I'm going to be honest here. I didn't really expect Mario Kart 8 to have voice chat. Never crossed my mind, nor do I think it would enhance the online experience. That's just me, though. I can understand why some people would be upset with that feature not being present.
With that said, the official listing for Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U eShop doesn't make one mention of online chat. In the section of the page where 'game chat' would be listed for voice related activities, you'll find nothing. While not an official confirmation from Nintendo, voice support is looking very unlikely.
A portion of a Nintendo Life interview with modder/composer, Joe Heaton...
NL: Can you tell us about your method for producing chiptune music from the Game Boy?
JH: There are two main programs that tend to get used: Nanoloop and LSDJ (Littlesound DJ). I spend most of my time on LSDJ; it’s a fascinating bit of software with so much to offer, although I must admit the learning curve is steep. The time invested really pays off though. You synthesise your own sounds and then use a tracker to set up phrases, loops and then build them into entire songs, it’s a lot of fun. And you can make some great music!
This is an action-adventure game in which players control small Lego-versions of characters from the Hobbit movies. As players progress chronologically through the storyline, they use swords, staffs, arrows, and axes to defeat fantasy creatures (e.g., goblins, trolls, orcs). Combat is accompanied by battle cries and slashing sounds, and enemies burst into Lego pieces when defeated. Some sequences require players to battle hordes of enemies in order to proceed. Cutscenes also depict instances of “cartoony” violence, such as a dwarf cutting off a Lego creature's hand. The game includes brief instances of comic mischief: characters belching, sneezing into a cooking cauldron (e.g., 'Well that's lovely that is, a floater! Ooh, might improve the flavour.'); there is also a depiction of green mucous dropping off a character's body.
There’s a place for both fantasy and sci-fi nerds this week, as Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut and LEGO The Hobbit come to PlayStation. Rejoice, and bask in the glory of either fandom (Or both!).
Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut on PS4 propels gamers into heart-racing battles through space. Participate in an interstellar war and save Earth from destruction using the awe-inspiring Strike Suit — a powerful ship that can transform into a suit of armor. Take on 17 unique story missions, match wits with intelligent enemy fighters, and face colossal capital ships for unparalleled glory. Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut features customizable weapon loadouts, multiple craft, and unmatched dogfighting action.
If swords and questing sound more suitable, explore a delightfully blocky Middle-earth with LEGO The Hobbit on PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. Experience the first two feature films in a whole new way, with iconic characters rendered as loveable LEGO heroes. Guide Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves through familiar locations in an effort to reach the Misty Mountains. Forge new items, mine for gems, and take incredible loot from enemies.
Craving an old-school RPG instead? The original Persona 4 arrives as a PS2 Classic! Read on for a complete list of games coming this week, and enjoy the Drop!
New PlayStation Releases This Week
King OddballPS4 — Digital (Cross Buy with PS Vita)
End the world with boulders! The King uses a trio of rocks — and his tongue — to destroy all that oppose him. Simple, one-button gameplay with more than 120 increasingly difficult challenges. Master the system to make the most of each boulder toss.
LEGO The HobbitPS3, PS4, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
The Misty Mountains are calling. Guide Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves through familiar locations with a renowned LEGO twist. Collect items, loot, and gems along the way. Experience the thrill of the first two feature films alone or with friends.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4PS2 Classic — Digital
The classic RPG returns. Conquer the mysteries of the Midnight Channel and save the innocent from an untimely and supernatural death. Command powerful Personas and quest through dungeons to unlock the power within.
Strike Suit Zero: Director’s CutPS4 — Digital
Earth needs saving, and the Strike Suit is ready to save it. Pilot the future’s most devastating weapon through space and engage in heart-pounding dogfights against intelligent enemy fighters. Drink in the spectacle of interstellar war, and live long enough to tell the tale.
Demos and Betas
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle — PS3 Demo King Oddball — PS4 Demo
The information above is subject to change without notice.
- parkour animations are not scripted
- animation adapts to that path to the path you take
- no vehicle upgrades
- can't use Police cars as tools to protect victims
- you will be able to use their sirens
Frozen Synapse, Mode 7 Games' top-down, turn-based tactical strategy game that challenges players to not get shot, is using its next turn to head toward your iPhone. Mode 7's Paul Taylor shared the news on Twitter, adding that while he wasn't sure of a specific release date, he expects the port's release should "definitely be by the end of the year."
Previously available on PC, Mac, Android and iPad, Frozen Synapse lets players work through a campaign or try and outwit a friend's strategy in its multiplayer modes. With destructible sections and varied weapons including explosives, Frozen Synapse seems like the sort of game where a strategy can crumble in a single, well-played turn from your opposition.
[Mode 7 Games]
Target has the $450 Xbox One Titanfall Bundle with a free year of Xbox LIVE thrown in, effectively bringing the price down to $390. With the exception of the Amazon price mistake that brought this bundle down to $400, this is the best deal on the Xbox One so far. [Target]Read more...
Last week Battlefield 4 players found the legendary Megalodon
, parading the massive Cenozoic Era shark around the internet like some twisted fishing trophy. Sounds like ol' Megalodon needs a better hiding place. Perhaps Photoshop can help. Read more...
On this week's Game Scoop! we're discussing games we never got around to playing and know we'll probably never actually go back and play. This conversation originally occurred on Game Scoop! Episode 299.
I did it! I beat Dark Souls II! After I finished it, I said I was going to take a break from games for the weekend, but I already kind of want to hop back in and clean up the three optional bosses I missed…
Anyway! This week’s PlayStation.Blog highlights. Sucker Punch listened to fan feedback and they’re adding some new features to inFAMOUS Second Son, Ryan got to play the first two hours of Ubisoft’s beautiful new RPG Child of Light on PS4, Minecraft PS3 players can get some new Uncharted, Killzone, and Heavy Rain skins, we’re going to be giving away some rare PlayStation loot at PAX East, you can raise a puppy on you PS Vita (YOU CAN RAISE A PUPPY ON YOUR PS VITA), Joe Danger on PS Vita gets playable Sackboy, Iota and Atoi, Square dropped some FF14 knowledge (beta 2 is live!), we got a crazy creepy new SOMA trailer (by the way, it takes place underwater… yeah), and more. Phew, did I miss anything?
With Dark Souls II finally completed, I think it’s high time I step into the dimensionally ambiguous world of Fez. Cross save means I can work my way through while I’m waiting for Captain America to start, then come home after the movie and keep playing on PS4!
What are you guys and girls playing this weekend?
I’m playing: Dark Souls II (beaten!), FEZ
I’m watching: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I’m listening to: Minibosses
This Week’s Top 10 Posts
Second Son Update Incoming: Change Time of Day, HUD Off, 30FPS Option
Mercenary Kings Out Today on PS4
The First 2 Hours of Child of Light on PS4
Latest Minecraft PS3 Update Adds Uncharted, Killzone, Heavy Rain Skins
PlayStation Vita Pets Coming on June 3rd
Road Not Taken on PS4, Vita: Living a Full, 15-Year Life
Killzone Shadow Fall Insurgent Pack Out Today
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE Out Today for PS3, PS Vita
PAX East 2014: PlayStation WWS Community Exchange
New Combat Trailer Revealed for Bound by Flame on PS4
#Dungeon, the roguelike that will build labyrinths by converting tweets into monster-filled chambers, will start its social media adventure on July 4 on PC, Mac and Android. The date was tweeted on the game's official Twitter account, paired with hashtags that make us wonder what sort of room a release date tweet would make.
If you're a little too eager to wait that long, developer Hitpoint's recent post to Indie DB notes that a closed alpha should be "happening soon." Further details will be made available on the #Dungeon Twitter account, so keep an eye on that if you're dying to know what a series of #swag tweets will build. Considering #Dungeon is slated for July 4, we're pretty curious about what the #Murcia sections will look like, too.
[Image: Hitpoint Games]
#Dungeon, the roguelike that will build labyrinths by converting tweets into monster-filled chambers, will start its social media adventure on July 4 on PC, Mac and Android. The date was tweeted on the game's official Twitter account, paired with hashtags that make us wonder what sort of room a release date tweet would make.
If you're a little too eager to wait that long, developer Hitpoint's recent post to Indie DB notes that a closed alpha should be "happening soon." Further details will be made available on the #Dungeon Twitter account, so keep an eye on that if you're dying to know what a series of #swag tweets will build. Considering #Dungeon is slated for July 4, we're pretty curious about what the #Murcia sections will look like, too.
[Image: Hitpoint Games]
Welcome to Kotaku's Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon.Read more...
Sundays are for waking too early and spending the morning staring into the coffee, searching for signs.
We begin with typically excellent and thorough work from Electron Dance, where an investigation into concepts of choice and narrative becomes a fascinating tour of hypertext and holodecks. It’s the best thing I’ve read this week.
We’re used to the common wisdom of books and films being uni-directional media. We start on page one and know we’re finished when the credits roll. We’re drawn to the idea of “The Narrative”, a master sequence of events being played before us. Even films like Inland Empire (David Lynch, 2006) or 21 Grams (Alejandro González Iñárritu, 2003) which present fragmented stories, still take their passengers on a directed ride from start to finish. We’ve bought into the idea that storytelling is about a journey to an endpoint, an authored destination.
The real destination is the creation of meaning, whether that be the reader’s interpretation or reconstructing the author’s intent. The work is not completed by reading the final page but by reading the all of the pages.
New PlayStation Releases This Week
King Oddball
PS4 — Digital (Cross Buy with PS Vita)
End the world with boulders! The King uses a trio of rocks — and his tongue — to destroy all that oppose him. Simple, one-button gameplay with more than 120 increasingly difficult challenges. Master the system to make the most of each boulder toss.
LEGO The Hobbit
PS3, PS4, PS Vita — Digital, Retail
The Misty Mountains are calling. Guide Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves through familiar locations with a renowned LEGO twist. Collect items, loot, and gems along the way. Experience the thrill of the first two feature films alone or with friends.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
PS2 Classic — Digital
The classic RPG returns. Conquer the mysteries of the Midnight Channel and save the innocent from an untimely and supernatural death. Command powerful Personas and quest through dungeons to unlock the power within.
Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut
PS4 — Digital
Earth needs saving, and the Strike Suit is ready to save it. Pilot the future’s most devastating weapon through space and engage in heart-pounding dogfights against intelligent enemy fighters. Drink in the spectacle of interstellar war, and live long enough to tell the tale.
Demos and Betas
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle — PS3 Demo
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