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rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1061&type=11 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:51:27 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-devs-gog-com-adding-drm-free-movies-to/1100-6421944/ And movies, too

The latest addition to The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red's digital distribution service, GOG.com, is not an exciting new game, but rather an entirely new medium: film. The Polish company today announced that a selection of feature-length movies are now available through GOG.com, beginning with 20 documentaries about gaming and geek culture.

As you might expect, all movies (and eventually TV shows) offered through GOG.com will be completely DRM-free. It's all part of GOG's ambition to give people the freedom to collect movies--just like they do with games--and do with them what they want without limitations. You can expect full freedom of ownership with the movies you buy from GOG; you get the file and it's yours to do with what you will.

"The retail environment [for movies] is dying, and the digital offerings are mostly focused on new stuff. So a lot of the great old stuff, it's disappearing" -- CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski

Speaking with GameSpot, CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski says the company's ambition for the new content on GOG is to offer users a place where they can find movies and shows that have been forgotten or have become hard to find. Sound familiar? Those were the same guiding principles that GOG had in place when it launched six years ago as Good Old Games.

"The retail environment [for movies] is dying, and the digital offerings are mostly focused on new stuff," he says. "So a lot of the great old stuff, it's disappearing. I don't want to say it's impossible to buy, but it's very challenging to buy."

Iwinski said GOG's movie offerings will focus on "classics," and The X-Files was mentioned frequently in our conversation, though it's not one of the confirmed programs. He didn't rule out going after the newer, more high-profile releases some day (after all, GOG has become a place to buy new games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in addition to old titles), but said classics will remain a focus.

Another reason why GOG isn't going to have the most popular movies available in its film catalog right away is because--as you might expect--big Hollywood studios are somewhat leery of releasing their movies without DRM. But GOG is hoping that, with its initial launch of more obscure and lower-profile movies, film executives--and lawyers--will see that DRM-free content doesn't always lead to lost sales.

"This is a much, much older industry than games. They are more traditional, they are more conservative," Iwinski said. "And one of the things that Hollywood is very good at is protecting their properties." But in conversations with Hollywood executives, Iwinski said some of these people admitted that they know DRM doesn't actually stop pirates. However, "They cannot show to the outside world that they don't protect their titles," he said.

"I would encourage people to give the DRM-free experience a try because I think it's a simple as it gets" -- Iwinski

Iwinski pointed out that CD Projekt Red had similar conversations with games publishers, who were initially skeptical about bringing their games to GOG but have since come around. Currently, GOG has numerous big-name publishers selling games on the site, including Activision, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts. He's optimistic that film studios, too, will eventually line up to offer movies and TV shows on GOG.

"I think they will see that it works," he says. "And it's not hurting their business, because it's not."

GOG's movie launch lineup will include films like Indie Game: The movie, Gamer Age, The King of Arcades, and Pixel Poetry--and new titles will be added every week. Once you buy a movie, it's yours to consume however you want. You can stream it, download it, or bring it with you on the go and watch through your smartphone or tablet.

Iwinski also says GOG's introduction of movies is not a response to reports that movies and TV shows could be coming to Steam. "We've been working on it for really quite some time, so it's not a last-minute move or anything like that," he said. "It's just part of our plans."

He also makes it clear that GOG getting into movies does not mean CD Projekt Red is any less committed to its upcoming games, including The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. He said no resources were taken away from game development to launch the new movies initiative.

If you're skeptical, GOG is lettinng you download two movies for free to test out the service: Art of Playing and TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard. "I would encourage people to give the DRM-free experience a try because I think it's a simple as it gets," Iwinski said.

Alongside the introduction of the new "Movies" tab on GOG, the entire service has been given an upgrade with a new design and features that should make it more friendly to mobile users. In addition, the GOG store has added new payment methods, and finally supports local currencies, including Euros, Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars, and Russian Roubles. But you can stick with US dollars if you want, CD Projekt Red points out.

Finally, Iwinski says the market has been calling for a DRM-free digital distribution platform that offers more than just one media type. "Nobody has really offered so far one place to get it all [games and movies] digitally and DRM-free, and I think this is a great proposition," he says.

[Also during out interview, I asked Iwinski if CD Projekt Red might ever consider making its own movies. Iwinski laughed, and said doing so might stretch the company too thin, though he admitted it's an idea that the company has not ruled out]

]]> 1100-6421944Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/dragon-age-inquisition-multiplayer-gameplay-traile/2300-6421023/ Get your first look at the 4-player co-operative action of Dragon Age: Inquisition. ]]> 2300-6421023Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-dragon-age-inquisition-multiplayer-gamep/1100-6421945/

Following yesterday's announcement that upcoming role-playing game Dragon Age: Inquisition will have a franchise-first multiplayer mode, BioWare today released the first gameplay trailer for it and shared some new information.

The game's multiplayer mode is completely separate from the Dragon Age: Inquisition single-player mode, and features cooperative quests for up to four players. You'll explore dungeons and eliminate enemies who step into your path.

According to BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn, Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode was developed by a "special team" of veteran developers from the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. He says the mode will offer "fast-paced" gameplay that will challenge you to think strategically.

"It was early in the game's development that we realized how much fun fans of our series were having, with so many players teaming up in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode," Flynn said. "We can't wait to give Dragon Age fans an even bigger and deeper experience."

As you make your way through Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode, you will collect loot, craft new weapons and armor, and even unlock new characters. At launch, there will be 12 characters across three classes (Warrior, Rogue, Mage) to choose from.

If you're attending PAX Prime this weekend in Seattle, you can go hands-on with Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode at the Xbox booth.

Dragon Age: Inquisition launches November 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, andPC. That's an entire year after the game's original release date of fall 2013.

What do you make of Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> 1100-6421945Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ones-forza-horizon-2-demo-dated-achievements-/1100-6421943/

You won't need to wait until September 30 to play upcoming Xbox racing game Forza Horizon 2. Microsoft announced today on the Xbox Wire that a demo for the Xbox One version of the game will launch on September 16.

The demo will let you try out the open-world racing game and a "handful" of cars, though none were named specifically. Forza Horizon 2 is also coming to Xbox 360, but Microsoft did not say if a demo for that version will also be available.

Microsoft also today announced the full achievement list for the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2. You can see all of the game's achievements in the chart below.

Forza Horizon 2 launches September 30 for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, developed by Sumo Digital and Playground Games, respectively.

Name	Description	Gamerscore
Welcome to Horizon Europe	Arrive at the Horizon Festival.	10
First of Many	Win your first Championship race.	10
Rain Master	Complete your first race in the rain.	10
Wanderlust	Complete a Road Trip.	10
Number One	Win a Championship.	10
Multi-Disciplined	Win an Event in every type of car.	10
The Train's in Vain	Beat the Train in a Horizon Showcase Event.	10
Welcome to Castelletto	Arrive at Castelletto for the first time.	25
Welcome to Nice	Arrive at Nice for the first time.	25
Welcome to Sisteron	Arrive at Sisteron for the first time.	25
Welcome to Montellino	Arrive at Montellino for the first time.	25
Welcome to Saint-Martin	Arrive at Saint-Martin for the first time.	25
Welcome to San Giovanni	Arrive at San Giovanni for the first time.	25
Horizon Champion	Become the Horizon Champion.	50
Horizon Leader	Choose where the Road Trip goes for the first time.	20
Horizon Fan	Complete 25 Championships.	20
Horizon Enthusiast	Complete 100 Championships.	25
All Your Race Are Belong To Us 2.0	Complete all 168 Championships.	50
Yellow Wristband	Obtain the Yellow Wristband.	10
Green Wristband	Obtain the Green Wristband.	10
Pink Wristband	Obtain the Pink Wristband.	20
Purple Wristband	Obtain the Purple Wristband.	30
Gold Wristband	Obtain the Gold Wristband.	30
That New Car Smell	Buy your first car.	10
Car Lover	Have 50 Cars in your Garage.	20
Worthy of a Sultan	Have 175 Cars in your Garage.	40
License to Skill	Earn 5 Skill Points.	10
Stone Cold Skiller	Earn 65 Skill Points.	20
Summer Sale	Smash 25 Reward Boards.	10
Smash Happy	Collect all Reward Boards.	20
Bragging Rights	Beat Friends or Club members on any 20 Speed Cameras.	10
A Wild Drivatar Appears!	Win 3 Head-to-Head Races against Drivatars with a Bounty on them.	10
Kick the Bucket	Scratch 15 items off your Solo Bucket List.	10
Rest in Peace	Complete every Solo Bucket List Challenge.	20
Friends with Benefits	Earn a total of 1,000,000 Cr from Rivals.	10
Loyal	Earn 500,000 XP for your Club.	25
Human GPS	Drive down every road in the game.	10
Photographer	Take photos of 100 different cars for Horizon Promo.	20
Storage Hunter	Restore 10 Barn Finds.	20
Social Caterpillar	Compete in 20 Multiplayer Events.	10
Social Butterfly	Compete in 200 Multiplayer Events.	50
On the Road Again	Complete an Online Road Trip location.	10
Well Travelled	Complete 25 Online Road Trip locations.	30
Yes We Can	Complete 25 Bucket List items co-operatively.	30
Fast and Clean	Earn the Clean Racing Skill 100 times.	10
Team Player	Win 50 Team Events.	30
You Are Playground Games	Complete 100 Playground Games Events.	40
We Meet Again!	Win a Showdown at every Car Meet.	20
Super Meet Boy	Grab a livery, grab a tuning setup, buy a car, and enter a Showdown at any Car Meet.	10
One Down!	Complete a Solo Bucket List challenge.	10

]]> 1100-6421943Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:38:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gauntlet-pc-reboot-delayed-for-fine-tuning/1100-6421942/

The upcoming Gauntlet reboot for PC has been delayed. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that the upcoming dungeon crawler will now be released on September 23, a couple weeks beyond the game's original September 3 release date.

Why the delay? Warner Bros. says it needed additional time to "fine-tune details in order to bring gamers an even more robust multiplayer experience."

In addition, as a "thank you" to fans who preordered Gauntlet, Warner Bros. will give them an addition digital item: The Spawn of Kerthrull (below left). It is a wizard's robe made from dead imps, children of the demon Kerhull.

Alongside the news of the delay today was the release of a new in-depth gameplay walkthrough from developer Arrowhead Game Studios. You can watch the video above.

Warner Bros. has also confirmed that Gauntlet will be playable at PAX Prime this weekend. A special event, appropriately titled "The Gauntlet," will also be held at the show, and has Penny Arcade personalities like founders Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik going head-to-head in a Gauntlet gaming tournament.

On top of that, a special Gauntlet food truck will come to PAX Prime, offering "enormous" turkey legs on the corner of 9th Avenue and Pine Street in Seattle.

Gauntlet is coming to PC through Steam, and will offer full support of SteamOS and Steam Machines when they are released. For more on Gauntlet, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

]]> 1100-6421942Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/buy-this-epic-looking-george-washington-xbox-360-t/1100-6421941/

The Call of Duty Endowment and Microsoft have partnered to create an epic-looking George Washington Xbox 360 theme that you can buy to help military veterans find jobs.

The Xbox 360 theme (above) was designed by artist Jason Heuser (see more of his amazing work here) and features a gun-wielding, bald eagle-holding George Washington with an American flag backdrop. The theme can be yours through a donation to the Call of Duty Endowment for $1, $5, $10, or $20. You can buy the theme today through the Xbox Marketplace.

The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and dedicated to helping military veterans find high quality jobs. It was established in 2009 and to date, has helped find jobs for over 5,400 veterans.

"Thanks to Microsoft and Xbox, we have an incredible opportunity to not only raise money for the Endowment, but also to engage millions of gamers in the cause of giving veterans access to high quality careers," Call of Duty Endowment executive director Dan Goldenberg said in a statement. "This campaign is going to help put veterans to work."

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launches November 4 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC--but not Wii U.

]]> 1100-6421941Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:05:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-more-powerful-than-xbox-one-but-microsoft-alwa/1100-6421940/

The PlayStation 4 is more powerful than the Xbox One, but it might not be this way forever, according to Metro Redux developer 4A Games chief technical officer Oles Shishkovstov. As part of a wide-ranging interview with Digital Foundry's Richard Ledbetter, he asked Shishkovstov to sum up what he thinks the technical differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are

"PS4 is just a bit more powerful," Shiskovstov said, after Ledbetter pointed out that the Xbox One has a lower compute unit count and memory bandwidth, and has also faced ESRAM issues. In a lot of cases, too, multiplatform titles run at a higher resolution on PS4 compared to Xbox One.

"You forgot to mention the ROP count, it's important too," Shishkovstov said. "And let's not forget that both CPU and GPU share bandwidth to DRAM [on both consoles]. I've seen a lot of cases while profiling Xbox One when the GPU could perform fast enough but only when the CPU is basically idle. Unfortunately I've even seen the other way round, when the CPU does perform as expected but only under idle GPU, even if it (the CPU) is supposed to get prioritised memory access. That is why Microsoft's decision to boost the clocks just before the launch was a sensible thing to do with the design set in stone."

Shishkovstov went on to say, however, that counting pixel output might not be the best way to accurately measure the differences between the PS4 and Xbox One. "There are plenty of other (and more important factors) that affect image quality besides resolution. We may push 40 percent more pixels per frame on PS4, but it's not 40 percent better as a result...your own eyes can tell you that," he said.

Also in the interview, Shishkovstov says the Xbox One's ESRAM itself is not a particularly painful thing, but rather "the small amount of it."

"Yes it is true, that the maximum theoretical bandwidth--which is somewhat comparable to PS4--can be rarely achieved (usually with simultaneous read and write, like FP16-blending) but in practice I've seen only a few cases where it becomes a limiting factor," he said.

But just because the PS4 is the most powerful new console around right now, it doesn't mean it will necessarily be this way forever. Shishkovstov says that Microsoft is constantly improving tools for developers.

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really," he said. "Each [Xbox Development Kit] that has been released both before and after the Xbox One launch has brought faster and faster draw-calls to the table. They added tons of features just to work around limitations of the DX11 API model. They even made a DX12/GNM style do-it-yourself API available--although we didn't ship with it on Redux due to time constraints."

Regarding the Xbox One's DX11 API, Shishkovstov says he doesn't understand why Microsoft went down that path. "I don't really get why they chose DX11 as a starting point for the console," he said. "It's a console! Why care about some legacy stuff at all?"

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really" -- Shishkovstov

Finally, Shishkovstov addressed the June Xbox One developer update that promised to boost GPU power by letting developers use graphics resources previously dedicated to Kinect and apps. It was previously believed that as much as 10 percent of the Xbox One's graphics power was reserved for Kinect and apps, but this might not be true, Shishkovstov says.

"The issue is slightly more complicated--it is not like 'here, take that ten percent of performance we've stolen before', actually it is variable, like sometimes you can use 1.5 percent more, and sometimes seven percent and so on," he said. "We could possibly have aimed for a higher res [for Metro Redux on Xbox One], but we went for a 100 percent stable, vsync-locked frame rate this time That is not to say we could not have done more with more time, and per my earlier answer, the XDK and system software continues to improve every month."

Metro Redux is available today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's review and what other critics are saying.

]]> 1100-6421940Wed, 27 Aug 2014 05:33:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lindsay-lohans-gta-5-lawsuit-is-a-bid-for-attentio/1100-6421939/

Actress Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit against Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive over Grand Theft Auto V was nothing more than a bid to gain attention, the publisher says. Lohan's lawsuit, filed in court last month, claims GTA V uses her likeness without permission.

But in court papers published this week and seen by The Associated Press, Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games argue that the case is without merit. They maintain that it was "filed for publicity purposes," and are hoping to see the case dismissed. They also want the Mean Girls actress to cover their legal fees.

The Associated Press could not reach Lohan's lawyer.

Lohan's lawsuit says the GTA V character Lacey Jonas is an "unequivocal" reference to her. She further claims that her entire images (including her voice and clothing styles) were used without permission in GTA V. For its part, Take-Two says Lohan's voice, name, and likeness are not used in the game, and the Jonas character resembles Lohan only as far as she is a young, blonde woman.

GTA V launched in September 2013, generating over $1 billion in revenue in just 72 hours. The game has since shipped 34 million copies on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 alone. Sales are likely to only increase further, as the game is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC this fall.

]]> 1100-6421939Wed, 27 Aug 2014 04:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-dev-will-reveal-new-game-on-friday-is-i/1100-6421938/

Saints Row creator Volition will reveal its next game on Friday during a PAX Prime panel, according to a posting for the presentation on the event's official website. The announcement will be made during a panel called "Quiz Show Hour with Volition - Project Reveal & Prizes," which will be held August 29 at 10 AM in the Sandworm Theatre.

"At the end of the panel, we'll show you exclusive gameplay, art, and details for an upcoming project from Volition," reads the official description. Panelists for the event include Deep Silver brand director Aubrey Norris, and Volition key staff, including creative director Steve Jaros and producer Jim Boone.

Volition's most recent project was 2013's Saints Row IV. The Saints Row series was first published by THQ, but after the company went bankrupt, German entertainment giant Koch Media purchased Volition--rebranding it Deep Silver Volition--and acquired the Saints Row series. The company paid $22.3 million for the studio and the franchise.

Earlier this year, actor-comedian Jay Mohr tweeted that he was doing voice work for a new Saints Row project, leading to a thought that he might be involved in a potential Saints Row V in some way.

PAX Prime kicks off Friday and runs through Monday, September 1 (Labor Day in the United States). GameSpot will be on the ground at the show bringing you news as it happens. For more on PAX Prime, check out GameSpot's hub dedicated to the show.

What are you hoping to see announced on Friday? Saints Row 5? Something new? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> 1100-6421938Wed, 27 Aug 2014 04:36:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/zelda-f-zero-and-animal-crossing-content-coming-to/1100-6421935/

UPDATE: Nintendo provided additional details for this Mario Kart update, which will be coming to the US as well.

Each DLC pack will cost $7.99 individually or $12.99 if you buy them together. And you'll be able to pre-order both packs starting tonight with v 2.0 update to the game.

If you pre-purchase both backs, you'll have immediate access to both the multi-colored Yoshis and Shy Guys. Though if you want to wait for any reason, the additional color options for those characters will unlock after you purchase the second pack.

A few of the new tracks you might notice from the images below are:

• F-Zero track
• Excitebike track
• Animal Crossing track
• Wario's Wood track

We don't have details for the tracks and karts not revealed by the images below, but Nintendo stated that this DLC will not include additional items, abilities, or multiplayer modes.

The original story appears below.

Mario Kart 8 is getting some substantial downloadable content starting in November. New characters, tracks, and karts will be added to the game featuring content from many of Nintendo's other franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, F-Zero, and Animal Crossing.

This content will come in the form of two DLC packs, which will include:

• 3 new characters
• 4 new vehicles
• 8 new courses (some new, and some old)

Some of the new tracks will be set in Zelda and Animal Crossing locales, while Mario Kart Wii level Wario's Gold Mine makes a return.

The first of the two packs--The Legend of Zelda pack, coming this November--will include Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach as characters. The DLC will also include the Blue Falcon from F-Zero as a drivable kart as well as three additional unrevealed karts.

The second pack--the Animal Crossing pack, coming in May 2015--includes the Villager, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser. Nintendo did not reveal karts for this second pack. By buying both packs, which will be available individually for 7.00 GBP or in a bundle, you'll also get eight different colors for Yoshi and eight different colors for Shy Guy.

Details on the packs were posted to the Nintendo UK online store here and here earlier today. An image for the Zelda pack appears to show Excitebike and F-Zero levels, while the other pack shows off a new, Animal Crossing-themed stage.

We'll update this story with more details as they're available, but which of this content are you most excited to try? Are you happy to see Mario Kart supported with such extensive DLC? Let us know in the comments below.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

]]> 1100-6421935Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-new-mario-kart-8-dlc-starting-in-no/2300-6421020/ The Legend of Zelda pack brings Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach, as well as four new vehicles and eight tracks to Mario Kart 8. ]]> 2300-6421020Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:02:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-new-pokemon-game-ps4-poaching-microsoft-an/2300-6421018/ A Pokémon/Tekken game is on the horizon, Sony have converted Xbox fans, and get free Call of Duty items for eating Doritos and Mountain Dew?! ]]> 2300-6421018Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-taxi/2300-6421008/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Taxi! featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421008Tue, 26 Aug 2014 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/meet-gamespot-at-pax-free-breakfast-panels-and-par/1100-6421929/ Hopefully you've already made time in your busy PAX schedule to watch the GameSpot panels and live shows. But just in case you had no idea what we were up, here's a quick outline of all the GameSpot-related stuff we're hosting at the show!

We'll be hanging out at the Sector G Lounge and we will be open to the public on Saturday from 9:30AM-7PM and Sunday from 9:30AM-5PM. The lounge is located at 820 Pike Street at 9th Ave (about a block and a half away from the convention center). It's also the home of the Metropole Restaurant. What can you do there?

• Food and non-alcoholic drinks available all day
• Trivia with limited-edition giveaway prizes (t-shirts, buttons, bottle openers, and koozies)
• Charging kiosks and free Wi-Fi

We'll also have gaming kiosks where you can check out some great indie titles including:

Pancake Breakfast

• WHAT: We will provide all of the breakfast foods guaranteed to be there (until they're all eaten -- breakfast foods are limited to: waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, juice). You just have to provide a mouth. You'll be able to meet with GameSpot staff and producers who will also be stuffing their faces with breakfast meats.
• WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00-12PM
• WHERE: Sector G Lounge, 820 Pike Street at 9th Ave (about a block and a half away from the convention center). Home of the Metropole Restaurant.

The GameSpot Live Show

• WHAT: We're recording live segments for two-hours each day during the weekend, and you can come sit in our live studio audience.
• When: Saturday and Sunday 12:00-2:00 PM
• Where: Sector G Lounge

Sector G Happy Hour (21+)

• WHAT: Sponsored by Sunset Overdrive, we'll be serving wine and beer, as well as two custom cocktails, the "Bloody Mutant" and the "Over Charge + Vodka"
• When: Saturday, 5-7PM
• Where: Sector G Lounge

Panels

Women Surviving and Thriving in Games Media

• WHAT: As the gap between the number of male and female gamers slowly thins, so does gender disparity in games media. Hear from several women currently working in games journalism about their struggles and successes within the industry.
• WHEN: Friday 8/29, 11AM-Noon
• WHERE: Wyvern Theatre
• PANELISTS: Mary Kish [Producer, GameSpot], Neha Tiwari [Executive Producer, GameSpot], Megan Farokhmanesh [Editor, Polygon], Naomi Kyle [Host, IGN], Jessica Chobot [Host, Nerdist]

Games Journalism Hunger Games MMXIV

• WHAT: Welcome to the Games Journalism Hunger Games MMXIV. The Capitol demands that each games website submit tributes to compete in the annual tournament. Through a variety of tests of skill and dexterity, tributes will fall so that games journalism can live on for another year. But who will be victorious?
• WHEN: Friday 8/29, 12:30PM-1:30PM
• WHERE: Sasquatch Theatre
• PANELISTS: Danny O'Dwyer [Host, GameSpot], Evan Lahti [Editor, PC Gamer], Greg Miller [Host, IGN], Jeff Gerstmann [Editor in Chief, Giant Bomb], Jon Carnage [Producer, TwitchTV]

Retrogame Roadshow: What Are Your Old Games Worth?

• WHAT: Game collecting is taking off in a big way, and all sorts of classic games and related memorabilia can bring in big bucks. What's your gaming treasure worth? Bring something you found in your parents' attic or a rarity from your own collection, and you'll have a chance to come up on stage and have your stuff evaluated, discussed and appraised (amateurishly, for fun!) by our panel of experts.
• WHEN: Saturday 8/30, 9PM-10PM
• WHERE: Hedgehog Theatre
• PANELISTS: Chris Kohler [Editor, WIRED], Mike Mika [GameSpot], Peter Brown [GameSpot]

Firaxis Mega Panel -- Civilization: Beyond Earth

• WHAT: Come see the developers from Firaxis Games Studio as they provide an inside look at their new and upcoming title, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, before it ships this October 24, 2014! We'll be showing new gameplay, talking about some of the newer and late-game features, as well as discussing the challenges and opportunities that arose throughout the development process.
• WHEN: Saturday 8/30, 12:30-1:30PM
• WHERE: Sasquatch Theatre
• Moderator: Chris Watters [GameSpot]

Collecting Games WITHOUT Going Broke or Getting Scammed!

WHAT: Building a collection of classics can be tons of fun, but the risk that you'll spend too much for something (or worse, be the victim of the ever-more-elaborate scams that are going around) is increasing by the day. How can you enjoy buying old games while still protecting yourself? Our panel of collecting experts run down some common money sinks, scams, and tips for getting bargains!

• WHEN: Sunday 8/31, 9-10PM
• WHERE: Hedgehog Theatre
• PANELISTS: Chris Kohler [Editor, WIRED], Peter Brown [GameSpot]

Video Game Memories: What Makes a Game Special?

• WHAT: A group of (hardened) games journalists get together to talk about what made their early game experiences so special. The discussion continues on to explore what type of new video game could possibly harness and recreate that magic.
• When: Monday 9/1, 12:30-1:30PM
• Where: Sasquatch Theatre
• Moderator: Danny O'Dwyer [GameSpot]

Additional panel details can be found on the official PAX site.

]]> 1100-6421929Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-age-inquisition-has-multiplayer-first-detai/1100-6421934/

This November's role-playing game Dragon Age: Inquisition will be the first entry in the core series to offer multiplayer, developer BioWare confirmed today through IGN.

Dragon Age: Inquisition will feature a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players, and though it may share some similarities with Mass Effect 3's multiplayer option (which the Dragon Age team definitely enjoyed), it is "significantly deeper," according to the report.

The game's multiplayer mode is designed to be enjoyed in 20-30 minute play sessions. There will be three multiplayer campaigns, and each will be available at launch. These campaigns will take place on a large level, with smaller sub-sections, and are randomized to create new experiences every time you play.

When you complete a multiplayer quest, the gold you find along the way can be later spent on treasure chests, which will give you items like recipes, new equipment, and more. A total of nine heroes will be available in Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode at launch--three for each mage/melee/archer class.

BioWare producer Scylla Costa said Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode will include "lots of DLC" featuring new heroes and more levels. But don't expect to have to pay extra for any of this or sign up for a subscription. "It's all free DLC for everyone," Costa said.

However, if you do want to speed up your progress, you can spend real-world money to purchase the game's virtual currency, known as Platinum. Costa assures fan, though, that, "Nothing is behind a paywall."

The fact that Dragon Age: Inquisition has a multiplayer mode is not altogether a surprise. A survey from February asked fans if they would like to see a multiplayer mode introduced in the game.

Dragon Age: Inquisition launches November 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. That's an entire year after the game's original release date of fall 2013.

What do you think of multiplayer coming to the Dragon Age series? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> 1100-6421934Tue, 26 Aug 2014 13:56:00 -0700

rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1061&type=11 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:51:27 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-witcher-devs-gog-com-adding-drm-free-movies-to/1100-6421944/ And movies, too

The latest addition to The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red's digital distribution service, GOG.com, is not an exciting new game, but rather an entirely new medium: film. The Polish company today announced that a selection of feature-length movies are now available through GOG.com, beginning with 20 documentaries about gaming and geek culture.

As you might expect, all movies (and eventually TV shows) offered through GOG.com will be completely DRM-free. It's all part of GOG's ambition to give people the freedom to collect movies--just like they do with games--and do with them what they want without limitations. You can expect full freedom of ownership with the movies you buy from GOG; you get the file and it's yours to do with what you will.

"The retail environment [for movies] is dying, and the digital offerings are mostly focused on new stuff. So a lot of the great old stuff, it's disappearing" -- CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski

Speaking with GameSpot, CD Projekt Red CEO Marcin Iwinski says the company's ambition for the new content on GOG is to offer users a place where they can find movies and shows that have been forgotten or have become hard to find. Sound familiar? Those were the same guiding principles that GOG had in place when it launched six years ago as Good Old Games.

"The retail environment [for movies] is dying, and the digital offerings are mostly focused on new stuff," he says. "So a lot of the great old stuff, it's disappearing. I don't want to say it's impossible to buy, but it's very challenging to buy."

Iwinski said GOG's movie offerings will focus on "classics," and The X-Files was mentioned frequently in our conversation, though it's not one of the confirmed programs. He didn't rule out going after the newer, more high-profile releases some day (after all, GOG has become a place to buy new games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in addition to old titles), but said classics will remain a focus.

Another reason why GOG isn't going to have the most popular movies available in its film catalog right away is because--as you might expect--big Hollywood studios are somewhat leery of releasing their movies without DRM. But GOG is hoping that, with its initial launch of more obscure and lower-profile movies, film executives--and lawyers--will see that DRM-free content doesn't always lead to lost sales.

"This is a much, much older industry than games. They are more traditional, they are more conservative," Iwinski said. "And one of the things that Hollywood is very good at is protecting their properties." But in conversations with Hollywood executives, Iwinski said some of these people admitted that they know DRM doesn't actually stop pirates. However, "They cannot show to the outside world that they don't protect their titles," he said.

"I would encourage people to give the DRM-free experience a try because I think it's a simple as it gets" -- Iwinski

Iwinski pointed out that CD Projekt Red had similar conversations with games publishers, who were initially skeptical about bringing their games to GOG but have since come around. Currently, GOG has numerous big-name publishers selling games on the site, including Activision, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts. He's optimistic that film studios, too, will eventually line up to offer movies and TV shows on GOG.

"I think they will see that it works," he says. "And it's not hurting their business, because it's not."

GOG's movie launch lineup will include films like Indie Game: The movie, Gamer Age, The King of Arcades, and Pixel Poetry--and new titles will be added every week. Once you buy a movie, it's yours to consume however you want. You can stream it, download it, or bring it with you on the go and watch through your smartphone or tablet.

Iwinski also says GOG's introduction of movies is not a response to reports that movies and TV shows could be coming to Steam. "We've been working on it for really quite some time, so it's not a last-minute move or anything like that," he said. "It's just part of our plans."

He also makes it clear that GOG getting into movies does not mean CD Projekt Red is any less committed to its upcoming games, including The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. He said no resources were taken away from game development to launch the new movies initiative.

If you're skeptical, GOG is lettinng you download two movies for free to test out the service: Art of Playing and TPB AFK: The Pirate Bay Away From Keyboard. "I would encourage people to give the DRM-free experience a try because I think it's a simple as it gets," Iwinski said.

Alongside the introduction of the new "Movies" tab on GOG, the entire service has been given an upgrade with a new design and features that should make it more friendly to mobile users. In addition, the GOG store has added new payment methods, and finally supports local currencies, including Euros, Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollars, and Russian Roubles. But you can stick with US dollars if you want, CD Projekt Red points out.

Finally, Iwinski says the market has been calling for a DRM-free digital distribution platform that offers more than just one media type. "Nobody has really offered so far one place to get it all [games and movies] digitally and DRM-free, and I think this is a great proposition," he says.

[Also during out interview, I asked Iwinski if CD Projekt Red might ever consider making its own movies. Iwinski laughed, and said doing so might stretch the company too thin, though he admitted it's an idea that the company has not ruled out]

]]> 1100-6421944Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/dragon-age-inquisition-multiplayer-gameplay-traile/2300-6421023/ Get your first look at the 4-player co-operative action of Dragon Age: Inquisition. ]]> 2300-6421023Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-dragon-age-inquisition-multiplayer-gamep/1100-6421945/

Following yesterday's announcement that upcoming role-playing game Dragon Age: Inquisition will have a franchise-first multiplayer mode, BioWare today released the first gameplay trailer for it and shared some new information.

The game's multiplayer mode is completely separate from the Dragon Age: Inquisition single-player mode, and features cooperative quests for up to four players. You'll explore dungeons and eliminate enemies who step into your path.

According to BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn, Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode was developed by a "special team" of veteran developers from the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises. He says the mode will offer "fast-paced" gameplay that will challenge you to think strategically.

"It was early in the game's development that we realized how much fun fans of our series were having, with so many players teaming up in Mass Effect 3's multiplayer mode," Flynn said. "We can't wait to give Dragon Age fans an even bigger and deeper experience."

As you make your way through Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode, you will collect loot, craft new weapons and armor, and even unlock new characters. At launch, there will be 12 characters across three classes (Warrior, Rogue, Mage) to choose from.

If you're attending PAX Prime this weekend in Seattle, you can go hands-on with Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode at the Xbox booth.

Dragon Age: Inquisition launches November 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, andPC. That's an entire year after the game's original release date of fall 2013.

What do you make of Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> 1100-6421945Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ones-forza-horizon-2-demo-dated-achievements-/1100-6421943/

You won't need to wait until September 30 to play upcoming Xbox racing game Forza Horizon 2. Microsoft announced today on the Xbox Wire that a demo for the Xbox One version of the game will launch on September 16.

The demo will let you try out the open-world racing game and a "handful" of cars, though none were named specifically. Forza Horizon 2 is also coming to Xbox 360, but Microsoft did not say if a demo for that version will also be available.

Microsoft also today announced the full achievement list for the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 2. You can see all of the game's achievements in the chart below.

Forza Horizon 2 launches September 30 for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, developed by Sumo Digital and Playground Games, respectively.

Name	Description	Gamerscore
Welcome to Horizon Europe	Arrive at the Horizon Festival.	10
First of Many	Win your first Championship race.	10
Rain Master	Complete your first race in the rain.	10
Wanderlust	Complete a Road Trip.	10
Number One	Win a Championship.	10
Multi-Disciplined	Win an Event in every type of car.	10
The Train's in Vain	Beat the Train in a Horizon Showcase Event.	10
Welcome to Castelletto	Arrive at Castelletto for the first time.	25
Welcome to Nice	Arrive at Nice for the first time.	25
Welcome to Sisteron	Arrive at Sisteron for the first time.	25
Welcome to Montellino	Arrive at Montellino for the first time.	25
Welcome to Saint-Martin	Arrive at Saint-Martin for the first time.	25
Welcome to San Giovanni	Arrive at San Giovanni for the first time.	25
Horizon Champion	Become the Horizon Champion.	50
Horizon Leader	Choose where the Road Trip goes for the first time.	20
Horizon Fan	Complete 25 Championships.	20
Horizon Enthusiast	Complete 100 Championships.	25
All Your Race Are Belong To Us 2.0	Complete all 168 Championships.	50
Yellow Wristband	Obtain the Yellow Wristband.	10
Green Wristband	Obtain the Green Wristband.	10
Pink Wristband	Obtain the Pink Wristband.	20
Purple Wristband	Obtain the Purple Wristband.	30
Gold Wristband	Obtain the Gold Wristband.	30
That New Car Smell	Buy your first car.	10
Car Lover	Have 50 Cars in your Garage.	20
Worthy of a Sultan	Have 175 Cars in your Garage.	40
License to Skill	Earn 5 Skill Points.	10
Stone Cold Skiller	Earn 65 Skill Points.	20
Summer Sale	Smash 25 Reward Boards.	10
Smash Happy	Collect all Reward Boards.	20
Bragging Rights	Beat Friends or Club members on any 20 Speed Cameras.	10
A Wild Drivatar Appears!	Win 3 Head-to-Head Races against Drivatars with a Bounty on them.	10
Kick the Bucket	Scratch 15 items off your Solo Bucket List.	10
Rest in Peace	Complete every Solo Bucket List Challenge.	20
Friends with Benefits	Earn a total of 1,000,000 Cr from Rivals.	10
Loyal	Earn 500,000 XP for your Club.	25
Human GPS	Drive down every road in the game.	10
Photographer	Take photos of 100 different cars for Horizon Promo.	20
Storage Hunter	Restore 10 Barn Finds.	20
Social Caterpillar	Compete in 20 Multiplayer Events.	10
Social Butterfly	Compete in 200 Multiplayer Events.	50
On the Road Again	Complete an Online Road Trip location.	10
Well Travelled	Complete 25 Online Road Trip locations.	30
Yes We Can	Complete 25 Bucket List items co-operatively.	30
Fast and Clean	Earn the Clean Racing Skill 100 times.	10
Team Player	Win 50 Team Events.	30
You Are Playground Games	Complete 100 Playground Games Events.	40
We Meet Again!	Win a Showdown at every Car Meet.	20
Super Meet Boy	Grab a livery, grab a tuning setup, buy a car, and enter a Showdown at any Car Meet.	10
One Down!	Complete a Solo Bucket List challenge.	10

]]> 1100-6421943Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:38:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gauntlet-pc-reboot-delayed-for-fine-tuning/1100-6421942/

The upcoming Gauntlet reboot for PC has been delayed. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that the upcoming dungeon crawler will now be released on September 23, a couple weeks beyond the game's original September 3 release date.

Why the delay? Warner Bros. says it needed additional time to "fine-tune details in order to bring gamers an even more robust multiplayer experience."

In addition, as a "thank you" to fans who preordered Gauntlet, Warner Bros. will give them an addition digital item: The Spawn of Kerthrull (below left). It is a wizard's robe made from dead imps, children of the demon Kerhull.

Alongside the news of the delay today was the release of a new in-depth gameplay walkthrough from developer Arrowhead Game Studios. You can watch the video above.

Warner Bros. has also confirmed that Gauntlet will be playable at PAX Prime this weekend. A special event, appropriately titled "The Gauntlet," will also be held at the show, and has Penny Arcade personalities like founders Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik going head-to-head in a Gauntlet gaming tournament.

On top of that, a special Gauntlet food truck will come to PAX Prime, offering "enormous" turkey legs on the corner of 9th Avenue and Pine Street in Seattle.

Gauntlet is coming to PC through Steam, and will offer full support of SteamOS and Steam Machines when they are released. For more on Gauntlet, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

]]> 1100-6421942Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/buy-this-epic-looking-george-washington-xbox-360-t/1100-6421941/

The Call of Duty Endowment and Microsoft have partnered to create an epic-looking George Washington Xbox 360 theme that you can buy to help military veterans find jobs.

The Xbox 360 theme (above) was designed by artist Jason Heuser (see more of his amazing work here) and features a gun-wielding, bald eagle-holding George Washington with an American flag backdrop. The theme can be yours through a donation to the Call of Duty Endowment for $1, $5, $10, or $20. You can buy the theme today through the Xbox Marketplace.

The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and dedicated to helping military veterans find high quality jobs. It was established in 2009 and to date, has helped find jobs for over 5,400 veterans.

"Thanks to Microsoft and Xbox, we have an incredible opportunity to not only raise money for the Endowment, but also to engage millions of gamers in the cause of giving veterans access to high quality careers," Call of Duty Endowment executive director Dan Goldenberg said in a statement. "This campaign is going to help put veterans to work."

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launches November 4 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC--but not Wii U.

]]> 1100-6421941Wed, 27 Aug 2014 06:05:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-more-powerful-than-xbox-one-but-microsoft-alwa/1100-6421940/

The PlayStation 4 is more powerful than the Xbox One, but it might not be this way forever, according to Metro Redux developer 4A Games chief technical officer Oles Shishkovstov. As part of a wide-ranging interview with Digital Foundry's Richard Ledbetter, he asked Shishkovstov to sum up what he thinks the technical differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are

"PS4 is just a bit more powerful," Shiskovstov said, after Ledbetter pointed out that the Xbox One has a lower compute unit count and memory bandwidth, and has also faced ESRAM issues. In a lot of cases, too, multiplatform titles run at a higher resolution on PS4 compared to Xbox One.

"You forgot to mention the ROP count, it's important too," Shishkovstov said. "And let's not forget that both CPU and GPU share bandwidth to DRAM [on both consoles]. I've seen a lot of cases while profiling Xbox One when the GPU could perform fast enough but only when the CPU is basically idle. Unfortunately I've even seen the other way round, when the CPU does perform as expected but only under idle GPU, even if it (the CPU) is supposed to get prioritised memory access. That is why Microsoft's decision to boost the clocks just before the launch was a sensible thing to do with the design set in stone."

Shishkovstov went on to say, however, that counting pixel output might not be the best way to accurately measure the differences between the PS4 and Xbox One. "There are plenty of other (and more important factors) that affect image quality besides resolution. We may push 40 percent more pixels per frame on PS4, but it's not 40 percent better as a result...your own eyes can tell you that," he said.

Also in the interview, Shishkovstov says the Xbox One's ESRAM itself is not a particularly painful thing, but rather "the small amount of it."

"Yes it is true, that the maximum theoretical bandwidth--which is somewhat comparable to PS4--can be rarely achieved (usually with simultaneous read and write, like FP16-blending) but in practice I've seen only a few cases where it becomes a limiting factor," he said.

But just because the PS4 is the most powerful new console around right now, it doesn't mean it will necessarily be this way forever. Shishkovstov says that Microsoft is constantly improving tools for developers.

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really," he said. "Each [Xbox Development Kit] that has been released both before and after the Xbox One launch has brought faster and faster draw-calls to the table. They added tons of features just to work around limitations of the DX11 API model. They even made a DX12/GNM style do-it-yourself API available--although we didn't ship with it on Redux due to time constraints."

Regarding the Xbox One's DX11 API, Shishkovstov says he doesn't understand why Microsoft went down that path. "I don't really get why they chose DX11 as a starting point for the console," he said. "It's a console! Why care about some legacy stuff at all?"

"Microsoft is not sleeping, really" -- Shishkovstov

Finally, Shishkovstov addressed the June Xbox One developer update that promised to boost GPU power by letting developers use graphics resources previously dedicated to Kinect and apps. It was previously believed that as much as 10 percent of the Xbox One's graphics power was reserved for Kinect and apps, but this might not be true, Shishkovstov says.

"The issue is slightly more complicated--it is not like 'here, take that ten percent of performance we've stolen before', actually it is variable, like sometimes you can use 1.5 percent more, and sometimes seven percent and so on," he said. "We could possibly have aimed for a higher res [for Metro Redux on Xbox One], but we went for a 100 percent stable, vsync-locked frame rate this time That is not to say we could not have done more with more time, and per my earlier answer, the XDK and system software continues to improve every month."

Metro Redux is available today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's review and what other critics are saying.

]]> 1100-6421940Wed, 27 Aug 2014 05:33:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lindsay-lohans-gta-5-lawsuit-is-a-bid-for-attentio/1100-6421939/

Actress Lindsay Lohan's lawsuit against Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive over Grand Theft Auto V was nothing more than a bid to gain attention, the publisher says. Lohan's lawsuit, filed in court last month, claims GTA V uses her likeness without permission.

But in court papers published this week and seen by The Associated Press, Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games argue that the case is without merit. They maintain that it was "filed for publicity purposes," and are hoping to see the case dismissed. They also want the Mean Girls actress to cover their legal fees.

The Associated Press could not reach Lohan's lawyer.

Lohan's lawsuit says the GTA V character Lacey Jonas is an "unequivocal" reference to her. She further claims that her entire images (including her voice and clothing styles) were used without permission in GTA V. For its part, Take-Two says Lohan's voice, name, and likeness are not used in the game, and the Jonas character resembles Lohan only as far as she is a young, blonde woman.

GTA V launched in September 2013, generating over $1 billion in revenue in just 72 hours. The game has since shipped 34 million copies on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 alone. Sales are likely to only increase further, as the game is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC this fall.

]]> 1100-6421939Wed, 27 Aug 2014 04:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-dev-will-reveal-new-game-on-friday-is-i/1100-6421938/

Saints Row creator Volition will reveal its next game on Friday during a PAX Prime panel, according to a posting for the presentation on the event's official website. The announcement will be made during a panel called "Quiz Show Hour with Volition - Project Reveal & Prizes," which will be held August 29 at 10 AM in the Sandworm Theatre.

"At the end of the panel, we'll show you exclusive gameplay, art, and details for an upcoming project from Volition," reads the official description. Panelists for the event include Deep Silver brand director Aubrey Norris, and Volition key staff, including creative director Steve Jaros and producer Jim Boone.

Volition's most recent project was 2013's Saints Row IV. The Saints Row series was first published by THQ, but after the company went bankrupt, German entertainment giant Koch Media purchased Volition--rebranding it Deep Silver Volition--and acquired the Saints Row series. The company paid $22.3 million for the studio and the franchise.

Earlier this year, actor-comedian Jay Mohr tweeted that he was doing voice work for a new Saints Row project, leading to a thought that he might be involved in a potential Saints Row V in some way.

PAX Prime kicks off Friday and runs through Monday, September 1 (Labor Day in the United States). GameSpot will be on the ground at the show bringing you news as it happens. For more on PAX Prime, check out GameSpot's hub dedicated to the show.

What are you hoping to see announced on Friday? Saints Row 5? Something new? Let us know in the comments below!

]]> 1100-6421938Wed, 27 Aug 2014 04:36:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/zelda-f-zero-and-animal-crossing-content-coming-to/1100-6421935/

UPDATE: Nintendo provided additional details for this Mario Kart update, which will be coming to the US as well.

Each DLC pack will cost $7.99 individually or $12.99 if you buy them together. And you'll be able to pre-order both packs starting tonight with v 2.0 update to the game.

If you pre-purchase both backs, you'll have immediate access to both the multi-colored Yoshis and Shy Guys. Though if you want to wait for any reason, the additional color options for those characters will unlock after you purchase the second pack.

A few of the new tracks you might notice from the images below are:

• F-Zero track
• Excitebike track
• Animal Crossing track
• Wario's Wood track

We don't have details for the tracks and karts not revealed by the images below, but Nintendo stated that this DLC will not include additional items, abilities, or multiplayer modes.

The original story appears below.

Mario Kart 8 is getting some substantial downloadable content starting in November. New characters, tracks, and karts will be added to the game featuring content from many of Nintendo's other franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, F-Zero, and Animal Crossing.

This content will come in the form of two DLC packs, which will include:

• 3 new characters
• 4 new vehicles
• 8 new courses (some new, and some old)

Some of the new tracks will be set in Zelda and Animal Crossing locales, while Mario Kart Wii level Wario's Gold Mine makes a return.

The first of the two packs--The Legend of Zelda pack, coming this November--will include Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach as characters. The DLC will also include the Blue Falcon from F-Zero as a drivable kart as well as three additional unrevealed karts.

The second pack--the Animal Crossing pack, coming in May 2015--includes the Villager, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser. Nintendo did not reveal karts for this second pack. By buying both packs, which will be available individually for 7.00 GBP or in a bundle, you'll also get eight different colors for Yoshi and eight different colors for Shy Guy.

Details on the packs were posted to the Nintendo UK online store here and here earlier today. An image for the Zelda pack appears to show Excitebike and F-Zero levels, while the other pack shows off a new, Animal Crossing-themed stage.

We'll update this story with more details as they're available, but which of this content are you most excited to try? Are you happy to see Mario Kart supported with such extensive DLC? Let us know in the comments below.

Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

]]> 1100-6421935Tue, 26 Aug 2014 18:52:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-update-new-mario-kart-8-dlc-starting-in-no/2300-6421020/ The Legend of Zelda pack brings Link, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach, as well as four new vehicles and eight tracks to Mario Kart 8. ]]> 2300-6421020Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:02:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-new-pokemon-game-ps4-poaching-microsoft-an/2300-6421018/ A Pokémon/Tekken game is on the horizon, Sony have converted Xbox fans, and get free Call of Duty items for eating Doritos and Mountain Dew?! ]]> 2300-6421018Tue, 26 Aug 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-taxi/2300-6421008/ Watch extended gameplay footage from Taxi! featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421008Tue, 26 Aug 2014 15:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/meet-gamespot-at-pax-free-breakfast-panels-and-par/1100-6421929/ Hopefully you've already made time in your busy PAX schedule to watch the GameSpot panels and live shows. But just in case you had no idea what we were up, here's a quick outline of all the GameSpot-related stuff we're hosting at the show!

We'll be hanging out at the Sector G Lounge and we will be open to the public on Saturday from 9:30AM-7PM and Sunday from 9:30AM-5PM. The lounge is located at 820 Pike Street at 9th Ave (about a block and a half away from the convention center). It's also the home of the Metropole Restaurant. What can you do there?

• Food and non-alcoholic drinks available all day
• Trivia with limited-edition giveaway prizes (t-shirts, buttons, bottle openers, and koozies)
• Charging kiosks and free Wi-Fi

We'll also have gaming kiosks where you can check out some great indie titles including:

Pancake Breakfast

• WHAT: We will provide all of the breakfast foods guaranteed to be there (until they're all eaten -- breakfast foods are limited to: waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, coffee, juice). You just have to provide a mouth. You'll be able to meet with GameSpot staff and producers who will also be stuffing their faces with breakfast meats.
• WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00-12PM
• WHERE: Sector G Lounge, 820 Pike Street at 9th Ave (about a block and a half away from the convention center). Home of the Metropole Restaurant.

The GameSpot Live Show

• WHAT: We're recording live segments for two-hours each day during the weekend, and you can come sit in our live studio audience.
• When: Saturday and Sunday 12:00-2:00 PM
• Where: Sector G Lounge

Sector G Happy Hour (21+)

• WHAT: Sponsored by Sunset Overdrive, we'll be serving wine and beer, as well as two custom cocktails, the "Bloody Mutant" and the "Over Charge + Vodka"
• When: Saturday, 5-7PM
• Where: Sector G Lounge

Panels

Women Surviving and Thriving in Games Media

• WHAT: As the gap between the number of male and female gamers slowly thins, so does gender disparity in games media. Hear from several women currently working in games journalism about their struggles and successes within the industry.
• WHEN: Friday 8/29, 11AM-Noon
• WHERE: Wyvern Theatre
• PANELISTS: Mary Kish [Producer, GameSpot], Neha Tiwari [Executive Producer, GameSpot], Megan Farokhmanesh [Editor, Polygon], Naomi Kyle [Host, IGN], Jessica Chobot [Host, Nerdist]

Games Journalism Hunger Games MMXIV

• WHAT: Welcome to the Games Journalism Hunger Games MMXIV. The Capitol demands that each games website submit tributes to compete in the annual tournament. Through a variety of tests of skill and dexterity, tributes will fall so that games journalism can live on for another year. But who will be victorious?
• WHEN: Friday 8/29, 12:30PM-1:30PM
• WHERE: Sasquatch Theatre
• PANELISTS: Danny O'Dwyer [Host, GameSpot], Evan Lahti [Editor, PC Gamer], Greg Miller [Host, IGN], Jeff Gerstmann [Editor in Chief, Giant Bomb], Jon Carnage [Producer, TwitchTV]

Retrogame Roadshow: What Are Your Old Games Worth?

• WHAT: Game collecting is taking off in a big way, and all sorts of classic games and related memorabilia can bring in big bucks. What's your gaming treasure worth? Bring something you found in your parents' attic or a rarity from your own collection, and you'll have a chance to come up on stage and have your stuff evaluated, discussed and appraised (amateurishly, for fun!) by our panel of experts.
• WHEN: Saturday 8/30, 9PM-10PM
• WHERE: Hedgehog Theatre
• PANELISTS: Chris Kohler [Editor, WIRED], Mike Mika [GameSpot], Peter Brown [GameSpot]

Firaxis Mega Panel -- Civilization: Beyond Earth

• WHAT: Come see the developers from Firaxis Games Studio as they provide an inside look at their new and upcoming title, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, before it ships this October 24, 2014! We'll be showing new gameplay, talking about some of the newer and late-game features, as well as discussing the challenges and opportunities that arose throughout the development process.
• WHEN: Saturday 8/30, 12:30-1:30PM
• WHERE: Sasquatch Theatre
• Moderator: Chris Watters [GameSpot]

Collecting Games WITHOUT Going Broke or Getting Scammed!

WHAT: Building a collection of classics can be tons of fun, but the risk that you'll spend too much for something (or worse, be the victim of the ever-more-elaborate scams that are going around) is increasing by the day. How can you enjoy buying old games while still protecting yourself? Our panel of collecting experts run down some common money sinks, scams, and tips for getting bargains!

• WHEN: Sunday 8/31, 9-10PM
• WHERE: Hedgehog Theatre
• PANELISTS: Chris Kohler [Editor, WIRED], Peter Brown [GameSpot]

Video Game Memories: What Makes a Game Special?

• WHAT: A group of (hardened) games journalists get together to talk about what made their early game experiences so special. The discussion continues on to explore what type of new video game could possibly harness and recreate that magic.
• When: Monday 9/1, 12:30-1:30PM
• Where: Sasquatch Theatre
• Moderator: Danny O'Dwyer [GameSpot]

Additional panel details can be found on the official PAX site.

]]> 1100-6421929Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/dragon-age-inquisition-has-multiplayer-first-detai/1100-6421934/

This November's role-playing game Dragon Age: Inquisition will be the first entry in the core series to offer multiplayer, developer BioWare confirmed today through IGN.

Dragon Age: Inquisition will feature a cooperative multiplayer mode for up to four players, and though it may share some similarities with Mass Effect 3's multiplayer option (which the Dragon Age team definitely enjoyed), it is "significantly deeper," according to the report.

The game's multiplayer mode is designed to be enjoyed in 20-30 minute play sessions. There will be three multiplayer campaigns, and each will be available at launch. These campaigns will take place on a large level, with smaller sub-sections, and are randomized to create new experiences every time you play.

When you complete a multiplayer quest, the gold you find along the way can be later spent on treasure chests, which will give you items like recipes, new equipment, and more. A total of nine heroes will be available in Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode at launch--three for each mage/melee/archer class.

BioWare producer Scylla Costa said Dragon Age: Inquisition's multiplayer mode will include "lots of DLC" featuring new heroes and more levels. But don't expect to have to pay extra for any of this or sign up for a subscription. "It's all free DLC for everyone," Costa said.

However, if you do want to speed up your progress, you can spend real-world money to purchase the game's virtual currency, known as Platinum. Costa assures fan, though, that, "Nothing is behind a paywall."

The fact that Dragon Age: Inquisition has a multiplayer mode is not altogether a surprise. A survey from February asked fans if they would like to see a multiplayer mode introduced in the game.

Dragon Age: Inquisition launches November 18 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. That's an entire year after the game's original release date of fall 2013.

What do you think of multiplayer coming to the Dragon Age series? Let us know in the comments below!

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Gears of War Creator Cliff Bleszinski Takes Ice Bucket Challenge

Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski has finally accepted Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson's Ice Bucket Challenge nomination for him to dump a bucket of ice water on his head to raise awareness and money for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

"When Notch tells you to do something, you pretty much do it," Bleszinski says in the video above. About ALS, he says: "It's a terrible disease and we should do whatever we can to fight the darn thing, including dumping buckets of ice on our heads."

Watch the video above to see Bleszinski dump a bucket of cold, cold water on his head. After he finishes the challenge, he remarks, "Nipples are hard." He nominated Wargaming social media manager Brian Jakubson, as well as Cole Knapp and Mikey McCue, to take the challenge next.

Bleszinski left Epic Games after 20 years in October 2012 and is currently working on a free-to-play shooter with his new studio, BossKey Productions. Looking for more videos of video game industry people dumping ice water on their heads? We've got you covered.

Completed Ice Bucket Challenges (click through to watch videos):

Industry people nominated, but have not yet completed the Ice Bucket Challenge:

You can donate money to the ALS Association at the group's website.

Filed under:

Gears of War

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