Tag Archive for: xbox

New Team Sonic Racing Gameplay Trailer Released

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SEGA Unveils New Footage for Team Sonic Racing

Sega have shown off a brand new trailer for fans of Team Sonic Racing. In this trailer there’s some incredible gameplay footage for this incredible arcade game. We think that this game looks amazing and we cannot wait to get our hands on it ourselves! The highly anticipated team-based racing game is out on May 21st 2019. If this trailer is anything to go by the arcade style racer is set to be a smash hit!

Team Sonic Racing Features

Team Sonic Racing, developed by Sumo Digital is a fast paced, arcade racing game. While, it’s highly competitive and is fun for people of all ages, it features many of your favourite characters from the Sonic Universe. It’s not all solo racing either! Team up and win in the co-op mode, both locally and online. Furthermore players can utilise the dynamic team mechanics and vehicle customisation features to help them along the way. You don’t have long to wait either, Team Sonic Racing is due for release on May 21st across all major platforms!

Appearing in Stores May 21, 2019

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Is FIFA The Greatest Sports Video Game Ever Made?

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Fifa How To Kill An Hour.jpg

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade or two, you can’t have failed to notice the domination of the FIFA franchise when it comes to soccer video games. From the lowly Nintendo 64 all the way up to the exquisite Xbox with its online gaming, FIFA has been the stalwart of sports gameplay. But is it the best ever? There have been plenty of games that have emerged in the meantime, with basketball, ice hockey, the Olympics, and tennis all making a play for the best sports video game. Even Mario has tried to muscle in on the sports video game action. So which is the best? Let’s take a look.

 

FIFA

The FIFA video games are epic. Every year the new season is released, players choose to camp outside stores to be the first to experience the enhanced ball control, less clunky graphics and momentous gameplay. With the recent explosion of online gameplay, the game has taken on a whole new dimension. While watching the replays of Ronaldinho’s free kicks was the highlight of FIFA 07, now you can click here to purchase FIFA coins, play against individuals from across the globe, and even manage your favorite teams, heading to the transfer market and perfecting your dream team. You can play in a league, you can venture to the World Cup or you can just have a kickabout. An awesome game!

 

NBA Street

For the ultimate in fun gameplay, NBA Street takes some beating. With quirky characters, a cartoon style graphic and smooth gameplay, the flexibility of this basketball game meant that you really had to learn the expert moves to get your slam dunks flowing. Three pointers were hard to come by, but if you managed to unlock Stretch, your team would be enhanced to the point where his afro could boost the morale of your team. The moves were cool, the soundtrack was epic, and you would spend your youth trying to perfect the dribble techniques in your back garden. This is an experience for those who yearn for a simpler and more straightforward fun sort of game.

 

SSX Tricky

Snowboarding had never been so cool in 2001. The winter sport phenomenon was just taking off, and salopettes were being replaced with cooler winter gear. SSX Tricky allowed you to choose your character and embark on a race or a simple trick practice course. Accruing points gave you the gameplay buzz you needed with jumps, flips and spins creating epic moves on the powder. If you enjoy bright graphics, and a simple formula for fun, SSX Tricky was your sort of game.

 

Punch Out

No sports game list would be complete without a clunky classic from Nintendo. This boxing game was ridiculously simple and a bit of a free for all hitting the A button on your NES control pad as fast as you could, but it was great family fun. The Indian boxer had a tiger as a coach, so the game wasn’t hugely politically correct. But it was of its time and a huge forerunner to the boxing games of the twenty first century.

FIFA probably has the edge over its rivals, purely for longevity if nothing else, but there are plenty of epic sports video games worthy of a replay.

 

Google Stadia: Netflix of Gaming?

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Google have announced an unveiled a brand new gaming platform. Which is very different to what Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are offering right now. It’s called Stadia and the games will be streamed to you via an internet browser. Which are said to be better than console quality! Stadia is said to work on existing desktops, laptops, tv’s and phones, said Phil Harrison VP and general manager of Google. Even the least powerful of PC’s can run Stadia!

The tech giant also revealed a controller for Stadia. It looks much like a regular console controller. Though it also has a Google Assistant button and a capture button to capture gaming and directly put it on YouTube.

Google Stadia Controllers

ID Software announced that Doom Eternal will be one of the first games on launch. Which will be in 2019 in the US, Canada, UK and Europe. Exactly when that is in 2019 is unknown. No pricing was announced either.

Stadia: How?

How can even smartphones, TV’s and not so powerful PC’s play these top end games? Well, because the games run elsewhere on Google’s own high end hardware. You connect to it via the internet, the hardware then does all the hard work and sends you a video feed of what you are playing back to you. Essentially.

However, other services such as ‘OnLive’ which tried this back in the day (2010-2015) and Nvidia’s GeForce Now where some have encountered lag. They suffered due to the difficulty of offering high end games via an internet connection. But the question remains is it their end or is it the consumers own internet?

Lag: A delay between an action being performed on a controller or keyboard and the action being replicated on screen.

Google have said that the controller will connect to the internet directly. Which will then communicate with their servers which will reduce the amount of lag that players may encounter.

Impressively (if they pull this off) Google will be able to offer games at 4K at 60FPS and up to 8K 120FPS in the future. (Who needs 8K?!?) The Stadia is also insanely powerful with a GPU of 10.7 GPU teraflops while Xbox One X the worlds most powerful console has 6 GPU teraflops and the PS4 pro has 4.2 GPU teraflops. Basically, it’s very very good.

(BBC)

Google Stadia: We have some questions.

All very impressive indeed although we have some questions:

  • Are the games like Netflix: Pay to play many games for 1 subscription fee
  • Or we have to buy our own games?
  • Can we download our games to play them offline?
  • How does multiplayer work?
  • Are the multiplayer lobbies/parties
  • Is there protection from hacking?
  • What happens when the internet goes down?
  • How will my games me kept secure
  • How many games are available?
  • Will all the AAA games be available at launch
  • Will the footage be flagged for copyright from Stadia’s own capture system from YouTube’s Copyright flagging software?

But most of all, how laggy will it be? People’s internet will need to be able to cope with the game, if there’s the slightest bit of lag it will put gamers off. Coupled with multiplayer games, if there’s double the lag, people will not want to use the service.

It’s an interesting time to be a gamer certainly as Microsoft have their cloud service in the works too with ‘Xcloud’ so is this the way gaming is heading or will it supplement good ol’ physical disks or downloads.

Xbox Controller How To Kill An Hour

Whose Team Are You On?

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It’s time to get to the bottom of a debate that’s been raging since the beginning of time. When we say time, we mean about the last 20 years, but a while, nevertheless.

In the battle of the games consoles are you team XBox or team PlayStation? Let’s delve into both and pick a side. There are plenty of opinions on either side about what offers the best value for money and where the best gaming experience lies but you can only choose one side in the long run.

Xbox Controller How To Kill An Hour

Xbox All The Way

More specifically the Xbox One. The beauty of this particular console is that you can play games from way back when. Unlike the PlayStation, which has zero compatibility, you can dig out your old Halo game and play it on the latest model, no problem. These old favourites are part of the reason people are so loyal to the brand.

The other reason is its multi functionality. Yes, you can stream Netflix and Spotify it and more. It’s just so much more than a gaming device and gives you great value for money. You don’t need to spend your money looking for new games or parts, like a car enthusiast looking for vauxhall breakers, it just lasts and lasts. A classic every time.

But PlayStation?

Has so much to offer. Yes, it might not have all the capabilities of the Xbox One but when it comes to actual game play this is head and shoulders above the rest. You want the best games, the best graphics and the most exhilarating gaming experiences? You get a PlayStation4.

These games, such as Marvel’s Spider Man and other classics keep PlayStation fans snapping up the latest offerings. It’s a shame that you can’t play games from older models on the latest PS, but hey, you’d completed them anyway right?

So, who wins in this battle of the tech giants? If we look at other factors such as price, then both come in at around the same amount, so it comes down to what your personal tastes are. You can’t deny that the PlayStation4 nails the game play aspect with outstanding, exclusive games. It’s focused in on this aspect and pulled it off with aplomb.

XBox One, however, offers so much more than just game play and fits into a family home so easily and usefully. It simply offers more features for the same money but does compromise on game exclusivity. That doesn’t matter too much though, bearing in mind your back catalogue is still relevant.

It’s a tough one and not something can be decided easily. True gamers will almost certainly go down the PlayStation route while those looking for a bit more bang for their buck will go Team XBox. With the promise of bigger and better developments from both these giants over the coming months, we may need to revisit our decisions again but for now, pick a team and enjoy killing an hour or two on this fantastic technology.

 

The Division 2 Open Beta

The Division 2 – Official Year 1 Trailer

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First of all, Tom Clancy’s The Division was a HUGELY successful game when it was released in March 2016, spawning a massive community in the gaming world. Now a sequel is due for release right around the corner (March 15th) and we cannot wait! The game follows a lineage much similar to the first game, but this time it’s focused in Washington DC. The game is an action shooter RPG set in an entirely open world, players are able to play in co-op or singularly. There are also PvP modes available for those who want a bit of high octane competitive action. The Division 2 also offers much more variety in missions than the first game, brand new challenges and a new progression system for players. In an effort to keep the game fresh and inviting for months and years to come.

Story

Washington D.C is demolished and in disarray, it’s on the bring of collapse. Consequently, there’s looting in the streets and tons of instability from within the city. Society is a mess, which is emphasised from the fact that there’s always rumblings of a coup. It is up to you and your Division ally’s to save the city. Like in the first game you a part of an elite Division. A Division made up of civilian agents, of whom are the last line of defence for the safety of the city. You are tasked with using the plethora of gear and skills available to take on the oncoming threat. In Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Washington D.C is replicated in a 1:1 representation of the real city. Furthermore, you are given maps which offer up-close-and-personal views of landmarks and neighbourhoods around the city, including the enemy hideouts!

Year 1 Content

The way that Ubisoft will keep players coming back time and time again to The Division 2 will be through downloadable content. Which will be of a regular occurrence too! While, each experience is said to renew a players experience each time they load up in to the game. During the first year of the games release Ubisoft will be releasing three episodes. Episodes which will expand on the main story of The Division 2. The Episodes will be narrative driven content alongside new ways to play. All of this content during year 1 will be free to play for all players of The Division 2. Furthermore, Ubisoft will be releasing three brand new specialisations alongside the Survivalist, Demolitionist and Sharpshooter. Which are already available at the end the main story.

More info

The trailer above gives you an insight to the first year’s content. Plus will give players a look at an upcoming 8-player Raid. Below is some more information on what the Episodes will entail

  • The first Episode, D.C. Outskirts: Expeditions will take you to the surrounding areas of Washington as you chase down elite members of the Outcasts and the Black Tusks and fight for the liberation of the city in new locations.
  • The second Episode, Pentagon: The Last Castle will bring you to one of America’s most iconic locations to unveil what secrets lie inside this well protected maze.
  • Our third Episode will conclude Year 1 of The Division 2 and pave the way for more thrilling content.

Year 1 Pass to Purchase

Those wishing to have all of the content sooner than the rest. You can pay for the Year 1 pass. Which will give players a look at the Year 1 content a lot sooner, furthermore, they will get exclusive content. Which is detailed below.

Y1_FC_TOUSE

 

 

Features

  • 7-Day Early Access to Episode Narrative Content

    • Owners of the Pass will have a 7-day early access to the narrative content only, included in all Year 1 Episodes.

  • Instant unlock of the Year 1 Specialisation’s

    • At launch, The Division 2 will include three Specialisations, instantly available to everyone when reaching max level (Level 30).
    • Throughout Year 1, we will release three additional Specialisations for your agent. Year 1 Pass holders will unlock these new specialisations as soon as they’re released.
    • For those who do not have the Year 1 Pass, specialisations will be released at the same time, but must be unlocked over time through gameplay.
    • Year 1 Pass holders will also be able to earn exclusive cosmetic items with each Specialisation’s release.

  • Exclusive Access to Classified Assignments

    • Over the course of Year 1, Pass holders will have exclusive access to 8 Classified Assignments, which will provide more story behind the events leading to your arrival in D.C.
    • Completing each assignment will award you with a unique and exclusive backpack trophy to customise your Agent’s look.

  • Additional Bounties and Projects

    • Bounties in The Division 2 are special tasks to eliminate specific enemy targets, while Projects are assignments to complete various tasks around D.C.
    • As a Year 1 Pass holder, you will get access to one additional Bounty per week and one extra Project per day for a Challenging mission.
    • This perk ends on March 1st, 2020.

  • Exclusive Cosmetic Items

    • Year 1 Pass holders will get access to these exclusive rewards: the Agent Ward Outfit and the Scout emote.

(Ubisoft)

Purchase Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 by clicking here!

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The Division 2 Enter The Dark Zone

The Division 2 – Enter The Dark Zone

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First of all, Tom Clancy’s The Division was a HUGELY successful game when it was released in March 2016, spawning a massive community in the gaming world. Now a sequel is due for release right around the corner (March 15th) and we cannot wait! The game follows a lineage much similar to the first game, but this time it’s focused in Washington DC. The game is an action shooter RPG set in an entirely open world, players are able to play in co-op or singularly. There are also PvP modes available for those who want a bit of high octane competitive action. The Division 2 also offers much more variety in missions than the first game, brand new challenges and a new progression system for players. In an effort to keep the game fresh and inviting for months and years to come.

Story

Washington D.C is demolished and in disarray, it’s on the bring of collapse. Consequently, there’s looting in the streets and tons of instability from within the city. Society is a mess, which is emphasised from the fact that there’s always rumblings of a coup. It is up to you and your Division ally’s to save the city. Like in the first game you a part of an elite Division. A Division made up of civilian agents, of whom are the last line of defence for the safety of the city. You are tasked with using the plethora of gear and skills available to take on the oncoming threat. In Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Washington D.C is replicated in a 1:1 representation of the real city. Furthermore, you are given maps which offer up-close-and-personal views of landmarks and neighbourhoods around the city, including the enemy hideouts!

The here are a range of factions that Division agents have to take on, Divisions made up of those who remain, factions of those who look to cause more harm than good:

  • True Sons
  • Hyenas
  • Outcasts
  • Black Tus

Competitive Modes

In PvP mode you explore three Dark Zones across Washington D.C. It is up to you to explore these areas of the city, whilst keeping an eye out for players looking to cause harm. In an Player vs. Environment vs. Player experiences.

Such as Skirmish: here you go head to head against other teams in a classic Team Deathmatch scenario. Domination: here you are tasked with capturing locations to claim dominance against other players, in this objective based mode.

Weapons

Weapons are highly customisable and are vital to your  surivial in The Division 2. Differing weapons, armour and cosmetic options for all elements of the game is available to players. This includes things such as weapons, armour and exotic items. Some are only available to the high end players, so best get that grind on! Furthermore, those who reach the endgame have unique specialisations on offer. Allowing even further customisation!

End Game

The End Game is a feature at the end of the game which throws in some more challenges, game modes and high end rewards to further test and upgrade agents.  Once an agent has reached level 30, players will have to pick a specialisation.  Such as Survivalist, Demolitionist and Sharpshooter. Yet, each of the selections will unlock a unique signature weapon and additional skills.

So, much like other Ubisoft games, The Division 2 will be constantly updated and players will have access to a full year of free story-driven missions, map expansions and new game features.

(Ubisoft)

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Team Sonic Racing Map

Team Sonic Racing – Maps and Music!

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We may be moving into a warmer climate in the coming months, however Sonic may not be. SEGA are heading into the blistering cold with Team Sonic Racing. They’ve announced a brand new ice stage for the fun racing game. It’s called “Frozen Junkyard” and will pit users through, you guessed it, a frosty junkyard. Sonic and his buddies will have to race through it, whilst avoiding a number of obstacles. All treacherous and designed to cause havoc, including lethal beams from the HUGE Death Egg Robot. The track even has it’s own song! It’s composed by Jun Senoue, the iconic Sonic Series composer. However, he hasn’t done this alone, he’s teamed up with Tyler Smyth of Danger Kids. You can listen to it in the video above! Furthermore they’ve worked together on the “Infinite” theme on Sonic Forces, therefore you know it’s going to be good!

Team Sonic Racing Features

Team Sonic Racing, developed by Sumo Digital is a fast paced, arcade racing game. While, it’s highly competitive and is fun for people of all ages, it features many of your favourite characters from the Sonic Universe. It’s not all solo racing either! Team up and win in the co-op mode, both locally and online. Furthermore players can utilise the dynamic team mechanics and vehicle customisation features to help them along the way. You don’t have long to wait either, Team Sonic Racing is due for release on May 21st across all major platforms!

Pre-Order Team Sonic Racing here!

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Anthem Open Demo

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Anthem is EA’s brand new game that really surprised everyone during E3 2017. It’s a brand new game, a brand new franchise in a completely new universe. It’s a futuristic open-world RPG that many are excited about and for good reason! We recently too the Anthem Open Demo for a spin recently and it is absolutely incredible!

Anthem is an upcoming online only, multiplayer, open world,  third person RPG game that’s being developed by BioWare Edmonton and published by EA. Due for release in 2018, this game is said to be HUGE and it’s release is not too far away. February 22nd to be exact! You and your friends take take on a role of a Freelancer in a group of up to 4 bold and courageous people who leave their civilisation to explore a dangerous yet beautiful landscape.

We’ve played the Anthem Open Demo for a while and we absolutely love it and cannot wait to play the full game. It’s a breath of fresh air and we cannot wait to team up with the rest of the How To Kill An Hour crew.

Pre-Order Anthem here!

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Cloud Gaming

Xbox Cloud Gaming

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In what has seemingly sneaked under the radar. Microsoft recently announced that it’s launching a cloud gaming division. Marking out to the rest of the gaming industry that they’re entering the world of game streaming. They’re taking it seriously too.

The verge are reporting that it’s something that’s been building up for quite some time. Recently the huge computing giant acquired small gaming focused cloud companies. PlayFab who focus on game development in the cloud are now a Microsoft company. Will we see an Xbox that’s solely focused on cloud gaming?

Microsoft basically have something similar with Xbox Game Pass. Think Netflix but for gaming. However, instead of streaming the games you download them, keeping the license for x amount of months until you stop paying the £15 a month. There aren’t many good games on there at the moment, but that will soon change. Microsoft recently announced that alongside catalogued games, games like Sea Of Thieves, State of Decay 2 and Crackdown 3. All HUGE titles for Microsoft are being made available on their subscription service.

Cloud Gaming Direction

Consequently, Microsoft’s announcement almost proves that they want to move away from their users downloading their games to streaming them. As that was a major criticism of many users. Not enough up to date games available on the Game Pass. The two recent announcements could hint at the direction Microsoft are taking.

While OnLive a cloud game streaming service, failed. Other platforms game streaming is alive and kicking. Playstation Now From Sony allows users to play PS4 games on their PC’s and Nvidia has GeForce Now (Beta) Microsoft obviosly isn’t saying anything to anyone. However Kareem Choudhry Corporate VP of Xbox hints that they want users to play content on any device.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!

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