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January 18th, 2014, 00:17 Posted By: wraggster
The best selling games platform in the US last year was the Nintendo 3DS, US numbers company NPD has revealed.
The plucky handheld outsold every other format when looking at year-long totals,ShackNews reported, although last month's figures showed a strong performance by both new next-gen consoles.Xbox One edged out PlayStation 4 in December sales, although Sony's machine is still cumulatively ahead. Sony has blamed the PS4's December dip on it being out of stock "due to overwhelming demand".December also saw Wii U reach its highest monthly sales total to date, likely buoyed by the launch of Super Mario 3D World.Grand Theft Auto 5 was the US' best selling game of 2013, followed by Call of Duty: Ghosts, Madden 25, Battlefield 4 and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...vice-last-year
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January 17th, 2014, 01:26 Posted By: wraggster
The average price of boxed games in the UK is at its highest point ever.
GfK Chart-Track revealed to MCV that gamers on average spent £29.42 on each game, that's a huge increase of £3 over 2012.
There's two main reasons for the increase – a reduction in the number of budget-priced games (particularly on Wii and DS) and more expensive pricing on next-gen games on PS4, Xbox One and Wii U.
Chart-Track added that, based on historic data, the price of new console games do tend to drop after a year of the new machines being out.
This statistic is part of MCV's extensive 2013 market report, which you can find in this week's edition of MCV.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-ga...e-high/0126795
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January 17th, 2014, 01:15 Posted By: wraggster
Argos says sales of electricals - including video games, tablets, TVs and white goods - helped it deliver a strong financial quarter, as its parent company appoints a new chief exec.
Total sales grew by 3.6 per cent to £1.808m while like-for-like sales increased by 3.8 per cent for the 18 weeks from September 1st 2013 to January 4th 2014.
Home Retail Group has also announced that John Walden - who has been Argos' MD for almost two years - will join the board as chief executive from March 14th, following a period of handover from current chief exec Terry Duddy.
Internet sales grew to represent 46 per cent of total Argos sales, up from 42 per cent for the same period last year. Mobile commerce sales grew by 75 per cent against the same period last year to represent 20 per cent of total Argos sales in the period, up from 12 per cent in the prior year.
"Electrical products delivered a strong sales performance principally as a result of growth in video gaming, tablets, televisions and white goods, partially offset by the continued declines in audio and photographic sales," the company said.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse...7C33006169.htm
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January 17th, 2014, 01:13 Posted By: wraggster
So we all know GTA V ruled the roost, but how did the other blockbuster games of 2013 fare?
UKIE/GfK Chart-Track has handed MCV the 100 best-selling boxed video games of 2013 for the UK.
It’s not remotely surprising to see GTA V rule the roost, followed by FIFA 14, Call of Duty, Battlefield and Assassin’s creed. But there are a few surprises in there.
Check the list below and find out who wins out of The Sims 3 vs SimCity, Gran Turismo 6 vs Forza 5 and Super Mario 3D World vs Super Mario 3D Land.
THE TOP 100 of 2013
1. Grand Theft Auto V (Rockstar)
2. FIFA 14 (EA)
3. Call of Duty: Ghosts (Activision)
4. Battlefield 4 (EA)
5. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (Ubisoft)
6. Tomb Raider (Square Enix)
7. FIFA 13 (EA)
8. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Warner Bros)
9. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (Microsoft)
10. The Last of Us (Sony)
11. Batman: Arkham Origins (Warner Bros)
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (Activision)
13. Just Dance 2014 (Ubisoft)
14. Far Cry 3 (Ubisoft)
15. Saints Row IV (Deep Silver)
16. BioShock Infinite (2K Games)
17. Killzone: Shadow Fall (Sony)
18. Need for Speed: Rivals (EA)
19. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Warner Bros)
20. Skylanders: Swap Force (Activision)
21. Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo)
22. Assassin's Creed III (Ubisoft)
23. Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
24. Disney Infinity (Disney)
25. LEGO The Lord of the Rings (Warner Bros)
26. Aliens: Colonial Marines (Sega)
27. Pokémon X (Nintendo)
28. WWE 2K14 (2K Games)
29. Pokémon Y (Nintendo)
30. Dead Island: Riptide (Deep Silver)
31. Halo 4 (Microsoft)
32. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist (Ubisoft)
33. Hitman Absolution (Square Enix)
34. Luigi's Mansion 2 (Nintendo)
35. Gears of War: Judgment (Microsoft)
36. Crysis 3 (EA)
37. Just Dance 4 (Ubisoft)
38. Skylanders Giants (Activision)
39. Football Manager 2014 (Sega)
40. Dead Space 3 (EA)
41. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)
42. Gran Turismo 6 (Sony)
43. Forza Motorsport 5 (Microsoft)
44. Grand Theft Auto IV (Rockstar)
45. Sonic/All Stars Racing Transformed (Sega)
46. Injustice: Gods Among Us (Warner Bros)
47. Max Payne 3 (Rockstar)
48. Grand Theft Auto Episodes: Liberty City (Rockstar)
49. God of War: Ascension (Sony)
50. F1 2013 (Codemasters)
51. Football Manager 2013 (Sega)
52. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo)
53. Rayman Legends (Ubisoft)
54. Dead Rising 3 (Microsoft)
55. Forza Horizon (Microsoft)
56. Medal of Honor: Warfighter (EA)
57. Red Dead Redemption: GOTY (Rockstar)
58. Battlefield 3 (EA)
59. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo)
60. Grid 2 (Codemasters)
61. Diablo III (Blizzard)
62. New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo)
63. SimCity (EA)
64. The Sims 3 (EA)
65. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (Konami)
66. LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins (Nintendo)
67. Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 (City Interactive)
68. Angry Birds Star Wars (Activision)
69. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Legendary (Bethesda)
70. WWE '13 (THQ)
71. Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition (Sony)
72. Sonic Generations (Sega)
73. Sleeping Dogs (Square Enix)
74. Dead Island GOTY Edition (Deep Silver)
75. Defiance (Trion Worlds)
76. Borderlands 2 (2K Games)
77. Dishonored (Bethesda Softworks)
78. Beyond Two Souls (Sony)
79. Ryse: Son of Rome (Microsoft)
80. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)
81. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 (EA)
82. Knack (Sony)
83. Moshi Monsters: Moshling’s Theme Park (Mind Candy)
84. Forza Motorsport 4 (Microsoft)
85. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (Warner Bros)
86. Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Disney)
87. Mario & Sonic London 2012 Olympic Games (Sega)
88. Payday 2 (505 Games)
89. Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 (Konami)
90. Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (Nintendo)
91. The Smurfs 2 (Ubisoft)
92. Batman: Arkham City – GOTY (Warner Bros)
93. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo)
94. New Super Mario Bros. U (Nintendo)
95. DMC (Capcom)
96. Metro Last Light (Deep Silver)
97. Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo)
98. NBA 2K14 (2K Sports)
99. The Sims 3: University Life – EA
100. Resident Evil 6 – Capcom
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January 17th, 2014, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster
Keen to dispel recent rumours, Io Interactive has released a number of details concerning its next-gen Hitman game.
Reports last week suggested the Hitman franchise had been abandoned on consoles but nothing could be further from the truth.
“In the next game you will experience a globetrotting Agent 47 at the prime of his career – the apex predator stalking his prey across the world, “ the studio said.
“The game concentrates on the core Hitman fantasy of using a wide range of tools to take out a diverse group of targets across expansive, exotic locations around the world. We are building this game on the backbone of the Glacier 2 engine, using the best parts and what we have learnt through Hitman: Absolution and drawing inspiration from past titles like Contracts and Blood Money to fulfil the core Hitman fantasy.
“That means we’re packing in an extreme level of detail on the largest levels we have ever built for a Hitman game. We’ve adopted an open, non-linear level design approach to the game, ensuring the game will play out across huge, checkpoint-free, sandbox levels. Our aim is to create living, breathing and believable levels which will allow gamers to play around with the AI to create those unique moments every fan of the Hitman franchise loves.
“You will also be glad to hear that we have removed 47’s magic pockets. We believe that’s all we need to say about that subject.”
Io’s as-of-yet unnamed Hitman game will be released on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/io-sa...antasy/0126804
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January 17th, 2014, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster
Only 64 per cent of the movie and TV market in the US last year was spent on physical DVDs and Blu-rays.
That’s down from the 96 per cent share physical formats claimed in 2004, IHS Technology reports.
While spending on movies and TV shows in the home entertainment market actually grew one per cent year-on-year, sales of discs fell from $8.2bn in 2012 to $7.5bn in 2013. DVDs declined 13.6 per cent and Blu-ray grew 2.6 per cent.
Movie and TV disc rentals fell nine per cent to $4.3bn. Pay-TV rentals grew by one per cent.
Internet sales grew 39 per cent, however, with rentals jumping 39 per cent and subscriptions jumping 31 per cent, meaning digital now claims more than one third of the US home entertainment market.
“During the heyday of DVD, the widespread availability of cheap discs allowed most consumers to build enormous video libraries,” senior HIS analyst Michael Arrington stated. “Now consumers have become more discriminating in their purchases.
“And with the rise of iTunes and other online sources, it’s pretty much an equal choice for buyers whether they want to purchase a video title on disc, or download it from the Internet. Under these circumstances, an increasing number of consumers are choosing the download option.
"Unless Blu-ray Disc prices stabilise and box-office performance stays high, as it might with sequels to The Avengers and The Hunger Games on the table, another year of Blu-ray unit growth that is slight at best could yield a downward turn in spending for the format in 2014.
“In any case, any reasonable amount of growth in Blu-ray is unlikely to prevent what will next year become a decade of decline for a once-thriving disc market.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/physi...-in-us/0126805
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January 15th, 2014, 22:47 Posted By: wraggster
Eight of the ten top-selling games were on Nintendo's handheld
Nintendo's Kirby: Triple Deluxe was the only new release to make the Japanese top 10 last week, and it went straight in at number one.
Triple Deluxe, the first Kirby release for the 3DS, sold 214,000 units in its first week on sale - a solid return on a platform that is the dominant force in Japanese retail. The top five best-selling games in Japan last week were all 3DS titles, with a further seven scattered across the remainder of the top twenty.
- 1. [3DS] Kirby: Triple Deluxe (Nintendo, 01/09/14) - 214,208 (New)
- 2. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z (GungHo Online Entertainment, 12/12/31) - 52,880 (1,216,421)
- 3. [3DS] Pokemon X and Y (Nintendo, 10/12/13) - 34,179 (3,870,125)
- 4. [3DS] The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (Nintendo, 12/26/13) - 26,286 (323,502)
- 5. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 (Capcom, 09/14/13) - 19,497 (3,179,551)
- 6. [PS3] Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster (Square Enix, 12/26/13) - 16,285 (241,733)
- 7. [3DS] Yokai Watch (Level-5, 07/11/13) - 14,195 (308,946)
- 8. [3DS] Sentouchu Densetsu no Shinobi to Survival Battle (Namco Bandai, 10/17/13) - 13,665 (224,869)
- 9. [Wii U] Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo, 11/21/13) - 13,079 (452,521)
- 10. [PSV] Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster Twin Pack (Square Enix, 12/26/13) - 12,237 (194,407)
However, while Kirby sells to the core Nintendo fanbase, it doesn't necessarily inspire those who have yet to buy the hardware. Indeed, sales of both 3DS models were significantly down on the preceding week, when the release of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds had a more marked impact on performance.
Nevertheless, the 3DS is still outperforming the rest, and should continue to do so until the PlayStation 4 is launched in the region next month. In total, the 3DS and 3DS XL sold more than 60,000 units last week.
- 1. 3DS LL - 40,038 (139,867)
- 2. PlayStation Vita - 29,494 (81,111)
- 3. 3DS - 20,116 (61,836)
- 4. PlayStation 3 - 14,845 (30,321)
- 5. Wii U - 14,020 (73,178)
- 6. PSP - 4,758 (10,310)
- 7. PlayStation Vita TV - 2,522 (6,031)
- 8. Xbox 360 - 281 (616)
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-3ds-dominates
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January 15th, 2014, 22:30 Posted By: wraggster
Some still believe that virtual reality will be the next big thing in games – and it might come at a cost.
Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe has admitted that games for the hyped Oculus Rift VR system could cost more than those available on the likes of PS4, Xbox One and PC.
"In VR, suddenly objects have value – and scale and size and depth and I think there will be opportunities for developers to monetize them," he told Games Industry.
"It's going to be up to the developers. There will be some who make casual, simpler experiences. There are going to be indie developers that make bigger experiences. And there are going to be bigger teams that make really big experiences. And some that we've seen early prototypes of – well, we've seen some that, boy, would I pay a lot to get that experience in virtual reality."
Oculus’ director of development Aaron Davies is equally as enthused about the technology, though perhaps a little more cautious about any potential increase in software pricing, adding: "VR is a fundamentally different experience. This is the next generation of computing in a very big way. This is something that's going to change so many things.
"The whole concept of charging a premium is somewhat out-dated. It's not to say it's going to be upfront. It could be this is going to be an experience you get dialled into. We'll see how it monetizes. If you create content or an experience that someone is passionate about, you're creating a lifestyle for them. And they'll pay for that.
“[Developers] had better deliver if they're going to charge more than $50 or $60 for a game.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/games...nd-ps4/0126777
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January 15th, 2014, 21:15 Posted By: wraggster
Control your Titan on March 11 with the limited edition Xbox One wireless controller, announced by Microsoft today in preparation for Titanfall's drop in two months. It's listed at $65 on the Microsoft Store.
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January 15th, 2014, 01:22 Posted By: wraggster
Speaker manufacturer Klipsch had revealed a pair of upcoming headsets designed specifically for gaming.
The company will offer two models beginning next month: the wired KG-200 line for $130, as well as the wireless KG-300 for $200.
The KG-200 includes 40-millimeter drivers, as well as Fidelity, Combat, Stealth, and Sport equalizer presets. The 300 runs on AAA batteries and packs the same presets as the 200 – along with Dolby Digital decoding and “Klipsch SphereSpace Surround Technology.”
The company states the headsets have been designed to support PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and PC. The hardware will be available through the Kipsch's website and authorized retailers sometime in February.##
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/klips...adsets/0126681
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January 15th, 2014, 01:13 Posted By: wraggster
Videographer and journalist Boonsri Dickinson took the second generation of Google Glass out for a spin, and came back with some thoughts (and a video) on the hardware (basically unchanged from the first generation) and the new XE12 software upgrade (which includes many new features, such as the 'eye wink' option for snapping photos). New apps in the tiny-but-growing Glass app store include Compass, which allows you to find interesting landmarks; Field Trip, which allows you to walk around and look up local history; Video Voyager, a tool for sharing videos based on your location; and Strava Run, which visualizes your fitness habits. 'Glass has potential to take off as a new platform because it's not a phone,' she writes. 'The hands-free approach could expand its use to venues as diverse as the operating room and kitchen, unlocking new ways of using the data overlays to augment the real world.' Interesting features aside, though, her experience with the device raises the usual privacy questions: 'For the most part, Glass is a good prototype for this new kind of computer: but do we really need it, and are we ready for it?'
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...h-google-glass
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January 15th, 2014, 01:08 Posted By: wraggster
The government has launched ‘Cyber Streetwise’ – a campaign designed to boost online security awareness among small businesses and consumers.
The £4 million campaign is funded by the National Cyber Security Programme and helmed by the Home Office, and offers advice to businesses and consumers about how to reduce the risk of digital crime.
Five essential tips are offered by the initative's website, which features a number of interactive displays and videos framed as shops along the fictional ‘Cyber Street’.
The tips are:
- Install updates and antivirus software – “At a minimum, install anti-virus and update your operating system and web browser on your computers and mobile devices.”
- Use strong passwords – “Passwords should be nonsensical and contain a mix of numbers, symbols, lower and uppercase letters.”
- Only download from trusted sites or organisations – “Check that emails asking you to download something are genuine and only download software or applications from official websites or app stores.”
- Beware of phishing emails – “Fraudsters pose as your bank or other trusted organisations to obtain your personal details. Make sure you know how to spot suspicious signs in an email or website.”
- Review and protect your business' information – “Losing customer information can have legal and reputational consequences. Do you have policies and standards in place to ensure it is protected?”
Among the backers of the awareness push are security firms Sophos and Symantec, several banking organisations and the charity Crimestoppers.
James Lyne, global head of security research at Sophos, explained that Cyber Streetwise was designed to be accessible than past campaigns such as GetSafeOnline.
"GetSafeOnline was one of the governments first awareness and advice tools," he said.
"Whilst they both focus on the same task of building awareness of security issues, Cyber Street is based off an analysis of the behaviours of different members of society online."
"The advice is supposed to be targeted and tailored at these groups to be more accessible and extends beyond a website in to a broader campaign with posters on the underground etc. In short, they are complimentary but Cyber Streetwise should be more accessible to the broader community and a reminder of security as you stroll to work."
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ecurity/032946
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January 15th, 2014, 01:02 Posted By: wraggster
GameFace Labs detailed its in-development GameFace Mark 4 VR headset at last week's CES in Las Vegas, revealing that its Oculus Rift competitor features head-tracking wireless gameplay without requiring a connected PC.
Engadget reports that a 3D-printed prototype version of the GameFace connected with a DualShock 3 controller to aid player immersion, though some games were controlled via physical movement. The device offers a 5.2-inch, 1920x1080 LED panel, and a Tegra 4 processor powered demonstration games like Dead Trigger.
The GameFace 4 will be supported by an Android VR-specific storefront featuring an array of compatible games. GameFace Labs is aiming for a retail release by the end of the year.
http://www.joystiq.com/2014/01/13/ga...culus-rift-al/
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January 15th, 2014, 00:54 Posted By: wraggster
Sledgehammer Games is actively recruiting in a bid to strengthen the development team working on a next-gen Call of Duty game.
Earlier this week, parent company Activision posted more than ten Sledgehammer job adverts across a range of disciplines including art, design, animation and engineering. Multiple job ads note that the studio is "working on a next-gen Call of Duty game".
<figure style='font: 14px/23.79px "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; outline: 0px; border: 0px currentColor; width: 460px; color: rgb(38, 38, 38); text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; white-space: normal; position: relative; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;' class="responsive single-article__canvas single-article__canvas--full zoomhover" title="" data-media992="http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3136/image_313604_460.jpg" data-media768="http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3136/image_313604_700.jpg" data-media480="http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3136/image_313604_480.jpg" data-media="http://cdn.medialib.computerandvideogames.com/screens/dir_3136/image_313604_320.jpg"> </figure>Formed in 2009, California-based Sledgehammer originally worked on an unfinished third person Call of Duty game before being drafted in to help Infinity Ward complete Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
While the nature of its new game remains a mystery, Sledgehammer general manager Glen Schofield told us in October 2011 that he thought the studio would work alone following its MW3 collaboration with Infinity Ward, the studio primarily responsible for 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts.
"This game has allowed both Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games to hire, and we hired really strong teams, both of us," he said. "We needed to come together on this one, but since then we've both grown, we're both over 100 people now.
"Initially we weren't fully functional because we had to learn a new engine," Schofield added. "Now we have, I think the best thing that could happen for Activision would be for us to both go off and make our own game. Whether that's a Call of Duty game or not is up in the air. I plan to continue working on Call of Duty."
[h=6]http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-of-duty-game/[/h]
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January 15th, 2014, 00:53 Posted By: wraggster
Some games running through Oculus Rift and other virtual reality platforms may come at a premium price, Oculus VR's CEO has postulated.
CEO Brendan Iribe told GamesIndustry International that consumers may be willing to spend more on VR experiences than they are on traditional games.
 "It's going to be up to the developers," Iribe said. "There will be some who make casual, simpler experiences - maybe bite sized. There are going to be indie developers that make bigger experiences. And there are going to be bigger teams that make really big experiences. ... And some that we've seen early prototypes of... Well, we've seen some that, boy, would I pay a lot to get that experience in virtual reality."
Iribe noted that the pricing of games tends to shift back and forth over time: most console games increased in price from $50 to $60 at the start of the last generation, but most mobile and downloadable games are much cheaper. The new experience of VR games will justify swinging back to the other side of the spectrum, Oculus director of developer relations Aaron Davies said, though it may not come all at once.
"The whole concept of charging a premium is somewhat outdated," Davies said. "It's not to say it's going to be upfront. It could be this is going to be an experience you get dialled into. We'll see how it monetizes. ... If you create content or an experience that someone is passionate about, you're creating a lifestyle for them. And they'll pay for that."
id founder and Oculus CTO John Carmack is working on first-party Rift projects to show off the headset's potential.
Earlier this week, Valve launched a VR beta for Steam's Big Picture Mode that supports Oculus Rift.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...um-price-tags/
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January 15th, 2014, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster
Steam now has an experimental mode for use with virtual reality headset Oculus Rift, Valve has announced.
Users report that the mode shows the client projected as if on a giant floating screen in front of you, and that head tracking works well."As of the most recent Steam Client Beta, Steam now supports an experimental VR mode," Valve's Joe Pudwig reported (thanks,Road to VR)."If you own an Oculus Rift dev kit you can try it out by starting Steam with '-vr' on the command line. Then press the Big Picture button to enter Big Picture + VR mode."Valve's announcement comes just a day ahead of the company's Steam Dev Days, scheduled to take place on 15-16th January. It is here that Valve is expected to show off its own VR hardware.The first time you run you may need to do the following: - Run Steam in the desktop client without the -vr option
- Find "SteamVR" under "Tools" in your library. (If you don't have it installed, install it.)
- Bring up properties on SteamVR and opt-in to the "Beta Update" beta. Let the update download.
- Quit the Steam Client again and start it with -vr
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...or-oculus-rift
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January 14th, 2014, 01:39 Posted By: wraggster
CEO Brendan Iribe would not be surprised to see Oculus games cost more than $60 - he also says "the age of 2D monitors has run its course"
The Oculus Rift could open up new realms of immersion for gamers - but those experiences may come with a price.
Brendan Iribe, CEO of Oculus, notes that - as a hardware manufacturer - his business has no say in what software companies will charge for Oculus-enhanced games, but admits he would not be surprised to see them come at a premium price.
"It's going to be up to the developers," he says. "There will be some who make casual, simpler experiences - maybe bite sized. There are going to be Indie developers that make bigger experiences. And there are going to be bigger teams that make really big experiences. ... And some that we've seen early prototypes of... Well, we've seen some that, boy, would I pay a lot to get that experience in virtual reality."
Aaron Davies, director of developer relations at Oculus, agrees.
"In VR, suddenly objects have value - and scale and size and depth and I think there will be opportunities for developers to monetize them," he says.
Noticeably higher retail prices for software could be one of the few things to derail current gamer excitement about VR. Consumers are still smarting from the industry's move from $50 to $60 in 2005 - and EA incurred player wrath last February by suggesting they might jump to $70 with the launch of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
"They'd better deliver if they're going to charge more than $50 or $60 for a game"
Brendan Iribe
Iribe noted that pricing in the game industry tends to swing. Prices spiked with the launch of the last generation consoles, then swung to the other end of the pendulum with the rise of mobile gaming. He sees the rise of virtual reality as not an extension of PC gaming, but something different - which opens the door for them to move back in the opposite direction.
"VR is a fundamentally different experience," he says. "This is the next generation of computing in a very big way. ... This is something that's going to change so many things."
However, he notes, raising prices also raises risk for developers.
"They'd better deliver if they're going to charge more than $50 or $60 for a game," he says.
Davies notes that the higher prices - if they come at all - may not be done in a clumsy fashion, such as hiking the initial retail price. Instead, he points to the free-to-play model, where microtransactions make it less painful to pay (and the customer may not realize they're paying more until much later).
"The whole concept of charging a premium is somewhat outdated," he says. "It's not to say it's going to be upfront. It could be this is going to be an experience you get dialed into. We'll see how it monetizes. ... If you create content or an experience that someone is passionate about, you're creating a lifestyle for them. And they'll pay for that."
"If people are willing to spend a lot of money on VR games, it obviously means we're doing something right," says Iribe.
Davies and Iribe note that they're speaking in hypotheticals. At present, the company still isn't even willing to talk about the Rift as a commercially available product. It's still in the R&D phase, says Iribe, who won't even commit to a 2014 release for the product.
The Crystal Cove prototype (which won Best in Show at this year's CES Awards) does give a few hints as to what we can expect when this thing finally does hit its release milestone, though.
 The new prototype uses a camera as well for positional tracking
The unit being shown at this year's CES relied on a camera attached in front of the user to work. And Iribe said barring an unforeseen technological miracle, that's not likely to change.
"While we're not talking about the consumer unit, if it does [require the camera], we'll bundle that in," he says.
To date, Oculus has shipped more than 50,000 developer kits for the Rift, says Iribe. The company has gone from 7 employees a year ago to more than 70 today. The past year has also brought about several improvements to the unit.
The Crystal Cove prototype, as has been widely reported, offers positional tracking (thanks to that camera), giving users six degrees of visual freedom. And it has significantly reduced motion blur.
Latency has been improved as well. The developer kits in people's hands have a latency of about 50-60 milliseconds. Crystal Cove got that down to between 30-40 milliseconds. The goal for launch, says Iribe, is 20 - with the hopes of further reducing that in later models.
"We're not going to ship until we have a version that delivers a highly immersive, comfortable experience at a low price," says Iribe. "I don't mean just the foam padding and things like that. The experience of virtual reality has to be comfortable. VR has never been close to comfortable. We're confident we will deliver a very comfortable experience for version one. It's my belief that the age of 2D monitors has run its course."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-premium-price
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January 14th, 2014, 01:33 Posted By: wraggster
Video game consoles and software made £605.5m for the UK High Street last month, MCV can reveal.
The figure is based on GfK Chart-Track reports. Software made£265.4m alone but it was the console hardware market that saw the biggest spike, with over 1.25m games machines sold in the UK during December alone.
These figures do not include sales of digital games or accessories.
“HMV had a very strong December trading period, ahead of our expectations which is fantastic news,” said the retailer’s games boss Phil Browes. “Games was one of the star performers with strong demand on next-gen but also a real surge in demand for the key current-gen titles in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
“This has set a fantastic platform for 2014.”
GAME?category director Charlotte Knight added: “The arrival of Xbox One and PS4 meant it was an epic Christmas. We’ve never had two massive launches so close together before – let alone at Christmas – and we are delighted with their success. The format holders and publishers have absolutely delivered.”
Sainsbury’s games manager Gurdeep Hunjan agreed: “We saw fantastic sales of PS4 and Xbox One in the run up to Christmas. Demand continues to be strong into the New Year. Our popular launch deals for the consoles included bundle promotions that helped drive sales of key games with FIFA 2014 amongst the bestsellers.”
It wasn’t just a big pre-Christmas for UK retail, with the week after December 25th proving particularly strong for the High Street.
“December was amazing,” said Asda’s games chief Craig Thirkell. “We beat our expectations and the days between the Eves were just incredible as customers came out in droves for what turned out to be an exceptional Christmas.”
Games Centre MD Robert Lindsay added: “After a challenging year we had a fantastic December. It was clear that a large amount of consumers had been holding off for PS4 and Xbox One.
“We also had the busiest post-Christmas period ever as new consumers were keen to spend their cash on additional next-gen games and peripherals. Hardware sales have remained very strong post Christmas.
“If December is an indicator of where the games market is heading in 2014 then we should be in for a very good year.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/uk-ga...cember/0126654
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