Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Phil Fish: Fez 'should be out on pretty much everything,' eventually


Fez is coming to Mac, Fish talking to Sony about Vita
Fez has found its way to Steam, hitting PCs on May 1 – but that's not all developer Phil Fish has up his tiny, red hat. Fish hosted a Reddit AMA today, where he revealed Mac, Linux, Vita, Ouya and iOS versions of Fez are all in various stages of planning and development.

Mac and Ouya ports are definitely on the way, while Linux is part of some "vague plans, but plans nonetheless. Fez should eventually be out on pretty much everything," Fish said. For Vita and PSN, Fish said he's working with Sony "to figure something out." An iOS launch is "highly probable."

Fish also says "thanks for all the spreadsheet jokes." And you all thought you were so original.

Check out all of the Fez information you never knew you wanted right here, and make sure to see the Fez Fish Gaijin Games created for Runner 2 (Warning: It's a fish in tightie whities, and we do mean tight).

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Pachter: PS4 "Impressive," Will Sell 85-95 Million Units


Everybody likes more RAM.
For developers, one of the most appealing aspects of the PlayStation 4 is its drastically increased RAM. And in addition to the 8-core CPU, analyst Michael Pachter believes Sony's new console is "impressive" and capable of great innovation.
Furthermore, in speaking at the SXSW panel (as cited byGameChup), Pachter said he believes the PS4 will go on to sell 85-95 million units lifetime; in direct comparison, the PS3 has sold about 77 million units since its launch in 2006. The analyst added that he expects the new console to sell below the $599 price point, which should give it an early boost.
In regards to the competition, Pachter sees the new Xbox selling the same amount as the PS4 when all is said and done. So essentially, it seems he sees the trends set this generation to continue going forward, which probably seems likely. But I have to reiterate- As I said in my Week in Review, the availability of PS4s come launch will be critical. And that's lookin' good, so... Cross your fingers!

Just Cause Dev: PlayStation 4 Is "The Best Of All Worlds"


When Sony announced the technical specifications for the PlayStation 4, some were just a little underwhelmed.
After all, it didn't appear to be some futuristic, next-level tech; it just appeared to be some relatively high-end PC technology. Developers really seem to love it for its accessibility, but what about the overall raw power?
Well, Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios says we really shouldn't be too concerned about that. Co-founder Linus Blomberg told GamingBolt that Sony's new machine will "out-power most PCs for years to come." He also said due to aging tech, consoles are in "desperate need" of a new generation:
"It’s always very exciting with a new console cycle, for a number of reasons. The consoles desperately need a boost since having been overtaken in terms of performance by PCs several years ago, and also losing market share to mobile platforms."
This generation has lasted longer than any previous generation in the industry's history (at least as far as I can remember), and many game makers have complained about battling gamer fatigue. In other words, we're all waiting for the new hardware, so even the most anticipated titles for current hardware seems a little less exciting. Anyway, Blomberg definitely seems to like the PS4:
"It’s the best of all worlds in a way; great performance for demanding high-end gaming, good social ecosystem and connectivity, and integrated business marketplace. For Avalanche Studios as an open-world games developer this is super exciting and opens up many new opportunities."
Avalanche is rumored to have several next-gen projects in the works, including Just Cause 3 and a new Mad Max game. As for next-gen power, we'll have to wait and see what the PS4 is truly capable of..

Monday, March 4, 2013

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag debut trailer sets sail, screens too

Blackbeard's here to introduce you to the newest hero in the Assassin's Creed lineage, one Edward Kenway, as well as the latest, piracy-stuffed entry in the series. Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag docks on the shores of North America on October 29, and Europe on October 31 (UK November 1). The game is coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, and next-gen consoles (at some point) including the PS4.




Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag confirmed for PS4


As the prior week's leaks suggested, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag will boast next-generation ports ... rendered by the PlayStation 4. (Here you go.)

Speaking to Joystiq in San Francisco last month, Assassin's Creed 4 game director Ashraf Ismail said the AnvilNext engine, which powers Ubisoft's pirate game and debuted with Assassin's Creed 3 in 2012, was built for platforms beyond the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U.

Ubisoft hasn't confirmed a launch date for the PS4 version yet, since the exact timing is entwined with Sony's guarded launch plans. All other versions ofAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (that we know of) are due on October 29 in North America.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag 'pushing hard' for more assassinations, less hand-holding


It has become necessary to ask about the prevalence of assassination in a series called Assassin's Creed. Ubisoft's massive franchise has grown to encompass different developers, protagonists, historical contexts, and design ideals. The central thrust of the hidden blade has been obscured by an ever-growing stack of systems, plots and economies, some of which suit the business of killing – and some that allow you to manufacture and sell barrels.

"Yes, we are a pirate game, and we advertise ourselves as a pirate game. It's even in our title," says Ashraf Ismail, Game Director at Ubisoft Montreal forAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. "But it's an Assassin's Creed game, and this is very important, because this is how we're able to build a pirate game. We have this really solid foundation that is the core and the heart of the experience. The story is about a guy who is an assassin and the conflict he goes through to become this guy. We actually have more assassinations than AC1 had."

Following a presentation at Ubi's offices in San Francisco, Ismail explains the "older philosophy" of Assassin's Creed as an important consideration for Black Flag, even if its appearance suggests otherwise. "This is something we did learn, we do listen to our fans a lot," Ismail says. "We know that in AC3 there was a lot more handholding done, and we do want to go back to an older philosophy where we just present you with a simple objective and we let you choose the gameplay you want."

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag debut trailer leaks



The (potentially not safe for work) debut trailer for Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flaghas leaked onto the internet like water into the bowels of a poorly-built schooner. As our first look at the new game's setting and characters in motion, the above trailer details the game's hero, Edward Kenway, and all of the various ways in which he is, apparently, even cooler than Blackbeard.

As we learned yesterdayAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag will launch on October 29 and will also be coming to "next-gen consoles."