video game

Microsoft eyes 2014 launch for Xbox One in Japan

Microsoft's Xbox One console will hit Japanese store shelves in 2014, a company exec has confirmed.

Speaking in an interview with gaming site 4 Gamer, Microsoft Japan President Yasuyuki Higuchi said that the Japanese market is considered "tier 2" by Microsoft, and thus, will not receive the Xbox One until next year. He didn't say exactly when the console will be available in Japan.

Although Japan is a key market for console makers, it's proven to be a major hole in Microsoft's business. Japanese customers have not warmed to the Xbox the way consumers … Read more

GTA V to ship on two discs for Xbox 360; one for PS3

Grant Theft Auto V will ship with two discs for the Xbox 360, according to the game's developer.

Rockstar Games on Tuesday posted a question-and-answer page on its site, responding to queries from fans. The company confirmed that due to the size of the upcoming title, the Xbox 360 version will ship with two discs. The first disc will need to be inserted into the console at startup. That disc will install game files onto the console. The second disc will then be used to play the game. No switching will be required once the file is installed on … Read more

Facebook mulls plan to become game publisher -- report

Facebook is considering getting into the gaming business as a publisher, a new report claims.

The social network is currently working with a few mobile-game developers to iron out a deal that would see their titles published under the Facebook brand, TechCrunch is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the discussions. The mobile games would generate revenue through Facebook's ad platform, and the world's largest social network would share a cut of that revenue with developers.

Developers and publishers are two very different entities in the gaming space. Developers actually create the game, while publishers … Read more

Ouya gaming console is cool for hackers and indie fans, but not yet ready for the mainstream

If you’ve come here wondering whether you should buy the Ouya, let me answer that straight away: no, you shouldn’t. At least not yet.

Instead, let the hacker-types, tinkerers, and the extreme hard-core gamers be the guinea pigs for the Android-based console, because it currently needs all the testing it can get.

With any luck over the next six months, the Ouya's software library will grow to a much more compelling state, bugs will get fixed, the interface will have much-needed features added, and native nongaming content will be released. Harder to address will be the cheap … Read more

At long last, Microsoft launches Xbox Music for the Web

More than a year after Microsoft announced its Xbox Music service, the company has finally brought it to the Web.

Microsoft's Xbox Music platform is now available for users in the browser. Customers can head over to its page and stream "millions of songs" from within the browser. Microsoft last week told CNET that the subscription, storage, and track-purchasing service would be coming to the Web, and it has officially made good on that promise.

Microsoft claims to offer "millions of songs" through Xbox Music and allows users to download tracks they purchase to a … Read more

Microsoft nixes fees on developers to patch Xbox 360 games -- report

Microsoft has put an end to fees it was charging developers who wanted to patch their Xbox 360 games, according to a new report.

Microsoft no longer charges Xbox 360 developers of both Xbox Live Arcade titles and full retail games to send out updates, game news/reviews site Eurogamer reported Thursday, citing multiple sources who claim to have knowledge of the move. The Xbox maker used to allow developers to update a title once for free and then charged them thousands of dollars for subsequent patches, according to Eurogamer's sources.

According to Eurogamer, Microsoft actually changed its policy … Read more

Nvidia delays Shield to July, due to 11th-hour dilemma

Just when you thought it was out, they pull it back in. Nvidia has delayed its Shield portable gaming console just one day before its original June 27, 2013 (that's tomorrow for you skimmers out there) shipping date to an as-yet undetermined date in July.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the company cites a "mechanical issue" as the culprit:

During our final QA process, we discovered a mechanical issue that relates to a third-party component. We want every Shield to be perfect, so we have elected to shift the launch date to July. We'll update … Read more

Dark truth about Ouya debut: Retail wins, Kickstarter loses

It should be a great day for Ouya, the tiny Android-powered gaming console that netted $8.5 million in Kickstarter funding and quickly sold out during its debut appearance at U.S. retailers Tuesday. But not all Ouya enthusiasts are smiling.

Some early adopters who donated to Ouya on Kickstarter months ago are still waiting for their console after being told they would get it before it hit retail. While some did receive their Ouya as promised (albeit perhaps a bit late), a "small subset" (according to Ouya's PR) did not.

Thousands of comments regarding Ouya on Kickstarter and other colloqui indicate that the number of people who didn't get their Ouya might be larger than a "small subset."

Saints Row 4 banned from Australia over 'sexual violence'

Saints Row 4, the latest console and PC title from developer Volition in the action-adventure open world game, has become the first to be banned from sale in Australia.

The game was sent to the Australian Government's Classification Board, which determines ratings on video games, in May, the organization said in a statement (PDF) on Tuesday. According to that statement, the Board rated the game RC, or Refused Classification, meaning it cannot be sold in Australia. The game's content was deemed too adult-oriented.

"In the Board's opinion, Saints Row 4, includes interactive, visual depictions of implied … Read more

Ouya launches for $99; already sold out on Amazon, GameStop

Ouya, the open-source game console that became a massive hit on Kickstarter, has officially launched to the public. And already, it's unavailable in a few online stores.

As expected, the $99.99 console hit the market on Tuesday at Best Buy, GameStop, and Target. The Android-based console is also available at Amazon. However, as of this writing, Ouya is already sold out on Amazon and GameStop. It is still available online at Best Buy and Target.

The Ouya console doesn't have the firepower of its competitors, like the upcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4. But thanks to its … Read more