Well, it turns out they backed down, changing their mind about always online and used games faster that you can say “third place in the console wars.”

Direct from Microsoft, they announced today:

An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games – After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.

Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today – There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

Did you think Microsoft would go through with it or were you expecting them to change their minds? Comment below!

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Remember Me is an action-adventure stealth game developed by DONTNOD Entertainment and published by Capcom.

All Copyright and Property Rights go to Capcom.

The post Remember Me Ep. 11 appeared first on The Xtreme Pulse.

Join World of Tanks:

• http://worldoftanks.eu/registration/ (Europe)
• http://worldoftanks.com/registration/ (North America)
• http://worldoftanks.kr/registration/ (Korea)
• http://http://worldoftanks-sea.com/registration/ (SEA)

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Welcome to the second installment of the XP Podcast! Nick Prince and Joey Willis join host Nicholas Claiborne in a action packed show full of plenty of gaming discussions the Xbox one and PS4 along with post E3 thoughts!

The post XP Podcast E3 Edition appeared first on The Xtreme Pulse.

EA

• Battlefield 4
• Star Wars: Battlefront
• NBA Live 14
• FIFA 14
• Mirror’s Edge II
• Titanfall 
• Madden NFL 25
• Command & Conquer
• EA Sports UFC

Oh EA, it’s been a tough year for you since last year’s E3. Their second consecutive “Golden Poo” award for worst company in America along with the DRM launch issues with Sim City have made EA the butt of most internet jokes this last year. EA needed to regain consumer trust at this year’s E3 and show that they are more than the company which has become synonymous with day-one DLC and in-game micro transactions.

And to some extent, they succeeded. During the Microsoft press conference, we got our first taste of the brand new IP Titanfall, a next gen futuristic FPS with gorgeous graphics and a heavy focus on the use of huge robot like armour suits called Titans that, well, fall out of the sky at your command. It’s a game which shows a lot of promise, especially in the multiplayer section, and will be an Xbox One exclusive for PS4 owners to be jealous of (although it will also be released on PC).

Between the standard annual announcements of titles such as FIFA (now designed to “feel alive”), NBA 2K14 and Madden, EA showed signs that they are starting to listen to consumers. The long demanded Mirror’s Edge reboot for the “Faith-ful” (see what I did there?) was a big crowd pleaser, and EA’s decision to incorporate 64 player online battles into Battlefield 4 is a move which has felt long overdue. Check that and some cool skyscraper destruction out in the gameplay video here. And of course, there was the surprise(ish) announcement which made 90% of the crowd and viewers squeal- Star Wars: Battlefront. We didn’t see any gameplay, but it was a clear indication of EA’s intent to win gamers over again.

Battlefront will be developed by Battlefield 4′s DICE team

Ubisoft

• Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
• Just Dance 2014
• Rayman Legends
• Rabbids: Interactive TV Show
• Rocksmith 2014
• Southpark: The Stick of Truth
• The Crew
• The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Tom Clancy’s The Division
• Trials Fusion
• Watch_Dogs

A lot of people weren’t entirely sure what to make of Ubisoft’s media briefing at first- Aisha Tyler (you know, Ross’ Girlfriend in Friends) came on stage and after a solid but rather lengthy guitar performance from Jerry Cantrell to announce Rocksmith 2014. Rocksmith is a solid game for those who play guitar, but the audience were made to forget this due to the face-straining cringey “banter” Aisha treated us to. But this is E3, what would it be without the cheese? After a few announcements aimed at the casual market (Just Dance, Mighty Quest for Epic Loot)and a new interactive kids TV show about Rabbids, Ubisoft really hit their stride. The much hoped for new Rayman game came in the form of Rayman: Legends and the gameplay looked great. Furthermore, the Ubisoft conference gave us the funniest moment of E3 that could only come from Southpark: The Stick of Truth. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out the E3 trailer here.

Ubisoft really went all out with their next gen offerings. The Crew, a kinda Burnout-Need for Speed hybrid online game with an enormous map and some nice gameplay ideas was the first brand new next gen game on show. We also saw gameplay of the new Assassin’s Creed title and Watch_Dogs, both of which gave gamers plenty to be excited about (if it was possible to be any more excited for Watch_Dogs). Towards the end of the show, we were shown The Division- a brand new MMO third person shooter with a HUGE focus on playing with friends, set in a post-apocalyptic New York City. Ubisoft showed how a player using a tablet could play as a drone, marking enemies and providing a birds eye view of the battlefield for your friends’ squad. We would highly recommend you check out the trailer in order to fully understand the hype- this game looks fantastic. For the second year running, Ubisoft have caught everyone’s attention with a single release. Last year it was Watch_Dogs, this year it’s The Division.

Square Enix

• THEIF
• Deus Ex: The Fall
• Kingdom Hearts III
• Final Fantasy XV
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Eastern game fans rejoice, Square Enix brought their big hitters out for E3 this year. Alongside THEIF and the new Deus Ex game (probably the most promising mobile game I’ve ever seen), Square Enix announced not only Final Fantasy XV, but Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn as a Playstation 4 exclusive. This was all well and good- the new Final Fantasy looked great- but that wasn’t the biggest news from Square Enix this year. You’re probably well aware that Kingdom Hearts III was also announced at this E3, and if you are a Kingdom Hearts fan this really is Christmas come early. Our very own Nicholas Claiborne, being a KH fan, had this to say: “Cannot wait for that game, that’s what sealed the deal for me getting a PS4, I know it’s on Xbox One but still, I’m getting it for the sheer fact it started on PlayStation (among other reasons). As a fan of the series I’ve been dying for a sequel to be announced. I had a very big hunch earlier during the first reveal of the PS4, that KH3 was going to be announced at E3. It was constantly hinted at.”

Conclusions

When you look back at the games announced by each company, it’s hard to figure out how each of them should be judged. Do you go by quantity or quality? Maybe it’s a fine balance of both, or it could all come down to who had the biggest knockout title. EA had plenty on show however only a couple could be considered AAA releases, each surrounded by a plethora of annually released games. Square Enix certainly pleased the masses by announcing KH III and Final Fantasy, but their new IPs haven’t grasped the full attention and excitement that the gaming community is capable of producing. This is where Ubisoft have really won this battle. Their near perfect balance of golden oldies (Rayman, Splinter Cell) with new, exciting IPs such as Watch_Dogs and The Division was enough to warrant the same amount of interest and excitement as the sole announcement of Watch_Dogs last year, and to help us forget about the corny presentation. Almost.

The post EA vs Ubisoft vs Square Enix- The Battle of the Third Parties @ E3 appeared first on The Xtreme Pulse.

The Xbox One’s pre-order disclaimer says “Terms include binding arbitration with class action waiver to resolve disputes.” That means that if the Xbox One has a widespread issue like its predecessor’s “red ring of death” (RRoD), the affected owners will have to sue Microsoft individually, rather than banding together in a class action.

Well, well, well; what do we have here? Another thing for Microsoft to screw consumers with. This topic entails our “loveable” (and yes I am using that word loosely) Xbox One Lawsuits, class action to be specific and your rights. If the Xbox One a flawless console from defects, then this is no problem; but what about future RRoD or other issues? With the 360, there were so many RRoD, games scratches, hardware failure, etc. that led to a class action lawsuit for the 360, which is basically a group of lawsuits against Microsoft to right wrong.

Now what about the Xbox One, will that be a perfect machine and no problem what-so-ever; who knows? What I can say is that YOU, the consumer, must waive your rights from a class action lawsuit in order to purchase the next gen console. What about any defects that Microsoft is refusing to take of, will there be any lawsuits at all? Yes, but it is a case by case and will not be allowed to a class action, in which you have a lower chance of winning. What it does do, and I do see their point of view, is to protect the company from an increased amount of money loss to a lawsuit. If they make their machines flawless, then there would be no reason to go for these measures.

Let us hope that the Xbox One will be worth the $500 with no problems at all since they are going for a more broad audience, otherwise, this is doomed to fall and fall hard.

For full article

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Oh, Microsoft. You had two weeks to assess the cold reception to your used games and always online policy. It was written all over the internet on every gaming website that had a comments section. Some people were full on angry, some were just disappointed in you, like when a parent sees their teenager drunk for the first time. You have become the drunk teenager of the games industry, Microsoft.

At E3, you could’ve just changed their minds, announce you had changed your used games policy. It would’ve been a tad embarrassing for the company, but you wouldn’t have alienated so much of the audience. Instead, you threw up on yourself and asked people where your best friend was. You drunken mess.

But hey, Bill Gates didn’t become a billionaire by listening to people and making good business decisio– Oh, wait…

And the cherry on top? Don Mattrick said that those with no or unreliable internet can just stick with the Xbox 360. Apparently, those people don’t deserve next gen consoles.

2. Sony are very good at taking advantage of Microsoft’s mistakes.

Oh, Sony. You and I have had a rocky relationship in the past. And by that I mean, I never liked you yet you kept trying to sell me your wares. I admire your persistence, because something changed at E3. For the first time, I found myself really getting behind you.

It wasn’t so much because of the PS4 itself or the decent looking games coming out for it, but more because, for the first time, I felt like you cared about the audience. Obviously, it was more of a business decision, but when Andrew House announced that we could play used games,  he took in the rapturous applause and felt like the God of pasty nerds.

So, yes, out of sheer principle more than anything, I am going to buy a PS4 before I get an Xbox One. Congratulations, Sony. You finally won me over. Now we can both get on with our lives.

3. Nintendo want to play it safe.

Nintendo are keeping their cards close to their chest. They either have a full house in the future, or the pair of twos that we saw at E3. Metaphor, bitches!

This one is painful for me, because I love Nintendo like a younger, perhaps slightly special brother. To be honest, I don’t know what I was expecting, but 8 months on from the release of the Wii U, a new Super Smash Bros. and a new Donkey Kong Country feels a little underwhelming.

After Other M, Ninty owed something to help redeem Miss Aran, but we got nothing. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next gen Zelda but instead we just got more info on Wind Waker. We get a remake of the worst console Zelda? Hooray, let us rejoice! Poor Majora’s Mask still gets no love.

So literally the only huge announcement was that of Super Smash. Bros (now with 100% more Megaman!), which we all knew about beforehand anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love Smash Bros. and I’m always  a sucker for Donkey Kong Country, but without a new Zelda, Metroid or (main series) Mario, it fell flat. Admittedly, it was still better than Microsoft’s conference.

4. Watch Dogs is going to kick all kinds of ass!

Seriously, did you see that gameplay demo? Nerd boner.

Since last year’s E3, the gang at TXP have been really looking forward to Watch Dogs. It’s rare that a new IP creates such a buzz this far from its release, but like Last of Us, people simply cannot wait to get their hands on this game.

Hacking cameras to help your accomplice stealth his way to safety. Stopping the guy from calling the police on you. Causing the road blocks to pop up which, in turn, messed up the cop cars. And the best part, creating a black out in Chicago.

The possibilities for what this game can accomplish seem to be limitless. But then again, we once said that about Fable. So don’t screw this up, Ubisoft!

5. EA want to be your friend again.

It’s not exactly a secret that people think of EA the same way they think of their ex-girlfriend/boyfriend. They were once so awesome and wonderful and then they started wasting your time and money on crap so you broke up with them. And they slept around with plenty of people. I’m not entirely sure where this comparison is going…

But at E3 this year, they were trying really hard and they wanted to please everyone. Along with the obligatory unveiling and hyping of the annual EA Sports stuff, they showed off games that many in the hardcore gaming audience wanted to see.

We got some Dragon Age, Battlefield 4, Star Wars: Battlefront 3 and Mirror’s Edge 2. Like I said, there’s something for everyone in there.

The funny thing about gamers on the internet is that they have a very short memory. Not so long ago, EA were voted the worst company in the world. Many vowed to never give EA their money again after screw ups like the Mass Effect 3 ending and the Sim City fiasco.

With Bioware and Lucas Arts behind them, EA have the key to becoming beloved again. Heed my words, Electronic Arts. Don’t screw up Battlefront and Dragon Age, fix Mirror’s Edge’s mistakes and give us Mass Effect 4 and Knights of the Old Republic 3 and everyone will be your friend again. I promise.

So what have your learned from E3 this year? Post in the comments below?

The post 5 Things We’ve Learned at E3 2013 appeared first on The Xtreme Pulse.

However it certainly didn’t start as a planned strike on its competitor. The conference seemed like a regular, garden variety presentation during all the game reveals and trailers. We saw some very nicely presented video packages, all of which you can check out in our complete reveal article, with some surprises like The Order: 1886, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Final Fantasy XV.

We finally got a glimpse at the hardware itself, speculation over its design was put to rest. It’s very sleek, all black, and not too much of a stretch from what you probably expected. You check out the system here with these screens.

All these trailers and reveals were certainly exciting and well presented, along with great commentary, but it is of course expected of any E3 conference. However the way in which Sony presented its own stance on the controversial matter of used games and sharing its products, nobody was prepared for. These body blows to Microsoft is what stole the show, and quickly became the talk of the town.

In the form of Jack Tretton, Sony without hesitation or confusion, announced they would continue to support reselling, sharing and trading of their PS4 games just like they always have. There would assuredly be no restrictions, no online requirements, no DRM, and no authentication required on their next generation console, clearly referring to their rival in the process. No problems if you wanted to sell your game, lend it to a friend, or keep it forever, without question gamers were shown the prospect of freedom with their products.

The message was emphatically presented alongside the massive image “Supports Used Games”, and the roar of the crowd was tremendous, showcasing just how big of an issue it raises for gamers. The noise only got louder when Tretton revealed disk based PS4 games would never require a connection to play, nor need you to check in every 24 hours at any possible point in time. Tretton also revealed that PS Plus would be required on PS4 to play online, but by this point the crowd was well and truly energized and emphatically vocal. There is no doubt that these comments and presented images were a direct and vicious strike against Microsoft’s new policies, Sony using that to their advantage during the conference.

Adding insult to injury the conference ended with the announcement of PS4 price, which came to $399. This price comes in $100 cheaper than the Xbox One’s stated price in their earlier conference, and the crowd again become very loud and proud, showing their approval for the price of the next-gen PS4. The margin of difference in price also took everyone by surprise, not many expected there to be such a difference in consoles. Seemingly another blow was dealt swiftly to Microsoft.

It became apparent after the conference came to a close, and viewers had picked their jaws up off the ground, that Sony had presented the public with a strong simple message, we care about gamers and developers. In a direct counter attack to the Xbox One’s requirements, Sony proved that they trust their customers and listen to concerns, they showed vital and large support for games and indie titles, and they without a doubt presented an unrelenting attitude of devotion to their beloved fanbase and values from day one in the video game industry. Following the press conference, and subsequent assault, it was clear what Sony’s principles were all about, fans and games. They came to play ball, and by the end of their presentation, the ball was well out of the park.

As if calling out Microsoft wasn’t enough, Playstation officially released an informative how-to video regarding sharing games on the PS4. Check out the latest Sony burn on Microsoft here, which is up to 10 million views currently:

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Announced during the Sony conference, it is set for both PS4 and Xbox One in the future. Considering Disney recent acquired several big name companies, such as Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, the possible list of new characters we could see emerge in Kingdom Hearts 3 is very exciting indeed.

Fans have been waiting a very long time for this sequel, so go ahead and enjoy the reveal trailer numerous times below:

The post Kingdom Hearts 3 In Development appeared first on The Xtreme Pulse.

The plot focuses on prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, who rules over the kingdom of Lucis that houses the last remaining crystal. After an invasion by the armed nation Niflheim, the crystal is stolen from the city, and all manner of war and chaos break loose when other nations plot and scheme to obtain it for their own use.

It’s up to prince Noctis, and his close companions, to retrieve the crystal while war rages across the world. Our protagonist in Final Fantasy XV is joined by Ignis Scienta, a military tactician who can is quite familiar with a katana, a hands on melee brawler called Gladiolus Amicitia, a gun pro named Prompto Argentum, and Cor Rionis who leads the Royal Family Guard.

Final Fantasy XV’s gameplay isn’t the turn based RPG the series is best known for, but rather an action title with gameplay similar to the kingdom hearts series. Square Enix has placed the plot in a wide open map, just begging to be explored at your own pace. Why not take a mecha? Or a car, an airship, or even a Chocobo to adventure across the land?

Also like Kingdom Hearts gameplay, individuals will be able to perform various actions depending on player movement, such as moving at very high speeds and double jumping. Check out the reveal trailer and some battle gameplay below:

Announcement Trailer:

Battle Gameplay:

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