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Games for Changes 2013 winners announced

Joe Jasko, Gamezebo — 2013-06-19T15:00:00+00:00

We're always on the lookout for exciting and innovative new games. We love finding games that can strike a real chord with the gaming community, make a significant impact on the way we look at games, and above all else, turn out to be just really fun to play. And what better way to expand our gaming horizons than by checking out the winners of this year's Game for Change Awards?

Founded in 2004, Games for Change has been highlighting the biggest and brightest indie titles that serve as outstanding acts of education and humanitarianism ideals. Last night at the foundation's big ceremony in New York City, the winners of the Games for Change Awards 2013 were announced. Here is a quick rundown of all the big winners, and what each one brings to the world of socially impacted gaming:

Most Innovative: BlindSide (epicycle)
There are countless new mobile games that push the boundaries of innovation each and every day, so when one of them is recognized as the most innovative, then you know it's going to be something really cool. BlindSide is a completely auditory adventure, which lets you explore a fascinating 3D world that is built entirely out of sounds, and that you'll never actually get to see!

Best Gameplay: Reach for the Sun (Filament Games)
It's what we're all here for, right? Playing great games with even greater gameplay! This year's winner of the "Best Gameplay" category is called Reach for the Sun, a beautiful-looking educational game about science, where players learn to nurture and care for their very own seedlings before the coming winter approaches.

See the rest of the winners over at Gamezebo >

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PS4 interface shown off in new Sony video

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-19T14:40:00+00:00

Sony just released this video showing off a lot of PS4's interface, which had largely remained a mystery to us until now. The video shows off the different apps you can use with the next-gen console as well as its chat functions and the apparent seamless experience it offers between chatting, sharing, and actual game play.

Check it out here:

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Banned Xbox Live gamers won't lose access to Xbox One offline play

MegaGames — 2013-06-19T13:45:00+00:00

Microsoft has already confirmed that Xbox One owners won't be able to play their single player games unless the console is allowed to phone home daily, but what if your Xbox Live account got banned? Would you lose access to all your games?

"Absolutely not - you will always have access to the games you've purchased," said Larry Hryb, Microsoft's director of Xbox Live programming. "Absolutely not."

But, what happens when Xbox One reaches the end of its lifetime and Microsoft turns off its servers? Larry was not as conclusive in his answer as he asked fans to trust Microsoft not to do so.

"I'll just say this: We haven't even started this generation, so it's kind of early to talk about the end of the generation," he said. "That's certainly not something we would do - that's not the way the system is designed. It's designed for flexibility. But let's get the system out there first."

Read more about Xbox One at MegaGames >

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The Walking Dead: 400 Days preview

Richard Bailey Jr, The Koalition — 2013-06-19T13:35:00+00:00

When Telltale Games decided to develop a 5-part episodic series of games based on The Walking Dead universe, fans everywhere waited in anticipation to see how this medium would transform over into video game form. With all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into crafting this apocalyptic zombie-filled world, Telltale succeeded in crafting a masterful season filled with memorable characters, sophisticated storytelling, and emotionally gripping choices and consequences.

With the release of The Walking Dead: 400 Days scheduled to hit consoles sometime in July, the award-winning studio is now poised to deliver an experience as satisfying as season one and as the perfect Segway into season two. During E3 2013, I got a chance to preview a segment from 400 days during a 20 minute behind closed doors session. Here are a few of my thoughts on this episode and why you should definitely check it out next month.

When Telltale started hinting at The Walking Dead: 400 Days a few weeks ago, they did so by using a popular mobile app named Vine to highlight five new characters by the names of Vince, Bonnie, Russell, Shel, and Wyatt. All five of these individuals are tasked with having to survive the first 400 days of the zombie apocalypse on their own terms, and in unique, yet dangerous ways. The teaser trailer above identifies a Georgia truck stop, which will ultimately become a key centerpiece of the story as the player progress through each character's segment.

The demo that I experienced featured Vince, a wisecracking fugitive who shoots a guy at point-blank range then tries to ditch the weapon and evade the police before being caught. After this brief intro, the screen fades to black and then suddenly reappears again to establish that Vince's timeline starts on day two. By now, Vince is aboard a prison bus full of disgruntled criminals and in the midst of a conversation between two of his closest friends, Danny and Justin. Just like in previous conversations from season one, you can choose to defend one friend over the other and this will lead to some interesting consequences later.

Read more about The Walking Dead: 400 Days at The Koalition >

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Disney app launches for Xbox 360

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-19T13:10:00+00:00

U.S.-based Xbox 360 owners can now download a new Disney app which aims to deliver "new and original digital video" content on Microsoft's home console. The app features original web series, classic animated shorts, clips from Disney shows, and the latest Disney movie trailers.

"The Disney app for Xbox 360 furthers Disney Interactive's goal to bring quality Disney videos and experiences across all platforms and devices," said Disney Interactive's Soctt Slesinger. The full app can be downloaded on the Xbox Marketplace, but an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription may be required.
Here's a look at what Disney fans can look forward to seeing on the new Xbox 360 app:

Episodes of the popular web series, Disney Where's My Water? Presents Swampy's Underground Adventures
Classic shorts starring Mickey Mouse and friends
Music videos, clips and trailers from Disney TV shows and movies
Future series and programming from Disney Interactive's upcoming slate of original video

Get more Xbox 360 news at GameZone >

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120 new Super Smash Bros. screenshots released

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-19T10:40:00+00:00

Yesterday, one screenshot from the upcoming Super Smash Bros. release for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U leaked. Today, Nintendo released 120 official screenshots of the hotly anticipated 2014 title and they're awesome. With new characters Mega Man, Villager, and the Wii Fit Trainer (it looks like she adds a cool, never-before-seen in Smash Bros. element), these photos make us wish that they would just release the game now.

Nevertheless, here are a handful of the screenshots provided by Nintendo (click here to check out all 120 of them!):

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PS4 shortage due to demand exceeding supply

Magadala See, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-19T10:15:00+00:00

President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America Jack Tretton was recently interviewed by Forbes, where he hinted the PS4 may hit a shortage.

He states, "I certainly think, given the technology that we're offering, given the software lineup, given the price point we have, that we'll have consumers interested in excess of what we're able to manufacture."

He is the second Sony executive to predict the shortcoming, and it has been assured that the first shipments will eventually sell out. Sony has been very good at marketing their next-gen console, considering that pre-orders for the PS4 keeps getting better. It seems the best way to be guaranteed a PS4 for the upcoming holidays is if people start reserving them now.

PS4 release date leaked

Magadala See, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-19T10:00:00+00:00

A recent advertisement in a popular UK tabloid, The Sun Newspaper, has indicated that Sony's PS4 will be launched on November 21, 2013.

It has been confirmed during E3 that the PS4 release date would be in time for the Holidays, so the November 21st date seems accurate enough considering the date is near Thanksgiving in the US.
The PS4 is priced at $399 and pre-orders are available at selected retailers.

Check out the ad from the newspaper:

Read more about PS4 at PlayStation Gang >

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Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara brings an arcade classic home

Joe Donato, GameZone — 2013-06-19T09:50:00+00:00

genuine concern among gamers that 2D games were going to die out forever, replaced permanently by 3D games likeMario 64, Tekken, and Crash Bandicoot. Today that notion is a bit absurd, as 2D games peacefully coexist among the most graphically impressive 3D experiences ever made. Between digital marketplaces, mobile games, and a surge of indie developers, 2D gaming is here to stay. But in 1996, the death of 2D was a genuine concern.

Playing Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara, a collection of Capcom's 2D D&D brawlers Tower of Doom (1993) and Shadow over Mystara (1996), I can't help but transport myself back to that time. 2D beat 'em up games like Final Fight and Streets of Rage had run their course by then, and the genre had been stagnating like so many 2D genres at the time. Looking back, these games feel like a genuine last effort to revitalize the genre, Shadow over Mystara especially.

While Tower of Doom is a solid game, there's a good reason Shadow over Mystara takes top billing in this collection. Simply put, you'd be hard pressed to find an arcade brawler with more depth. Relegated to arcades and a Japan-only collection on Sega Saturn, Shadow over Mystara is a game that deserves a new audience. It's ahead of its time in many ways. In fact, the only game I'd consider its peer is Guardian Heroes, another classic of the genre.

By mixing a simple, quarter-munching genre with a fighting game pedigree and the RPG aspects of D&D, Capcom crafted some uncharacteristically deep arcade games. It's only in recent years, with games like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Legend of Dungeon that we've seen the brawler genre infused with so much depth.

Players begin by choosing from one of six different classes -- Fighter, Dwarf, Elf, Cleric, Thief, and Magic User. Each class comes with their own unique movesets. The Fighter, for example, may have the framework of the traditional 2D brawler character, but he has everything from lunging attacks to aerial launchers and the ability to parry and counterattack. The Magic User, conversely, doesn't have much in way of attack strength, but has access to a repertoire of powerful spells. When you get four players together that D&D feel shines through, as each class's strengths and weaknesses play off of each other.

Both games take players through typical fantasy adventures, where an evil force is looking to harm the realm and it's up to you to stop them. It's cliché fare -- the story isn't good at all (and even contains a couple silly grammatical errors), but it's brief and harmless. More interesting are the moments where the games ask you to make choices on where you'll go next. Both Tower of Doomand Shadow over Mystara are packed with branching paths and hidden areas. There are several entire levels you'll only experience by completing multiple adventures, lending these games a ton of replay value, even if each one only takes an hour or so to complete.

Read more about Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara at GameZone >

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The Sims 4 to be revealed at Gamescom

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-19T09:45:00+00:00

While EA had a very impressive E3, showcasing Battlefield 4,Need for Speed Rivals, and teasing the likes of a new Star Wars Battlefront, there was one title noticeably absent from the publisher/developer conglomerate's lineup: The Sims 4.

The Sims 4 was first announced in early May, but absolutely no details, images, or videos were released alongside the news. Given that EA's press conference centered entirely on next-gen consoles, it's understandable why they elected not to show off the PC/Mac-exclusive title, which will now be revealed at Gamescom in Germany.

Gamescom 2013 will be held in Cologne, Germany between August 21 through August 25. Until then, we'll have to wait patiently, worry over possible nightmare scenarios, and play the upcomingIsland Paradise expansion for The Sims 3.

Get more up-to-date Sims 4 news at GameZone >

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Where's My Mickey? New Disney game for mobile

Debbie Timmins, The Average Gamer — 2013-06-18T15:45:00+00:00

Disney Interactive have announced their newest mobile game - Where's My Mickey? Building on the foundations of Where's My Water? (200 million installs and counting), the new Mickey-based game will use the same style of physics-puzzler gameplay, based around the classic characters we know and love; Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy and more. It will be available for iOS, Android and Windows Mobile very soon.

Where's My Mickey? will launch with over a hundred levels available. Three episodes will ship with the game, which two more available for purchase. Each episode will be themed around a story of Mickey or his friends in their attempts to get water.

In Life Gives You Lemons, Mickey runs a lemonade stand. Shenanigans ensue, as they always do with Mickey, leading you to chase the water across 20 levels per episode. Others available at launch are called Fanning The Flames and Growing Pains. Another one called Ship Wrecked can be bought as DLC at launch, along with a Goofy-themed episode called Van Goofy. The team are working on future downloads as well - during a tour of the studio we saw concept art for The Menace of Venice starring Mickey and Minnie, and A Glass Half Empty, in which Mickey battles a goat in a desert.

Disney have developed the puzzles beyond the original Where's My Water? There are now clouds to carry water, wind to blow them across the sky and plants to... plant. You'll be using wind to move the water where you want it and raining down on "fizz" to increase the volume available to Mickey and friends. There's a gameplay video and studio tour coming to our YouTube channel soon.

Where's My Mickey? is out now on iOS, Android and Windows Mobile.

Read more about Where's My Mickey? at The Average Gamer >

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Online gaming from a "Gamer Girl" perspective

Magadala See, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-18T15:00:00+00:00

When you first hear the term "gamer girl" what do people usually think of?

It is the walking sandwich maker that knows how to hold a controller. Boys can't help but flirt with her when her voice echoes on the other end of the server. It is the camera slore that posts a picture of ninety percent boob and five percent controller, on Facebook for likes. She must be a fat slob with potato chips in her moustache because she is at the top of the scoreboard. These are some of the common conceptions.

Well whatever you think this "gamer girl" is, we are here to rule the world and drive the male species to slavery. I know sandwiches are delicious but c'mon, that comeback is overused. I mean, couldn't you guys ask for anything better like a steak dinner? Or maybe even some soup along with that bread with meat you want all the time.

Okay first of all, I have to get this off my chest. I hate the term "gamer girl", I seriously hate that term because it has become some label. The term can be negative or positive, depending on how the person perceives gamer girls. Don't ask me if I am a girl when I go in to a lobby, especially when my name has Miss/Lady/Girl in the Username. I will just say "no I'm actually a unicorn" and tape a hotdog to my forehead just so you will shut up.

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Next-Gen MMO games and the issue of communication

Blaine Smith, MMO Attack — 2013-06-18T14:45:00+00:00

It's no longer a case of wishing or predicting, the MMO genre has already influenced the next-generation of consoles but is the industry ready? Every MMO has its problems. Whether that be terrible launch day woes or constant problems surrounding balance issues and lack of content, you'll struggle to find an MMO that doesn't have a painfully obvious selection of issues. However bringing a genre that has mainly been created for PC to the console market could bring with it a variety of additional issues. One of the core concerns I have is the issue of communication. Every MMO game requires a certain level of communication in order to fully enjoy the content. Whether you're selling a newly acquired item or you're searching for an experienced group to down that last raid boss, you will really struggle if you're not able to communicate.

It's already an issue with current generation consoles and players painstakingly type messages to friends and opponents with an on-screen keyboard. You'll be amazed at how many players will spend 5 minutes with an on-screen keyboard purely to declare their intentions regarding sexual activity and your mother. Despite the obvious dedication of those players, attempting to type at any real pace is almost impossible. "Help, I need healing", "I need to bank", these are common terms in anMMO game and vital to certain levels of success.

Neither console has confirmed any sort of launch peripherals to aid with this issue. I highly doubt the Playstation 4 and Xbox One will ship with a free keyboard or decent quality headset and mic, leaving the average player with very little ability to communicate.

Defensive improvements made to Madden 25

Madden School — 2013-06-18T14:15:00+00:00

EA Sports has announced all sorts of upgrades to this year's Madden 25 game both on offense and on defense. This post is going to focus exclusively on the defensive improvements made to this year's game.

Man align has been fixed! Man align is a feature that allows your defenders to line up directly over the offensive players that they would be responsible for if they were in man to man defense. This allows you to get your defenders into better position to cover the offense before the ball is snapped. There were some problems with the way the defenders aligned in Madden 13 but you won't have to worry about that this year.

The ballhawk feature that was introduced into the Madden NFL franchise last year was viewed as a blessing by some and a curse by others. Essentially the ballhawk feature allowed the user on defense to hold down Y/triangle while running around the field and this would lead to more interceptions. If you got used to doing that in Madden 13, now would be a good time to stop because that will no longer work in Madden 25. You will have to time it better for it to work in Madden 25.

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Man of Steel cheats and tips

Chris Buffa, Modojo — 2013-06-18T14:10:00+00:00

Both the Man of Steel movie and mobile game are worth checking out. The latter pits Superman against General Zod and his henchmen in both Story and Survival Modes. To succeed, you must avoid attacks and harness Superman's unique abilities to crush the competition. Things start off slowly and you'll probably get your butt kicked, but these tips will transform you from novice to expert in no time.

-Never take your eyes off Superman's enemies, and study their body language to know when they'll attack next.

-Whenever a bad guy pulls back to strike, quickly press either the left or right dodge buttons along the bottom of the screen to move in those directions. This is especially important whenever an enemy's head glows red. You don't want to be on the receiving end of this potentially devastating attack.

-Swipe multiple times to launch combos. Hitting enemies a certain number of times will break their guard, allowing you to send them into buildings and vehicles.

-Superman will occasionally grab hold of enemies and fly towards debris. When this happens, swipe in the desired direction to steer both characters into cars, pieces of stone and other objects for bonus damage.

-Pinch the screen to grapple. It's a great maneuver to pull off whenever enemies go into the guard position.

-When enemies initiate a grapple with Superman, quickly tap the two circles on-screen to turn the battle in your favor.

Get more Man of Steel cheats and tips at Modojo >

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New screenshot from upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-18T13:40:00+00:00

Check out this brand new screenshot from the upcoming Super Smash Bros game for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS courtesy of Pure Nintendo:

Get more Nintendo news at Pure Nintendo >

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Call of Duty: Ghosts gets sexy with perfectly rounded gun scopes

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T13:25:00+00:00

When you think next-gen graphics, Call of Duty: Ghosts probably isn't the first game to come to mind. But Activision is making its own technical strides that may go unnoticed to some. They are ahead of the curve with what is easily the most unappreciated advancement in Call of Duty: Ghosts... perfectly rounded gun scopes.

That's right, say goodbye to blocky edges thanks to a new engine feature called Sub-D, a technique which takes the most blocky geometry and builds them into perfectly smooth curves.

"It's been used for a while in Hollywood in film, but the real breakthrough for us has been utilizing it real-time, in engine," Activision told GameZone. Activision showed us an example with Sub-D turned off, revealing frighteningly jagged edges because of the normal poly count. With it turned on, the normal poly count increased exponentially.

Read more about Call of Duty: Ghosts at GameZone >

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Nintendo 3DS beats Xbox 360 as top selling platform in U.S. for May 2013

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T13:10:00+00:00

The Nintendo 3DS was the best-selling video game hardware platform in the United States for May 2013, a feat accomplished for the first time in the system's lifespan. The achievement was noted in this month's NPD Group report, followed by a Nintendo press release.

The 3DS edged out the Xbox 360 as the top selling platform for the 4-week period spanning from May 5, 2013 through June 1, 2013; however, the Xbox 360 remained the top-selling console hardware platform, for the twenty-ninth consecutive month.

"The 3DS had the best year-over-year trending for hardware units, with units sales essentially flat from last May," NPD noted. May saw the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D as well as another strong month for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Combined, the two helped Nintendo 3DS software sales in stores increase by more than 60% over the same time last year. Nintendo 3DS also had two of the top three best-selling software SKUs for the month, with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at No. 2 and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon at No. 3.

Learn more about hardware sales at GameZone >

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Man of Steel review

David Oxford, Gamezebo — 2013-06-18T12:15:00+00:00

Man of Steel, fists of fury.

Superman just can't seem to catch a break. First his planet blows up, taking his parents - and his entire society and culture - along with it, and now his new game Man of Steel keeps crashing.

At least, that's what we experienced as we kept trying to load and reload the game on our iPod Touch 4, watching the Unreal logo and opening cutscenes, but never getting any further than selecting our save file. The only thing which seemed "unreal" at this point was how watching the game keep crashing was like seeing Kal-El's ship landing in Kansas on a JFK-like instant replay. After trying everything we could think of on the device, we relented and made a new attempt on an iPhone 5. And there? Well things got pretty good.

Licensed games based on the Infinity Blade style of fighting have been fairly hit-or-miss. Well, mostly miss. ButMan of Steel, based on the new, non-eponymous Superman film of the same name, actually seems to do right by the formula. It's actually kind of impressive, in some ways. You still tap to parry and swipe to lay into your enemies, but there are other things which really allow it to stand out as well.

A simple one is your dodge buttons, placed at the lower right and left of the screen (why can't they ever be together?). Rather than just sidestepping, and as is sometimes the case in other games, stepping right back into an extended arm which just threw a punch, Superman actually moves around his enemies. This changes things up a bit, as you might be able to get a few swings in from the side or behind the enemy. Moreover, it effectively changes the background: whereas a building might have been what was behind your enemy, a sidestep now places an open street behind you, or perhaps an abandoned school bus.

This may not seem like much, but then you bring Superman's famed powers into play. Wallop a foe with a flurry of punches, and you can send them flying into whatever is behind you. Certain attacks can launch the enemies into the air, either finishing them by sending them over the horizon, and allowing you to wail on them in the air before smashing them back down into the ground, or flying after them, grabbing them, and basically trying to ram them into as much of the scenery as you can to inflict damage.

Read more about Man of Steel at Gamezebo >

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Hi Guess the Character: Cheats, tips, and answers

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-18T12:05:00+00:00

Do you love Hi Guess the Brand, Hi Guess the Movie, and Hi Guess the Place? Then you're going to love the fourth installment, Hi Guess the Place! It's just as addicting as the first three games and, thanks to our friends at Modojo, we've got all of the answers for you right here just in case you get stumped.

To find out which level you're stuck on, check the top right corner of your device's screen and then click on the corresponding photo below to get the answer!

Games.com News. CityVille, FarmVille, CastleVille games news

Games for Changes 2013 winners announced

See the rest of the winners over at Gamezebo >

PS4 interface shown off in new Sony video

Banned Xbox Live gamers won't lose access to Xbox One offline play

The Walking Dead: 400 Days preview

Disney app launches for Xbox 360

120 new Super Smash Bros. screenshots released

PS4 shortage due to demand exceeding supply

Read more about PS4 at PlayStation Gang >

PS4 release date leaked

Review: Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara brings an arcade classic home

The Sims 4 to be revealed at Gamescom

Where's My Mickey? New Disney game for mobile

Online gaming from a "Gamer Girl" perspective

Next-Gen MMO games and the issue of communication

Read more about Next-Gen MMOs at MMO Attack >

Defensive improvements made to Madden 25

Man of Steel cheats and tips

Get more Man of Steel cheats and tips at Modojo >

New screenshot from upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U

Call of Duty: Ghosts gets sexy with perfectly rounded gun scopes

Nintendo 3DS beats Xbox 360 as top selling platform in U.S. for May 2013

Man of Steel review

Man of Steel, fists of fury.

Hi Guess the Character: Cheats, tips, and answers

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