The latest update for Plants vs. Zombies 2 has new stuff like a futuristic world map, wacky sci-fi zombie types and plants like the Laser Bean. This is all part of PopCap’s plan to regularly release content for the game, not unlike what Rovio has done with Angry Birds.
In an effort to increase Xbox One sales – and show just how diverse the system’s game library is – Microsoft has initiated a special sale for some different games for the system at its Microsoft Store locations.
The titles vary, and are priced anywhere from $25 to $50. These include such popular favorites as Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Lego Marvel Super Heroes and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, among others. Perhaps the best deal of the bunch is Ghosts, which goes for $25 – a phenomenal deal for a popular shooter.
The sale is only going on for a limited time, so interested buyers may want to head over and clean up.
Source: Dualshockers
In an attempt to draw in even more players to its Android-powered handheld console, Nvidia has dropped the price on its Shield gaming system to make it more affordable. The system is currently being offered at $199 through Nvidia’s store, though no time frame was given on how long this deal will last.
Initially released last year for $299, the system has added GameStream functionality and several UI improvements since that introduction. Now, at $199, it seems too good to pass up. Nvidia has not released any sales figures for the handheld device. A lower price will certainly help convince buyers to give it a try, though.
The system is also $199 at other retailers, including Best Buy, GameStop and Newegg.
Source: VentureBeat
This amusing ad involved actors and not actual construction workers, but the women on the street were members of the public that took a shine to the experiment. While one could question of the underlying implications of the ad (do men have to be hungry to be polite ) the message is clearly intended to be lighthearted and the intentions are clearly good.
Source: AdWeek.com
With the Nintendo 2DS continuing to make the rounds at retail, GameStop has a new offer that should usher in a new audience for the system – with an exclusive model.
The company has announced that it will commence selling a special “Peach Pink” version of the 2DS starting on April 11. Retailing for $129.99, the system will come with a special case based on the forthcoming game Disney Magical World, featuring Mickey Mouse on the cover.
The game, which came out in Japan last year, allows players of all ages to explore worlds inhabited by Disney characters, including Aladdin and Winnie the Pooh. Though a copy of the game won’t be included in the bundle, interested customers can buy it on the same day for $29.99.
The system will only be available “while supplies last,” so interested parties should definitely pre-order when they can.
Source: Polygon
Those looking for an authoritative voice in the video game industry now have a new place to turn – Newegg. The tech retailer must think that its retail efforts and customer community will be enhanced by some news, reviews and more info about games.
Newegg recently launched a new site called GameCrate, which serves as home to news, reviews and features related around the industry. The site is now live and can be found here. And yes, those are crates the site is using as its image, since crates “have a long and proud history in gaming” according to GameCrate.
A representative for GameCrate stated that the site is run by Newegg staff, but more freelance writers would be added to the team to build a “balanced, objective editorial staff.”
We certainly wish the team the best of luck with the new site.
Source: Game Politics
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a cultural force that have remained popular for decades, thanks in part to continued revisions of the core characters in different media. This movie is the latest incarnation of the turtles, and it appears to have all the freewheeling action and humor that the series is generally known for.
Google TV is being phased out as a brand by Google, but beginning to fade out, another competitor is about to step up — prepare for Android-based TV. Philips has recently announced a new Ultra HD (4K) model television that will use Google’s Android operating system when it launches in the second quarter of this year, as well as standard HD models that are Android-powered.
Available in 48 and 55-inch 1080p HD TVs as well as 44 inch 4K TV, these televisions will have access to the Google Play store, where apps like Netflix, YouTube and others can be installed with ease. For good measure, widgets will also offer live update information, and game controller support will be added as well.
Perhaps most important of all, games are seen as a key part of the experience. Philips has built in support for Bluetooth controllers, and the service filters out games that aren’t playable without a touchscreen. The Philips controller includes a full QWERTY keyboard and a microphone for voice commands, and the system also handles gestures as the video illustrates.
There’s no word yet on how much the TV’s will run, but more information should be unveiled soon. We’ll probaby be seeing more Android-powered TVs from other manufacturers, too, and games will certainly be a key part of everyone’s strategy.
Source: TechCrunch
The Japanese smartphone market has managed to eclipse sales expectations.
CyberZ, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Internet team CyberAgent, has reported that the Japanese market for smartphones has increased quite a bit, and is showing even more signs of growth in 2014.
The report states that the market is worth an estimated 546.8 billion yen, or $5.4 billion in U.S. dollars. That’s a growth of over 178 percent since 2012, when smartphone games represented about 30 percent of game revenues in Japan.
As a result, the industry has now reached roughly 50 percent of the Japanese gaming industry overall, equalling the revenue from all console games combined. That’s a stunning achievement in the home country of the game console, and it’s easy to see why investors are pressing Nintendo to enter that market somehow.
This growth is not done yet either, as CyberZ believes that the market will grow even larger this year, to an estimated $6.5 billion.
Source: Serkan Toto
While some have complained about the graphical fidelity of Watch_Dogs in the most recent trailers, Ubisoft is here to push back against those impressions. Starting out with scenes of the city that look like a virtual recreation of The Wire, it moves to high tech portions of Chicago and show how alive Chicago is in Watch_Dogs.
