released a brand new trailer for its incredibly anticipated action-survival-horror game The Last of Us. Ever since the first trailer for this game appeared, gamers have been chomping at the bit to know exactly when they will be able to play what could very well be 2013's Game of the Year. Well, aside from showing off a ton of new game footage, including more characters and our first real look at the mutants (is that what they are?) in the game, the end of the trailer debuted the official release date for the game, which is May 7, 2013.

That's right, about five months is all that separates you from playing The Last of Us. Needless to say I was giddy with excitement when I saw this trailer. I mean, this game actually made me go out and buy a PlayStation 3 for crying out loud. I, and so many others, have extremely high hopes for The Last of Us and I think I speak for everyone when I say it's about darn time we get a release date! Check out the Spike TV VGA trailer below. There's also a new gameplay trailer for BioShock Infinite from the VGAs as well.

Two Very Different Versions of the Next-Gen Xbox Coming

More rumors about the next generation Xbox console have surfaced recently, this time in the form of how the gaming system will be marketed toward consumers. According to recent reports, the next generation Xbox console will come in two highly different models that are designed to appeal to two very different groups of gamers on the spectrum.

The first console model is the one that gamers have been waiting for and expecting. It will provide a true, next-gen gaming experience, allowing you to play all of the newest titles as well as any Xbox Live Arcade game. In addition to that, you will have access to all the latest and greatest apps that have recently taken the Xbox 360 by storm, allowing you to watch all of your favorite movies, listen to music, catch up on all the latest sports scores and more. 

The other version is targeted more toward the casual gamer. It will use Windows 8 as the basis for its operating system and will be unable to run any Triple-A titles, which means no playing the latest Halo, Gears of War or Call of Duty games. It will, however, be able to play downloadable games from the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace. In essence, this version will function like a set-top box and give you access to the growing variety of Xbox entertainment apps, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, ESPN, Vudu, etc... There are also reports of an "instant on" feature that will allow you to resume whatever you were doing with little downtime.

These new reports come from The Verge, which cites multiple sources that are "familiar with Redmond's (Microsoft's headquarters) plans."Moreover, The Verge also claims that this two-model approach is part of a larger strategy by Microsoft to ensure that its core Xbox software is scalable to run on a plethora of different devices. There are even rumors of having a Microsoft phone that delivers a full Xbox Live experience, though that is probably a long way away. 

This marketing strategy by Microsoft is actually quite brilliant. It allows the company's console to appeal to two completely different cores of consumers. On the one hand, hard core gamers longing for the good ol' days when a gaming console was strictly used for gaming will be drawn to the traditional model, while people who really just want an entertainment hub and something to play fun games with family or friends can have that too, presumably at a lower price point. Both models are expected to be announced sometime in 2013 and become available before the end of that year. 

Silicon Knights Ordered to Collect and Destroy Unsold Copies of Too Human and X-Men: Destiny

Ever played Too Human or X-Men: Destiny? Chances are probably not, and there's good reason for that. The games were cataclysmic disappointments when they were released. What makes that even worse is that both games were highly anticipated and had gamers really looking forward to playing them. Aside from not being standout games, these games also have a few other things in common, most notably the fact that both were made y Silicon Knights and that both games have been ordered to be destroyed completely.

Silicon Knights, the studio behind both of these games, recently tried to sue Epic Games, developer of the insanely popular Gears of War trilogy, over claims that Epic's Unreal graphics engine was an incomplete product that Silicon Knights used to develop both of these games and was the reason behind the failure of both games. Needless to say, Silicon Knights lost and, in addition to paying a hefty fine to Epic, the courts though that Silicon's punishment (cue Bane impersonation) must be more severe.

According to a recent ruling by the North Carolina District Court, Silicon Knights has been required to "cease producing and distributing" and "recall and destroy" all unsold copies of Too Human and X-Men: Destiny along with The Box/Ritualyst, The Sandman and Siren in the Maelstrom, the last three being unreleased titles, at its own expense.

In addition to that, the judge also ruled that Silicon Knights is responsible to pay Epic an additional $278,000 in court costs, $2.09 million in attorney fees and $2.3 million in pre-judgement interest. If you add that to the $4.45 million that Silicon Knights already owed Epic then that brings to overall total costs that Silicon Knights owes Epic Games to around $9 million.

According to a statement from an Epic Games' spokesperson, "Epic Games appreciates the court's careful consideration of the motions and is gratified by the order." The interesting thing is that this ruling comes over five years after Silicon Knights originally sued Epic, alleging that the Unreal engine didn't work as it was supposed to. Epic counter-sued and then the case went to trial earlier this year. The worst part about the entire suit is that even if Silicon Knights had won, it would only have been awarded $1 per claim.

If you have ever wanted to play wither Too Human or X-Men: Destiny then you better get your copy fast because all the ones still in stores are poised to be collected and destroyed pretty soon.

Source: IGN - Silicon Knights Ordered to Destroy Unsold Unreal Engine 3 Games

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G4 Turns on Fans, Cancels AOTS and X-Play in Lieu of "More Sophisticated" Entertainment

In an unprecedented move, the popular cable channel G4, which is known for being the center for all things popular in gaming, comic books, pop culture, movies, nerd and geek culture, has decided to cancel arguably its two most popular programs, Attack of the Show and X-Play. This news comes as the channel undergoes a rebranding that will turn away from the very source material that made it popular in the first place, gaming.

The final episodes of both shows will air in December of this year, leading up to the finales that will have rotating guest-hosts for AOTS joining current hosts Candace Bailey and Sara Underwood and X-Play hosts Morgan Webb and Blair Herter. Guest hosts will include the likes of John Barrowman, Michael Ian Black, Josh Meyers, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and Horatio Sanz.

According to TVGuide.com, which was one of the first outlets to produce the story, both shows will have farewell episodes that will include former guests and hosts returning as well as re-airing favorite segments from the past, including AOTS' coverage of the San Diego Comic-Con and X-Play's coverage of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

According to General Manager of Media for G4 Adam Stotsky, "Attack of the Show and X-Play have been important for G4, and we want to acknowledge the creative people who have helped inspire and showcase the phenomenon of gamer culture. With more than 3,000 episodes aired between them, we have more than enough great material to honor these innovators and their amazing contributors as we bring both shows to a close."

There are rumors floating around that G4 may be looking to partner with Esquire or another men's magazine, like GQ, as it moves forward into quote "more upscale, sophisticated guy TV space."Possible new names for the channel include G4Men, as well as some other truly pretentious names.

Feedback from the G4 community has not been positive in the slightest, with many fans of both shows claiming that this move is the nail in the coffin of G4, who has accrued some controversy in recent months with the sudden and distasteful release of Adam Sessler, the former co-host of X-Play and one member that had been with the channel since way back in the day when TechTV was still around and the exodus of Attack of the Show host Kevin Periera.

Some messages on the comment section of this story on G4's website include things like "Without these shows is G4 even a channel? Why would anyone watch it without these shows?" and "I'll just say what we're all thinking: Screw you G4. You turned your backs on the fans who made your network successful in the first place." One comment went as far as to rename the channel MTV4, which in my opinion is a pretty big insult.

I, for one, am truly saddened by G4's decision to do this and am pretty mad that the channel thinks that the true fans that made G4 what it is today are not "sophisticated enough". The silver lining here is that maybe the likes of Candace, Blair, Morgan and Sara can move on to bigger and better things, much like Adam and Kevin did. I wish them all the best and I thank them for the endless amounts of entertainment that they have given not only myself, but the entire gaming community as a whole over the past 10 years.

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