‘Forza Horizon 2’ Gets ‘Fast & Furious’

BY

Racers, start your engines. You’re about to go racing on the same level as Vin Diesel and company.

Today, Microsoft has released a new game for its Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious. The game is a spin-off of the popular Forza Horizon 2 racer that released last September, although it’s not needed to play Fast & Furious, as it’s a standalone release.

In this open-world driving game, players can use a number of cars from the Fast & Furious racing franchise, including the 900 horsepower 1970 Dodge Charger and an armored 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, as they race across the European countryside, accepting new challenges and acquiring vehicles featured from previous films. Along the way, the film series’ automotive expert, Tej Parker (played by Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges) will provide guidance and advice.

The game is not only a promotional tie-in with the popular Forza series, but also with Universal Pictures’ forthcoming Furious 7, which releases on April 3rd. The film brings back most of the cast from the franchise, including the late Paul Walker in his final film appearance, and adds popular action superstar Jason Statham as the main bad guy. The trailer for the film can be found below.

Better still, Microsoft is offering this racing action for free, but only for a limited time. After April 10th, it’ll go back up in price to $9.99, but that gives players more than enough opportunity to download it and race against their friends online, along with tackling the single player challenges.

This is a promotion that benefits both Microsoft and Universal, combining their racing franchises into one unique experience that players of all skill levels can enjoy. “It’s kind of been a grand experiment,” said Alan Hartman, studio head for Turn 10 Studios, the key developers in the Forza franchise. “I hope what we’re doing here is a model for what we do in the future. It’s been a great relationship, and I don’t want to end it after this, so we’ll see what’s possible in the future.”

It’s one that’ll certainly benefit players – especially those that feel the need for speed. The game can be downloaded here for Xbox One, and here for Xbox 360. The trailer for the spin-off can be seen below

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OiUepFDXunM

YouTube Reintroducing Live Service For Gaming, eSports

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Based on its recently reported audience numbers, Twitch has grown into a juggernaut within the gaming community, with 100 million monthly viewers and many broadcasts ranging from specialty broadcasts to live tournaments. So, it should be no surprise that YouTube wants a piece of the action.

DailyDot reports that Google’s video service is set to relaunch its live-streaming service with an emphasis on gaming and eSports related tournaments, in the hopes of competing with its broadcasting rival. YouTube has been keeping a close eye on Twitch, and intends to pick up both content and talent that relate to the industry.

“Gaming and eSports in particular are going to be a big driving force for the new-look YouTube live,” said a source familiar with the project. “There’ll be huge opportunities for established streamers and organizations soon and I would say that the record number of eSports viewers are only going to grow when Google starts promoting and partnering with these events.”

At one point, YouTube was almost set to acquire Twitch for integration into its site (despite the protest of many of its users, fearing limitations), only for the deal to fall through and Amazon picking up the site instead.

YouTube is no stranger to livestreaming, as it tinkered with it back in 2010 with cricket matches from the Indian Premier League. Unfortunately, compared to Twitch’s programming, it simply didn’t compare, forcing Google to reconfigure its services for a more popular gaming demographic.

Thus far, YouTube execs have been putting together a good team for the project, bringing in 50 different engineers with expertise in streaming. It “is a pretty big statement of intent,” said another source. “The time is right as well, with Twitch moving into other areas such as music and so on. Google doesn’t want to be too far behind in the arms race.”

There are two things that YouTube needs to keep in mind with the relaunch, though. The first is gaining access to exclusive content that makes it the premiere service to tune in to. It has aired the League of Legends Championship Series since 2013, but so has Twitch, and many users prefer that channel due to accessibility.

The second thing is finding the right format. Previous live broadcasts on the YouTube site have been lackluster, with a smaller window than what’s offered on the Twitch page, and less accessible features in the chat. Here’s hoping the team finds a way to make it more user-friendly.

eSports are growing enough to be considered the future, and, done the right way, YouTube’s approach could grab a nice chunk of this audience. Done the right way, that is.

YouTube is expected to announce its official plans in just a few weeks’ time, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo event in Los Angeles this June.

Image source

Rumored New Apple TV Brings Games

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Apple has already boosted the Apple TV after lowering the price to a more affordable $69 and announcing that HBO Now’s streaming service would be exclusive to it (and iOS-based devices) when it launches next month. Next came credible rumors that Apple will be announcing a streaming TV service that would include dozens of the most popular channels for around $30 a month, potentially stealing millions of cable TV customers. Apple TV has already sold over 25 million units, according to Apple, making it the leader in streaming video boxes. Now, though, Apple is rumored to be preparing the most signficant upgrade ever for the Apple TV, which may catapult it into competition with videogame consoles.

A report from Buzzfeed indicates that Apple will announce a new model of its set-top box at the Worldwide Developer Conference in June. Along with being able to stream movies, programming and connectivity with iOS devices, the new Apple TV will also be capable of downloading games from a coordinating App Store, as well as accepting Siri-based voice commands, making it easier for users to start up programs, without the need of a remote.

While Siri will no doubt be a big deal for those seeking convenience from a set-top box (being able to say commands like, “Siri, start up Netflix” or something along those lines), the App Store could be an even bigger deal, as it will likely have games that can be played directly from the Apple TV, making it a set-top console along the same lines as Amazon’s Fire TV. Being able to download or stream games via Cloud would make a big difference for Apple, showing that it’s much more capable of creating game experiences outside of the mobile front.

Key to the new Apple TV would be a significant bump of its CPU and memory, moving up to an A8 chip (or perhaps an A8X as is found in the iPad Air 2) and bosting the available storage well beyond the current 8 GB (probably to 16, but perhaps more) to allow for more app storage. This, plus the now built-in controller APIs for iOS, would mean the new Apple TV would instantly be a quite capable game-playing device, on par with at least an Xbox 360 in graphics processing power, and singificantly better in some effects.

Developers would no doubt be quick to add controller support for existing games, and perhaps develop additional modes and features designed for the TV screen. Many of the tablet games being developed would be perfect for a TV screen, such as Vainglory or Dawn of Titans. With the huge number of iPad-specific games already in the App Store, the new Apple TV would immediately have a very large library of games covering a full range of genres. (The advantage of announcing the new Apple TV at the WWDC in June and then shipping in September would be to give developers a chance to get their games ready for launch.)

The likely starting point for the new Apple TV is $99 (which is why the current device was moved to $69). In fact, Apple’s own web site is revealing when you go to the Apple TV section: the BUy button is labeled “Starting at $69.” A pretty broad hint for a new, more expensive Apple TV to hit the market.

The new Apple TV will ahve several optional services that will add to its appeal: The convenience of streaming music through Apple’s rumored Beats-based music service, along with the possibilities of a streaming TV service, could make it an “all-around” device that’s convenient for all users. This would be strong competition for not only any Android TV device, but even full-priced consoles (especially the older Xbox 360 and PS3, already seeing a sharp downturn in sales).

All of this is just rumor for now, but if Apple does in fact introduce all these features, the Apple TV will be a force to reckon with in the games industry. We’ll see where the possibilities go when the WWDC rolls around in a couple of months.

Sega: Goodbye Console, Hello Mobile

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Sega’s had its ups-and-downs with console games in recent years, but there’s no denying the company has been performing well on mobile devices. The result seems to be Sega’s focusing even more resources on the fast-growing mobile market and reducing its efforts on the console front. It’s even possible the company could exit the console market altogether at some future point, which says something about the overall direction of the industry when such an iconic console game company is shifting strongly towards mobile.

According to GamesIndustry International, Sega has already announced ten mobile game launches for the first half of 2015 alone, and has benefited from big-time sales of mobile-based titles in Japan, including hit games like Chain Chronicle and Puyo Puyo Quest, both of which have earned over 500 million yen ($4.1 million) each.

Out of the mobile games it released last year, only a handful came across as “failures”, earning less than 30 million yen a month. That isn’t stopping the company’s Japanese division from cleaning up on cash, though, with the remaining 13 games making an estimated $15 million in profit on a monthly basis. That adds up to $180 million for the year.

The company has 20 games in development in all, including five internal titles, 10 co-partnered by studios within Sega Networks, and five co-developed and published with third-parties. And, as you might guess, most of them are set to release on mobile. Sega has been working hard to bolster its mobile team line-up, acquiring the likes of Space Ape and Demiruge Studios, among other smaller teams.

Sonic the Hedgehog may not be flourishing on consoles, but on mobile, he’s a hit, as Sonic Dash has surpassed nearly 100 million downloads worldwide. That’s a far greater success than the Sonic Boom titles, and the biggest hit for the hedgehog to date – which could indicate that future releases will, again, be only released for mobile.

The company hasn’t officially abandoned the console front yet, as it’s planning to release Tembo the Badass Elephant, a side-scrolling platform developed by Pokemon creators Game Freak, sometime this spring. However, it’s probably likely that its releases for consoles will dwindle down in favor of more affordable mobile fare – if not altogether.

It’s interesting to contemplate Sega’s journey from top console game manufacturer, competing head to head with Nintendo, to exiting the hardware business altogether in favor of focusing purely on software — and now shifting from console games to mobile games. With Nintendo’s announcement that it will now be developing mobile games, one wonders if the same evolution may lie in Nintendo’s future as well.

Beachfront Media Influences Influencers With Custom Apps

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As we’ve noted in the past, YouTube stars are capable of making a great deal of money on the service, generating millions of dollars in revenue based upon their own created content. However, one young user thinks that more could be done if users create their own video apps.

As reported by VentureBeat, a company has hired 18-year old Jake Flositz to spread the word to other creators in terms of making content for their own specialty applications. He works for Beachfront Media, which is trying to build an “off-YouTube” solution for those that want to keep an established audience, but perhaps not deal with the site’s certain restrictions – such as the hoops put up with sponsored videos.

Beachfront is capable of putting together apps that customize specifically for its partners, allowing users to create original videos that distribute directly to their fans. It’s already attracted a few talents, such as Call of Duty player EliteShot and Minecraft creator Gizzy Gazza.

The app can be used for non-gaming content as well, but Beachfront wants to reach out more to that market for the time being, thus bringing Flositz on board. He’s noted that the program is “going very well,” speaking with GamesBeat, and his involvement is helping the team cater the program more towards the right audience.

The real factor is how Flositz plays along with those who are interested in the program, providing a gamer perspective that most video companies just aren’t able to match. “From some of the clients I’ve talked to, I’ve definitely heard that they’ve been approached by other app companies,” he said. “But they feel like, with Beachfront, they’re more connected with me. I have their personal Skypes. We chat all the time and make sure everything is perfect. I’m basically just a chatbox away. You chat or call, and I’m instantly there. It’s very easy with Beachfront, compared to other app companies, from what I’ve heard.”

Building trust with such a gamer perspective allows partners to hop on easier than with other partnerships, since they feel like they relate in terms of content and business terms. “They really like that,” said Flositz. “I’m also a gamer, and that seals the deal for them. They know that I know what they want and what they need to bring their community together through the app.”

Money isn’t the only thing being looked at with the deal, as many users also seek a better way to connect with its community and growing base of fans. “Currently, YouTube comments are really spammy,” said Flositz. “It’s hard to reach your fans there. Our app, I think, is the best way to reach fans. Twitter is maybe the next best, but there are so many people using Twitter all the time and trying to ping you all the time. It’s hard to respond. In our app, we have a separate comment system. It’s really easy to connect with your fans.”

Added Beachfront chief executive officer Frank Sinton, “YouTubers don’t want to take a lot of time away from creating their own content. When they think about an app, they think it’s a lot of work. But in reality, I’m pretty much the account manager. I’ll completely create the app and be there pretty much 24/7 helping them perfect the app. If they don’t like anything about the app, I’ll change it. It’s a seamless process. I create the app, launch it, stream it, host it. They don’t have to do anything. They just connect with their fans through the app.”

It’s vital to keep these users happy as well. “We’re not charging [creators to build their apps],” said Sinton. “We’re going to earn revenue through advertising. We’re also looking at subscription as a potential way to monetize. Our strategy really revolves around not just advertising but also additional things that gamers can do for their fans to further engage. We’re playing around with different models right now.”

And with EliteShot and others already showing success, Beachfront has more to build on from here. “We are starting to get a network effect,” said Sinton. “Where we’ll launch one app for someone, they’ll tell their friends, and then they say, ‘Hey, I want one, too.’ We’re trying to do it in a smart way with the advertising, where we’re not inundating the top fans of these gamers with commercials. Our end goal is to create a large network of apps that we operate that gamers enjoy.”

With their unique approach, and the savvy Flositz on board, it’s upward and onward from here for Beachfront.

Sony Starts Internet-TV Rollout With A $50 Bundle And Three Cities

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By: Sahil Patel

Sony has finally launched its cloud-based online TV service, called the PlayStation Vue, which offers live and on-demand programming from a bundle of broadcast and cable TV channels.

Starting at $49.99 per month, Vue offers access to broadcast channels like CBS, Fox, and NBC, and more than 45 cable channels ranging from Discovery to Fox News, USA, and TNT. AMC, home to “Mad Men” and cable’s biggest hit “The Walking Dead,” will also be available starting next month.

That’s the “Access” bundle. Other bundles offered by Vue include “Core” ($59.99 per month for the Access package plus local regional sports networks like YES Network in New York, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, as well as some other sports and movie networks) and “Elite” ($69.99 per month for Access and Core packages plus 25 lifestyle, music, and family channels).

Read more…

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

Smartphones And Watches Become Motion Controllers

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Smartphones and smart watches can do quite a bit in terms of features and accessibility – but now, thanks to a new project from Rolocule, they’re about to do something a little bit more.

TechCrunch has reported that Rolocule, based out of India, has launched a new game called Motion Tennis Cast. With it, players can utilize a game that works with the Chromecast and Android-based devices, syncing together to create a motion-based sports experience. Kind of like Nintendo’s Wii Sports did years ago, but with a more modern twist.

Right now, the program is limited to use with Android-based smartphones, but the company is hard at work on a new prototype that will utilize Android Wear smartwatches for similar controls. Imagine being able to swing your arm while holding a virtual tennis racket, using your device in its place.

Rolocule is no stranger to motion-based gaming experiences, as it’s been working on this tech for several years now, including the original Motion Tennis for iPhone and Apple TV, which launched back in 2013. However, with Android tech, the company has managed to make the experience more refined than ever, so it actually feels like people are playing sports activities – without the need of a Wii, obviously.

This could open up a potential new market for mobile gaming, being able to use your device for motion-based activities and interaction. Considering Apple’s recent push for its Apple TV device, it could easily reach out to developers to make it interactive with both iPhones and the Apple Watch to introduce a new level of gameplay. The same goes for Android, which will no doubt benefit from Rolocule’s tech.

It is just a casual start, though, and Motion Tennis Cast does present a unique introduction to the format. It’s free to download now, and also works with smart TVs (via Mieracast or AllShareCast) and Chrome browsers, in addition to Chromecast.

Check out the video below to get a better idea of how it works.

ESL eSports Documentary Debuts This Summer

BY

eSports-based competitions have come a long way over the past few years, gaining immense popularity both online and with live attendees, and drawing in players with multi-million dollar prizes. Now, they’re headed for the movies.

The ESL has teamed up with filmmaker Patrick Creadon to create an original film that documents the popularity of eSports, titled All Work All Play: Full Screen Mode Live. The documentary will feature both top players and personalities in the eSports world, taking a behind-the-scenes look at the growing phenomena of competitive gameplay and tournaments, primarily the Intel Extreme Masters tour, the longest running global pro gaming tour to date.

The film will make its debut on July 23 at the ESL Burbank studio, followed by a Q & A in front of a live studio audience with many of the game players and personalities featured in it. Following that, the film will premiere at the ESL Cologne studio in Germany in July 28, and then make its way to theaters around the world, through a partnership with BY Experience. The project will tie in with an even larger campaign called eSports In Cinema, which should feature more films on the subject.

“I think this documentary is symbolic of how far we’ve come,” said Ralf Reichert, Managing Director of ESL. “When we started out, I dreamt about us filling stadiums, but I never entertained the idea of filling cinemas. Everyone who works with Intel Extreme Masters here at ESL is passionate about eSports and I think this documentary is a testament to that. I’m very excited to see it in the cinema and can guarantee I’ll be the first to buy a ticket.”

“Traveling around the world with Patrick and his crew was a unique experience both for us and for them. People very often don’t understand the amount of work that we do to make events like the Intel Extreme Masters happen, nor what it takes to be a world class gamer,” said Michal Blicharz, Managing Director of Pro Gaming at ESL. “eSports has turned into a massive show and a business, but the people behind it are still passionate hobbyists. I think that’s the story the movie will tell.”

“BY Experience is honored to partner with ESL to create unique live events for cinema audiences globally, starting with the spotlight on the Intel Extreme Masters through All Work All Play,” said Julie Borchard-Young, Co-President of BY Experience. “The documentary is a first in a series of cinema broadcasts that will afford eSports fans an unprecedented opportunity to get together in their communities to enjoy several high-profile events throughout the year, as part of a global shared experience. Cinemas provide the optimal setting for spectators to watch their favorite players and teams compete across an array of gaming titles, broadcast live on a 70 foot cinema screen in surround sound.”

Indeed, this is a bold step forward for eSports, which is bound to continue its success in the years ahead. Here’s hoping more movies capture the experience and give viewers an idea of what it’s really like, warts and all.

Windows 10 Adds Games For China

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Microsoft’s new operating system Windows 10 will launch it across 190 countries in 111 different languages this summer. It will be offered as a free upgrade to Windows 7 and 8 owners, per an announcement on the official Windows blog. Most important for Microsoft is getting the huge numbers of China’s users to upgrade, and to do that Microsoft is enlisting some help. Microsoft move underscores just how much the software giant will be supporting gaming as a vital part of Windows 10 and why people should upgrade.

Microsoft’s key partnership in China is with the world’s largest game company Tencent, who will create a new Windows 10-based universal app that ties in with its popular QQ app. This will be hugely important in extending the program’s userbase, since the QQ app currently has over 800 million users in China.

As a result, Tencent will adapt a number of popular games for use with Windows 10, including Riot Games’ immensely popular League of Legends, as well as Cross Fire and Dungeon & Fighter. The video below details just how important it is that Microsoft and Tencent are working together through Windows 10.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=J_m-1ldHxqA

Other partners in the Chinese market include Lenovo, which will offer Windows 10 as an upgrade across 2,500 service centers and retail stores in China; and Qihu 360, a leading Internet security company that will offer the upgrade for free to customers through seamless upgrades.

This could be a huge push for Microsoft in China, and could also lead the way for other business opportunities for the company’s tech, including the Xbox One, which recently went through a soft launch following the country’s lift of a ban on game consoles. However, one step at a time, as Windows 10 is getting the focus – and a huge one, at that.

Microsoft isn’t stopping with consoles and PCs, though, in its quest to make the most of Windows 10. TechCrunch has reported that Microsoft is working on software that converts Android phones to Windows 10, and it will be testing that out with users of Xiaomi’s best-selling smartphones in China. Like all Windows 10 versions, that will include an Xbox app, which may help convince people to keep Windows 10 on their smartphones. If that process of converting Android phones to Windows actually works well, it could be a significant way for Microsoft to gain a credible market share in the smartphone market.

Windows 10 is shaping up to be a very significant upgrade, and the most important Windows version ever for gaming. We’ll be keeping an eye on its progress.

 

Square Enix Uses New Game As Marketing Tool

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For years, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series has performed well in the video game industry, with each subsequent sequel posting big sales numbers worldwide. Now, while gamers around the world wait on pins and needles for the next big arrival in the series, Final Fantasy XV, Square has delivered a new game to sate their appetites — and build demand for the next game in a smart marketing move.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is now available in stores in the U.S. for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and set to arrive in Japan and Europe this week as well. This “side adventure” puts players in the shoes of Class Zero, a group of students that attend an elite military academy. When their country comes under attack by a neighboring Empire, they must use whatever powerful abilities and magic they can muster to hold them off.

The game takes more of an action-based approach than previous Final Fantasy titles, but it’s still true to the lore of the series, featuring enough of its staples to keep fans happy – including the traditional Chocobos, giant-sized chickens that can be used for riding and other purposes.

The most important part of Type-0 HD is what’s included as a bonus with it – a fully playable demo for Final Fantasy XV. A demo code is included with the game, which players can download to get an idea of where the next big entry in the series is headed. This game was clearly far easier to create than a full-fledged Final Fantasy game, hence the title numbering that clearly puts it off to the side of the main series. This game is, in effect, a way to market Final Fantasy XV in a way that actually makes money. It’s content marketing, in effect, building on the franchise and amplifying demand for the next big title in the series.

Although this “side story” isn’t likely to be as big a seller as, for instance, the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy that came out over the past few years, it’s still bound to get a great deal of attention, both for the main game and the Final Fantasy XV demo. Devoted fans can also pick up on a special edition of the game, available for $99 and featuring a Steelbook case, art design by artists Yoshitaka Amano, the game’s original soundtrack, an art book and five life-size replicas of cards featured in the game. Early sales have indicated that this version sells out quickly, so collectors are probably already on the prowl.

The full trailer for the game is below, for those who want to get an idea of what Type-0 HD has to offer. It’ll certainly hold fans over until the “true” sequel arrives sometime this or next year.