How the next Xbox can win the cable TV war

HDMI-in: Standard on other media boxes, why not Xbox?

(Credit: CNET)

The battle for the future of television is just beginning, but it looks to be a long one. One of the key players is Microsoft, which has spent the past several years morphing its Xbox 360 from a straight-up gaming console into one of the best video-streaming boxes you can buy.

Of course, the current Xbox 360 is getting long in the tooth, and the next-generation model is expected to be announced soon, and to be available as early as the end of 2013. And TV services look to be just as central to the core of that device as gaming.

Last week, The Verge reported that Microsoft plans to enable live TV access on the upcoming console:

The functionality will work by taking a cable box signal and passing it through to the Xbox via HDMI, allowing Microsoft's console to overlay a UI [user interface] and features on top of an existing TV channel or set-top box.

That story would seem to confirm earlier rumors that the next Xbox would have support for live TV input, among other upgraded entertainment options, including Blu-ray.

So, the "Xbox 720" is taking a page from Google TV. But is that wise? Gigaom's Janko Roettgers asks, "Really, Microsoft? Your vision for the future of TV is...an HDMI cable?" He makes some solid points, ending his argument with "HDMI pass-through is the ultimate admission of defeat."

Maybe so. Google TV, after all, was hardly the sort of game-changer we've seen from Google's search engine or Android OS. But, ironically, Google TV-style HDMI pass-through -- in which media from your existing cable box or DVR is viewed through your Xbox -- might be a necessary, and even genius, short-term move on the way to owning the doorway to the future of home entertainment.

Here's why.

Yes, video apps are beautiful. They're fun. They're becoming ubiquitous. But they're not cable-box or DVR replacments yet. HBO Go is the reigning example of the shining future of apps, but most other cable TV networks don't have anything like it. Cable providers themselves have a cluttered hit-and-miss landscape of apps. The result: most wannabe cord-cutters can only go halfway.

Using an Xbox 360 for video is an awesome experience, but it's a cable TV accessory, not a cable replacement. The Xbox 360 currently boasts a huge assortment of video services, including Netflix, Vudu, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video, and HBO Go, as well as apps for Fios and Comcast. Those cable apps are nice, but they fall short of the "cable TV as an app" experience that many are looking for. Channel selection is limited: the Fios app offers 75 live channels; Comcast's Xfinity app offers only on-demand programs (no live TV). There's also no integration with programs you've recorded on your DVR.

And that's the problem. The current TV experience on Xbox seems to be an either-or proposition: on-demand or live, but not both. And that's hardly limited to the Xbox -- even Roku's promising Time Warner Cable app lacks on-demand content, at least for now.

An HDMI input lets the Xbox get full access to all of your cable content -- both live and recorded -- without having to wait for cable and satellite companies to improve their apps. The future of pay TV is undoubtedly streaming, but Microsoft can use an HDMI input as a bridge until the industry catches up. Given the cable industry's tortoiselike pace of innovation, it makes sense not to wait.

If all this sounds familiar, that's because it's precisely the same pitch made for Google TV when it was introduced more than two years ago. And we know how that went.

The Google TV experience left a lot to be desired.

(Credit: CNET)

Still, Google TV's problem has always been the execution, rather than the concept. Aggregating and searching among all the content providers you pay for is still a good idea, it just needs to be done in a way that doesn't involve a 70-button remote.

With the Xbox 360, Microsoft has proven it "gets" the living-room experience, much more than Google has so far. Everything about the Xbox 360's video offerings is geared toward the "lean back" experience, whereas Google TV tried to bring Google's Chrome to your TV, a la Web TV. Voice search via the Kinect remains one of the fastest ways to find content and one of the few times it's worth using voice commands. It feels like the future. All it's missing is your cable and DVR data.

The real challenge will be working with cable and satellite providers to get the "hooks" needed to interact with their set-top boxes in a meaningful way. (Many cable and satellite providers already offer apps that permit smartphones to double as remote controls via Wi-Fi, for instance -- much more reliable and faster than relying on IR blasters.) Google TV only integrates well with Dish Network; Nintendo's TVii (the TV control scheme built into the Wii U controller) is similarly limited to TiVo. In other words, if you're using another company's DVR -- Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV, Cox, whatever -- you need to fire up your box's EPG and find the program yourself, defeating the purpose of aggregating the content in the first place.

The biggest problems with most cable boxes? An antiquated user interface, and sluggishness. Microsoft's Xbox ecosystem is cleaner, faster, and extremely easy to use. There's no contest.

Nintendo tried to pull off a software coup with TVii on the Wii U, with a similar idea: to clean up the presentation of cable-box data. But Microsoft has way more video-streaming app partners, and Nintendo's TV integration basically stops at cable listings, using an IR blaster built into the GamePad to switch back to regular TV. It can't pipe live cable TV through the Wii U, it just programs your remote. The Wii U software is slow to load, and not very elegantly laid out.

Odds are that Microsoft will be more successful at connecting to cable boxes than Nintendo was, and make a much more useful and fun system. The opportunity's there to build on the idea Nintendo was trying to get at, but to do it far better.

How many years did we have to wait for the iPhone to hit any cell provider other than AT&T? How long did it take HDTVs to finally catch on in U.S. homes? Sometimes it takes a long time for technology to make transitions. Who knows, really, how long it'll take the cable TV industry to finally ditch the cable box-and-DVR approach, and when app-based alternatives will finally arrive.

In the meantime, Microsoft can use HDMI-in like a Band-Aid. The last generation of consoles lasted a long time and evolved tremendously via hardware and software. What you'll see at the next Xbox's launch isn't what you'll see four years in, and that's a good thing. If all goes according to plan, hopefully the next Xbox will become an HDMI-in-free device down the road. It's easier to eventually remove a feature than add one.

You may laugh at HDMI-in as a pundit, but you might love it as a user. At least until the cable industry finally jumps into the streaming revolution with both feet.

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Xbox 720 not “always-on”, runs Windows 8 – claims source

The source posted everything he or she claims to know in a Pastebin post addressed to NeoGAF member Chesemeister.

Although the post does not give away his or her identity, it is heavy with statements and alleged facts from within the company relative to Xbox 720, Kinect 2.0 and other areas surrounding Microsoft’s next-gen rig.

Starting with the thorny always-online issue, the source stated, “You are not required to be connected to the internet in order to play Durango games and MS were NEVER considering doing such a thing. Now please, just read that last sentence over and over again until it sinks in. Done? Good.”

According to the source, Microsoft will announce the new Xbox in May – backing up rumours of a May 21st reveal – and that the company is working on a set of VR glasses to work in tandem with the console.

The source also stated every VGLeaks article pertaining to the console’s specs so far has been true, and added that each new Xbox 720 rig will ship with an Xbox 360 SOC for backwards compatibility. The 360 chip-set is also said to boost the console’s overall speed and performance.

On Kinect 2.0, the source stated that everything VGLeaks has said about Microsoft’s new motion bar is correct, and added that with a “quite substantial increase in the hardware over Kinect 1.0, any humanly noticeable lag should be gone.”

On the issue of the Xbox 720 controller, the source said that the design is unchanged, but that the controller now houses an improved D-Pad that looks identical to the Xbox 360's, but will feel different. It runs on AA batteries and battery packs again, but thanks to new wireless tech will last 16% longer than previous pads.

The source also confirmed that rumours surrounding new, cheaper Xbox Mini or Xbox TV models geared toward entertainment rather than games are also true.

Apparently, the $100 ‘Xbox TV’ rig is being worked on by a different team at Microsoft, and it is expected to compete with Apple TV. There is no disc-drive, but it will play Xbox Live Arcade and ‘Games on Demand’ titles, thanks to the on board Xbox 360 SOC.

In terms of OS, the source stated that both models of Xbox 720 would run on a full version of Windows 8 – minus interface – and that it will run the new WinRT framework, which the source claims will make Microsoft’s rig the most “indie friendly” console of the next generation.

On indies, the source expects that developers will pay a $60 Xbox Live license fee, and will be able to submit their games to the store without need of a dev kit.

What do you make of the above? Does it sound plausible? If you want more Xbox 720 rumours, head over to my round-up feed here.

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FIFA 14 announced for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC

EA has revealed the first details for FIFA 14, which the company has officially confirmed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

No next-gen support was confirmed, but EA says it will reveal FIFA 14 for additional platforms "in the months ahead."

The main changes to this year's take on the annual football franchise includes a new ball physics engine and a feature called Pure Shot. Pure Shot is designed to allow players to adjust their stride and approach angles, with the game now incorporating off-balance and rushed shots.

EA also says it has added the ability to maintain momentum while turning in any direction while sprinting, that there is more variety on touches when sprinting, and says that the intelligence of the AI has been improved.

A new feature, which EA calls Protect The Ball, is also designed to give attacking players more ways to block defenders while dribbling.

The game's career mode will also receive an update, allowing players to manage a global network of talent scouts and featuring a redesigned hub.

Elsewhere, FIFA Ultimate Team will be updated, a new online mode will be implemented, and social tracker Football Club will make a return.

No exact FIFA 14 release date was provided by EA, but FIFA games traditionally launch in September.

Last year's title, FIFA 13, received an 8.0 in its GameSpot review.

By Martin Gaston, News Editor Martin Gaston has absolutely never at all had the song from Beauty and the Beast sung to him at any point during his life, ever.

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FIFA 14 Announced For Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Today EA Sports announced FIFA 14 as promised. FIFA 14, billed as the "complete matchday experience," will hit the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC this fall.

The new Pure Shot feature aims to make shooting feel more real. Shots will change based on the players' stride and approach. If you're rushed or off-balance, it'll be reflectred in the quality of the shot. New ball physics will ensure that balls have realistic trajectories.

The developers at EA Canada have made a number of other changes to the flow of the game as well. Players will be able to fend off defenders with a new Protect the Ball feature, or change direction quickly with Sprint Dribble Turns. Variable Dribble Touches will give skilled players more control over the ball while sprinting. Improved A.I. will make your CPU-controller opponents better attackers and defenders.

If you're rusty, the new Skills Games mode will bring you up to speed. This practice mode enables newbies to learn the ropes and veterans to hone their skills. The new mini-games can be played alone or with friends.

The Career Mode will return with a new Global Scouting Network. This allows players to scope out players throughout the year. This allows them to be ready to make some trades when transfer windows begin.

Interestingly, EA Sports didn't announce a Wii U, 3DS, or Wii version of FIFA 14. A spokesperson for the company told ONM UK that additional formats will be announced in the coming months, though, so Nintendo gamers might have a shot at getting these games.

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Microsoft tries to make Xbox 360 big in Japan through 1 million hours campaign

While Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has been the leading video game console in the US, their sales in Japan have been so low that some stores have stopped selling the console and its games. As a push to get more Japanese interested in the Xbox (and become loyal to the brand as well), they are launching the 1 Million Hours campaign.

The campaign intends to challenge Japanese gamers to play more Xbox games and for every landmark hours collectively reached, they will be giving complimentary Microsoft Points (MSP) for Xbox Live members, both the free and Gold subscribers. For example, if all the gamers log in 300,000 hours each member receives 100 MSP and if they reach 500,000 hours they receive twice the MSPs. But the ultimate target is to reach 1 million hours and the reward is 400 MSP for gold or paying subscribers while free Xbox Live users get 30 points. But you can’t just play any game just to reach those targets. Microsoft has identified 20 specific games which will log in the hours played by the gamers.

Analyst Jesse Divnich of video game research firm EEDAR said that this is quite an extraordinary move for Microsoft to do just to win over the Japanese market. And since they cannot adjust their software and hardware prices, they need to increase their marketing and retail strategies. This promotion may increase Xbox 360 engagement but may not make a large dent in sales anytime soon. Their main competitor and Japan’s number one game console, Sony’s Playstation 3, has a five-times lead over the Xbox 360.

[ via Venture Beat ]

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Microsoft to pay Japanese Xbox owners with Points for a million hours playtime

 

Microsoft has failed to gain ground in the Japanese gaming market with its Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, but that's not stopping the software giant from trying. A new incentive will launch on April 20th that sees Xbox owners receive free points based on the collective amount of time that participants in the campaign use the console in Japan. Gamers need to spend 300,000 hours using the Xbox 360 to get 100 ($1.25) Microsoft Points for Xbox Live Gold subscribers and 10 Points for free members.

There's a slight catch. Japanese Xbox gamers will need to play one of twenty games to be counted towards Japan's total time spent on Xbox 360 and will also need to sign up to the Xbox Live rewards program. If Japan manages, as a collective effort, to reach one million hours of Xbox gaming before June 19th then all Xbox Live Gold participants will be rewarded with 400 Microsoft Points ($5) and free members will get 30 Points.

With Microsoft's continued move away from its points system, 400 Microsoft Points is a small amount that could be used against some older Xbox Live Arcade titles. However, Microsoft's focus on Japan gamers shows it's willing and desperate to succeed with Xbox in this particular region. With the console battles about to reignite over the next-generation, Microsoft is clearly trying to alter the perception of Xbox in Japan ahead of another opportunity to succeed in the country with a new console.

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Xbox Live connectivity issues over weekend 'not caused by hackers'

A recent Xbox Live service outage was not caused by hackers, Microsoft has confirmed.

A number of Xbox Live users were unable to sign into their accounts on Saturday (April 13), while others experienced problems joining online games earlier that week.

In a statement to GeekWire, Microsoft said that the outage was caused by networking misconfiguration during a period of maintenance, before denying claims that hackers were involved.

"The Xbox LIVE service outage on 13 April resulted from networking misconfiguration during routine maintenance and was in no way related to false claims of hacking the service," reads the statement.

Microsoft made the statement in response to speculation that hacker group Anonymous was behind the attacks.

The company has endured a difficult few weeks. An executive was reportedly forced to resign after making controversial comments about always-online video game consoles, while share prices have tumbled due to declining PC sales.

The company recently launched its Xbox Live 'Play to Earn' reward scheme, which gives users the chance to earn Avatar items and up to 800 Microsoft Points throughout April.

Playing any combination of Arcade games for 20 hours during April will bag members a free Avatar item, while purchasing four Arcade games at 400 Microsoft Points unlocks a one-month XBLA Gold subscription.

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Battlefield 4 skipping Wii U

Battlefield 4 will not see a release on Wii U, DICE has confirmed.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com last night, creative director Lars Gustavsson explained that the decision to skip Wii U was to "ensure that [the team] deliver something good", rather than "risking" the project by stretching the team too thin.

"I think overall for me as creative director, number one is to deliver a really great game and experience," said Gustavsson on the subject of Battlefield 4 on Wii U. "Sometimes, at least for us, it's focus on what you do well and what you know well, and ensure that you deliver something good than trying a bit too much, stretching yourself too thin and risking it.

"I'd rather play it safe, deliver something really good and then look at the future and what could possibly be done than trying a bit too hard and [failing]."

Battlefield 4 is the latest high-profile multi-platform title to skip Wii U, joining Dead Island: Riptide and Saints Row 4.

Battlefield 4 ships on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC later this year. A release on next-generation platforms is still be confirmed.

Source: VideoGamer.com Interview held at Battlefield 4 reveal event in Stockholm. Travel and accommodation provided by EA.

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Battlefield 4 Was Showcased on PC Powered By AMD’s World Fastest Radeon HD 7990 GPU

EA showcased a 17 minute demonstration trailer of DICE’s next generation Battlefield 4 FPS which was powered by their latest Frostbite 3 technology. As we all noted, Battlefield 4 went off to show some very amazing visuals in the single player section that was showcased and the same is expected from the multiplayer section.

Although earlier rumors said that DICE would show off their game running on next gen console parts but in return, Legitreviews have got the conformation that Battlefield 4 was demonstrated on its lead platform AKA PC. But what was powering the PC that ran Battlefield 4? The solution was AMD’s world fastest Radeon HD 7990 GPU that was also previewed by AMD at GDC 2013 earlier yesterday. EA had announced AMD as their hardware partner and has further strengthened AMD’s Gaming evolved initiative. Here’s the press report from AMD:

AMD and EA DICE are proud partners in gaming, with a recent history that includes the award-winning Battlefield 3 in 2011. That relationship continues today with the world’s first public demonstration of Battlefield 4, powered by the AMD Radeon HD 7990—the world’s fastest graphics card! Today’s unveiling not only demonstrates the commitment EA DICE makes to state-of-the-art PC graphics, it stands as further proof that the critically-acclaimed Graphics Core Next architecture in the AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series is the best choice for truly advanced PC games. AMD

This is great news for PC as a gaming platform and further proves DICE’s commitment to its PC user base. Similarly if you remember, DICE also showcased Battlefield 3 on its PC lead platform back at GDC 2011 but at that time it was running on SLI’d GTX 580's from NVIDIA. So this is a move away from their primary hardware partner on the green side and hello to the Red team at AMD but nevertheless as i mentioned its something great to hear by the PC audience. Here’s what we know about the AMD’s Radeon HD 7990 GPU which the company calls it the worlds fastest GPU solution so far:

the Radeon HD 7990 from AMD would be codenamed Malta and feature Dual Tahiti Pro cores clocked around 1000 – 1100 MHz and would feature a 6 GB (3 GB per GPU) VRAM running across a 384 bit x2 interface. You may notice how AMD has labeled the slide as a preview of the upcoming product which means that its launch (previously reported around Q2 2013) might not be far away.

The card is powered through dual 8-Pin connectors which puts the power draw to around 375W and comes with an impressive three fan cooling design in the much awesome red and black color theme of AMD Radeon GPUs. Display connectivity on the Radeon HD 7990 include five Mini Display and a single DVI connector. It is expected to launch in Q2 at a price almost around the $1000 mark.

But don’t you guys worry since you probably won’t have to spend a thousand bucks on a HD 7990 to get Battlefield 4 running. Since the game would be optimized by AMD, its likely that it would run smooth on current generation GPUs from both AMD HD 7000 series and GeForce 600 series. Battlefield 4 launches in Fall 2013 and more details and gameplay are expected to hit before E3 2013.

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Battlefield 4 screens leak

Three Battlefield 4 images have leaked ahead of a media event planned for this evening where the game is expected to be discussed in greater detail. The images were found on a public directory on the Battlefield blog.

One screenshot, labeled Construction (at right), shows a team of gun-toting soldiers moving down a hill while sunlight bursts through a bird-filled sky. Two additional images show off pairs of soldiers, each with United States flags embroidered on their uniforms.

Notably, one of the soldiers is wearing an Oakley glove and has a Sharpie pen in his pocket, suggesting the game may feature product placement in some way.

EA announced Battlefield 4 last July, revealing that a beta for the game will launch during fall 2013. Those who purchased the underperforming Medal of Honor: Warfighter are guaranteed access to the beta.

Battlefield 4 may not be the only new franchise entry in the works. A report from May suggested series developer DICE was at work on a new entry in the spin-off series, Battlefield: Bad Company 3.

By Eddie Makuch, News Editor Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.

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Alabama Barbecue Bracket narrows field to the Elite 8 in quest to find the state's best 'cue

 BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The Alabama Barbecue Bracket is down to the Elite Eight, and voting continues into Saturday to see which of those eight will make the Final Four.

On March 11, the Alabama Tourism Department unveiled its field of 32 of the state’s top barbecue joints, which were broken down into four regions of eight restaurants each.

After two rounds of voting on the Year of Alabama Food Facebook page, the tourism announced the finalists in each of those four regions on Wednesday.

Here are those pairings:

North Region: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur (No. 1 seed) vs. LawLers Barbecue, Athens (No. 3 seed).

Central Region: Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Birmingham (1) vs. Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Tuscaloosa (3).

South Region: Lannie’s Bar-B-Q Spot, Selma (4) vs. Sam’s Bar-B-Q, Montgomery (6).

Gulf Region: The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, Mobile (2) vs. L.A. Barbeque, Summerdale (4).

To vote, go to www.facebook.com/AlabamaFood.

Two of the No. 1 seeds were eliminated in the Sweet 16, with Lannie’s ousting Mike & Ed’s BBQ of Auburn in the South and L.A. Barbeque taking down The Brick Pit of Mobile in the Gulf.

More than 40,000 votes have been cast in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament-style contest, according to Brian Jones of the Alabama Tourism Department.

All of the first- and second-round results are available on the Year of Alabama Food Facebook page.

The original field was selected by Facebook users, and the restaurants were seeded and paired based on a social media poll conducted on behalf of the Year of Alabama Food, according to the tourism department.

“The contest is based around basketball’s March Madness,” Jones said in a press release. “We started by asking our Year of Alabama Food Facebook page fans to name their favorite barbecue restaurant. Then we took the 32 most suggested restaurants and divided them into four different geographic regions and matched them up into different voting brackets.

“Barbecue is definitely a passion in Alabama and this has really brought out the regional and local rivalries,” Jones added.

Final Four voting will take place April 1 through April 5, and the overall champion will be announced on Monday, April 8, the same day of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.

What do you think of the Alabama Barbecue Bracket voting so far? Which of your favorites do you think should or will win? Which ones were eliminated that should still be alive? Share your thoughts in our Comments section below.

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Battlefield 4 revealed with 17 minute long gameplay trailer, screens, details

Boom! And just like that, Battlefield 4 has been officially unveiled by EA and DICE.

The next generation of Battlefield titles is coming, and it'll be powered by the Frostbite 3 engine. The game is scheduled for a Fall 2013 release on current gen (Xbox 360, PS3) and the PC, and likely next gen systems. A Wii U version has not been announced. Amazon already has pre-orders available as you can see from our link below.

Make sure to stop by the official site for all the available info and check out the 17 minute long gameplay trailer and official screens, released just a short time ago.

Battlefield 4: Official 17 Minutes "Fishing in Baku" Gameplay Reveal trailer:

Battlefield 4 screens:

Read on.

Only in Battlefield can players go through a building instead of around it or eject from a jet and take out the enemy mid-free fall. Those incredible gameplay moments that blur the line between game and glory can only be created by players, and occur only in Battlefield. DICE, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc., today announced Battlefield 4, a genre-defining action blockbuster launching in Fall 2013. Powered by the advanced technology of DICE’s proprietary Frostbite 3 engine, Battlefield 4 offers players a glimpse into the future of interactive entertainment – a future that is more human, dramatic and believable than anything before it. With more than 65 million players worldwide, the Battlefield series has consistently been praised by critics for its world-class multiplayer gameplay, and is recognized as the only game that allows players to own land, sea and air.

Battlefield 4 is a seminal moment for the Battlefield series as more award-winning, multiplayer game design elements are incorporated into the single-player campaign. In single-player, gamers will experience huge environments, a playground of destruction, access to an arsenal of vehicles and the ability to direct squad mates. Taking a page from the social aspect of multiplayer gaming, the single-player mode will now track players’ progress, adding an element of persistence and friendly competition to the campaign.

The game made its world debut today with a staggering 17-minute gameplay demo, available for view at Battlefield.com. The demo begins as the player – Recker – opens his eyes to discover that he is trapped in a rapidly sinking car with three of his squad mates. Shooting the window is the only way out. Panic and fear are pushed aside as Recker makes a difficult decision – take the shot and recover the intel but risk that not everyone will survive. The emotional demo features a cast of characters unrivaled in interactive entertainment. Players will learn how to work together in both the Campaign and Multiplayer, issuing squad orders and comparing achievements in both experiences. Adventure and Competition will unfold through a series of beautifully crafted locations constructed with some of the best art and sound design in modern shooters. All of this is only possible with Frostbite 3 – a new standard for interactive entertainment in 2013.

“We are so humbled and proud to debut Battlefield 4 on a global stage with simultaneous events in San Francisco and Stockholm. To be this early in development, and to already be so polished is a huge achievement for the DICE team and reflection of their passion and commitment to driving the franchise forward. Today’s demo was just the beginning — we have so much more in store,” said Patrick Soderlund, Executive Vice President, EA Games Label. “It is thrilling to witness peoples’ reaction when seeing the game for the first time. It really makes you realize that we are at the beginning of a whole new era for gaming. As artists and craftspeople, we are focused on creating a dynamic, open design that brings people together with amazing, surprising unscripted moments that they’ll talk about for days. That’s the beauty of Battlefield.”

By pre-ordering Battlefield 4 at any participating retail outlet, gamers will receive a Premium expansion pack at no additional cost*. DICE also announced today Battlefield 4 Digital Deluxe, an Origin™ exclusive special edition that includes the base game and bonus in-game digital items. Players that pre-order Battlefield 4 Digital Deluxe* on Origin will also receive the Premium expansion pack as well as access to the exclusive Battlefield 4 multiplayer beta.

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Interview: DICE explains why it had to build Battlefield 4 from gut feelings

Is the military FPS genre showing some early signs of decline? The YouTube views of the first Battlefield 4 trailer suggest the skies aren't so cloudy: nearly four million people have viewed the video in under three days.

DICE executive producer Patrick Bach And while publisher Electronic Arts has put its Medal of Honor franchise "out of rotation" following poor scores and worse sales, the team at DICE seem unfazed - they're currently discussing plans for the next five years of Battlefield.

At GDC this week, CVG sat down with the series' executive producer Patrick Bach, along with single-player producer Tobias Dahl, to examine where the franchise is headed as the next generation of consoles begins to take centre stage.

Battlefield is a series steeped in multiplayer heritage. So why unveil the new game with 17 minutes of campaign footage?

PB: There's not one simple answer to that question, because Battlefield is about both single and multiplayer. This was our 'hello' presentation - 'we are building this game so here's the first piece of imagery'. We had to choose wisely when choosing what to show off, both from a feature set but also the technology footprint and 'what is the Battlefield of the future?' etc.

"I think that we are more confident with multiplayer than we are with single-player, so we need to step up our game"

Showing multiplayer would've been hard I think. It's hard to showcase multiplayer in a good way so everyone gets it. Also I think we have a strong heritage of making good multiplayer games, so I don't think people are as worried about multiplayer as they are about our single-player.

So it was a finely tuned balance on what to show first, and I think that by showing what we did we actually hint at a lot of features and improvements in multiplayer as well. This was the best way for us to showcase the variety of improvements that we will have on offer.

So you wanted to express that the single-player campaign has been improved since Battlefield 3?

PB: It's hard to convinced someone with 'only' 17 minutes of software, but in general I think yeah - people are more worried about what we're doing with single-player than what we're doing with multiplayer. Also I think that we are more confident with multiplayer than we are with single-player, so to us we need to step up our game when it comes to single-player too in order to earn the respect of Battlefield players.

We have the luxury of having an awesome multiplayer and only a 'good' single-player in BF3. So of course people have been positive with our single-player, but nobody thinks it's as good as our multiplayer - so that's where we have to step up our game.

What steps have you made internally to ensure that you improve upon BF3's campaign? Have you moved key members of the team around?

PB: Yes, of course. We have a lot of movement within the team all the time actually because we want people to work with what they want to work with, because that's how you get the best out of people. So in general we try to move people quite a lot. If they're bored with what they're doing and still have great talent, then we move them to where they can do the most quality work.

The best way to put it is we wanted to make single-player 'more Battlefield' instead of going down the line where it divulges from the Battlefield's core feeling - the feeling of choice, teamplay and variety. That was the train of thought when it came to where we were going with single-player; we took all of the core elements of what Battlefield's about in multiplayer and tried to merge that into single-player. We're trying to create a true Battlefield experience with choice, people you care about, vehicles...

Variety should be present at all times. We have a singular character, so the story isn't trying to jump around. It's inviting players to participate in the events that are happening, like you saw in the demo when you're sliding down the collapsing building you can actually control the character - so you're part of this action.

Does your objective to bring the multiplayer ethos to the campaign mean players will go through a less linear experience this time?

PB: I think there's a weird dialogue in the games community where linear means bad a non-linear means good. We can see that's not the case when consumers choose which games to play. We're trying to create a great Battlefield experience with a combination of linear and non-linear elements. We still want a storyline that is very focused a pulls the play through, but also when it comes to gameplay elements - the shooting- we want to create the variety we have in multiplayer.

"I think there's a weird dialogue in the games community where linear means bad a non-linear means good"

So there will be way more non-linear sections of the game where you actually have to choose whether to cross over the big, open construction site we had in the demo or use the vehicle - take out the guys in the vehicle or let them chase you throughout the section. We are absolutely building a less linear single-player but we're also keeping the narrative drama and tension that propels the story.

The gameplay demo looked visually impressive. What impact has building a game of this graphical quality had for DICE in terms of resource?

PB: It means that we have to be really clever. We have to look at what is important and cut away the things that are not Battlefield. I think more importantly it's about creating a toolset that allows us to build these games.

Frostbite 2 is tailored for these types of games and it's also tailored to be scalable - everywhere from high-end PCs down to Xbox 360 and PS3. For us it's important to keep the core of the experience across all platforms, so we don't have to build a separate game for 360 and PS3. It's important to have the right team to build the right game, and also have the tools to do so.

TD: Without going in to numbers we're all really happy with the results you saw in the demo this week of course, but looking at the resources we put in to it I'm actually quite amazed in regards to how long we reached with our tools because there weren't that many doing it, honestly.

 

" When we discussed the future of Battlefield we knew very quickly it wasn't about graphics."

PB: When people ask us what the benefit of using Frostbite 2 is, we tell them it's really easy to use and people can be extremely creative about it. As long as we know what we want to build, we can build it. So for us it's gone from a tech-driven studio to a really creative environment where we can build whatever we want - so what do we want?

With this project it's really been about, 'what is the ultimate Battlefield game that we want to build?' It uses Battlefield 3 as a stepping stone and then takes a big leap forward, rather than trying to mess around and surprise people with doing something crazy. It stays true to the heritage and the Battlefield end goal, while looking at the future.

Here at GDC there are a lot of people asking 'what is next-gen?' That discussion is really hard because some people have this utopian dream of it being like something from outer space. It's new and fresh that I can't even describe it to you - it's a new experience. But we all know it's a combination of technology moving forward together with game design and other things.

When we sat down to discuss the future of Battlefield we knew very quickly it wasn't about graphics. Even though everyone is trying to sell to you that it will look photorealistic... yes, but all games will look photorealistic - that's only about hardware. How can we create something that's bigger than what everyone else is doing?

So our whole mindset about creating the ultimate Battlefield experience, taking the core values of multiplayer into single-player... it created a different experience. I think if you saw the demo it 'feels' different - it feels more emergent, visceral and you care about the characters. It feels more important in a way, and that's not a feature - it's a mindset.

So it's hard to talk about the game in a traditional gaming sense because games traditionally have been about features. 'What's your feature? Oh it's all about this thing...' To us it's not about a single thing, it's about creating a better experience.

TD: We discussed a lot of soft values like player autonomy and that we shouldn't take control away from the player if it's not necessary. We should have rules for these things. As you saw in the demo, when we take over control there's a physical reason for it; the building is collapsing, or your squadmate grabs you - then we can take over control. As soon as we have the opportunity to give control back to the player we should do that.

We're not planning on doing 'sit back and relax on the back of your couch' epic set pieces - we want you to be an active part of it and make choices, instead of 'no, we've taken over the camera - look at this explosion and how good we are'. Those days are over. We want you to feel like you're there and part of it. Going back to what Patrick said... it's about 'mindset' for us.

PB: And that's hard to sell (laughs).

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EA teases dramatic 'Battlefield 4'

The publisher unveiled gameplay footage from the first-person shooter sequel "Battlefield 4" during a Tuesday event coinciding with the 27th annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.

The footage began with a squad of four U.S. soldiers trapped underwater in a sinking vehicle before flashing back to their fire-fight with Russian militants in the wind-swept capital of Azerbaijan, Baku — beginning in an abandoned school and ending in a crumbling construction site.

The graphics on display during the 17 minutes of footage running on a PC were more photorealistic than previous games in the popular military shoot-'em-up series, hinting at what's to come on Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's rumored Xbox successor.

"It really represents what's possible with a next-generation experience," said EA Labels president Frank Gibeau.

For the title's single-player campaign, the game makers at Swedish developer DICE took a cue from the popular multiplayer mode of 2011's "Battlefield 3," focusing more on open environments, allowing players tactical freedom and giving them more ways to command squad mates.

"Integrating multiplayer features into the single-player experience was a big step for us," said "Battlefield 4" executive producer Patrick Bach. "We looked at how and why you play multiplayer, what's important to you and your friends, and weave that into single player with that tight squad feeling, and also have that be part of the narrative."

The game will be available later this year for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. It will also likely be released for next-generation consoles, but that wasn't confirmed at Tuesday's event.

The game makers were equally coy if "Battlefield 4" was influenced by the Pentagon's decision earlier this year to lift its long-standing ban on women serving in combat roles. At the end of Tuesday's presentation, a teaser trailer briefly showed what appeared to be a female soldier interacting with the protagonist.

"We like to look at what's happening topically and in culture," said Gibeau. "It inspires us, and we add it to our story."

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GameStop Offering Exclusive Battlefield 4 Pre-Order Bonus

Battlefield 4 has been formally announced at GDC, and GameStop is now offering a way for fans to get ready for the incoming warfare.

Starting today, the retailer will give those who pre-order the game online or in-store a pair of real dog tags with a code for in-game content. Those who put their money down early for the game will also receive the Battlefield 4 Premium Expansion Pack when the game launches this fall. 

The store will also give an extra 30 percent of in-store credit for any items traded in towards the purchase of a new copy of the game. 

Battlefield 4 will launch on current and next-generation platforms, as well as PC. If you'd like to know more about the game check out our preview, or watch 17 minutes of gameplay footage. 

Full disclosure: Game Informer is owned by GameStop, Inc.

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Gaming Update: 'Battlefield 4,' 'Mass Effect 4,' & 'Borderlands 2'

Over the past week, Electronic Arts teased the upcoming Battlefield 4; Bioware dropped hints about Mass Effect 4; and Gearbox revealed new info on Borderlands 2's upcoming downloadable content.

Battlefield 4 Trailer Coming March 27

A teaser site for Battlefield 4 popped up last week to get fans excited about the forthcoming game. Thus far, details have been sparse. A proper trailer will be released on Wednesday, March 27, one day after the game is revealed to attendees at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. A still shot uncovered by fans once they log in to their Origins accounts suggests that the first-person shooter will take place in modern-day Shanghai.

Mass Effect 4 To Be "Fresh and New"

Bioware hinted at an extension of the Mass Effect series late last year, but it seems the next installment will not follow its predecessors. At PAX East over the weekend, Casey Hudson, executive producer at Bioware Montreal, announced they want fans to be greeted by something "fresh and new" when they return to the series. He said, "We are starting to get ready to develop another Mass Effect game, and it's going to be a new thing. We want to be able to give fans an opportunity to get back into the world with these things you've come to know and love about the Mass Effect experience, but start something fresh and new; a new way for you to explore the whole universe in Mass Effect."

Hudson also mentioned the Mass Effect movie adaptation, confirming it is still in production with Legendary Pictures. It is unclear if the cast has been selected or if a release date has been set.

Borderlands 2 DLC Coming Soon; Level Cap Increased

Gearbox previewed Borderland 2's upcoming DLC during its PAX East panel on Sunday, March 24. It is currently unknown when it will come out.

Meantime, the developer did announce that the game's level cap will be raised on April 2.. It will add 11 new levels, bringing the grand total to 61. Also, a new weapon tier and a new mode called "Ultimate Vault Hunter" will be offered on April 2; then, in May, a new playable character named Krieg will be introduced.

The level cap increase will be free to Season Pass holders and $4.99 for others. The new mode will be released as a free update to those who have defeated the True Vault Hunter Mode and reached level 50. However, Krieg, the new character, will not be included in the Season Pass, and gamers will be asked to purchase him separately for 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99.

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Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer Systembest

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List Price : $119.99 Price : $84.59

Product Description

The Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System by Magic Bullet is portable, safe for kids, easy to use and effortlessly pulverizes fruits, vegetables, superfoods and protein shakes into a delicious, smooth texture. The Nutri-Bullet's power, patented blade design and cyclonic action combine to extract all of the nutrients from your food helping you to achieve the healthiest lifestyle possible today. To get the most out of your life, you need to get the most out of your food

• Effortlessly pulverizes fruits, vegetables, superfoods and protein shakes into a delicious, smooth texture
• High-torque power base and 600-watt motor
• Power, patented blade design and cyclonic action combine to extract all nutrients from food helping to achieve the healthiest lifestyle possible
• Includes a power base, 1 tall cup, 2 short cups, 1 flat blade and 1 emulsifying blade, 2 re-sealable lids, pocket nutritionist and manual with recipes
• More power, more capacity

Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System Reviews

Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System Reviews

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 ( 565 customer reviews)

565 Reviews

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1,311 of 1,342 people found the following review helpful LOVE the Nutri Bullet!!, April 29, 2012 By  HappyCampers - See all my reviews This review is from: Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System (Kitchen) I had not seen the infomercial when I purchased this. I was looking for a powerful smoothie maker after my smoothie blender died. The base is MUCH heavier/substantial and well made than the Magic Bullet. It also looks more expensive/nice. I know this because I was at Target examining them both closely. The 600 watts of power has been great to tear through kale, chard, frozen berries, almonds, chia seeds. I love the consistency of the smoothie when I am done. it is not a complete liquid, but really well blended. I love that you keep the nutrition of the pulp. It is not like my first old juicer that left the pulp out of the juice, but also the nutrition. It was a NIGHTMARE to clean. Then I bought the smoothie blender that is now kaput! The Nutri Bullet literally rinses clean in ten seconds. Obviously rinse it right after you are done using it. My daughter won't touch anything green and we put kale, chard, broccoli and fruit,berries to make it NOT green and she likes it. Honestly we are... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink   Comments (92) 1,453 of 1,493 people found the following review helpful Awesome Unit - If you have sense enough to use it right....., June 14, 2012 By  David S. Henderson "David Henderson" (Sandown, NH USA) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System (Kitchen) OK - I don't usually write reviews, but I do read a ton of them and yes, some of them sound like they are written by manufacturers of the product while others sound like they may be from the competition. If you weed through enough of them though, you can basically get the down and dirty of what the product can and can't do. I am here to tell you what I found out. I read a lot of reviews on numerous websites about this little product after seeing the infomercial on it. I never did the MagicBullet, but heard good things about it from some friends who owned one. After hitting the juice craze recently, I became quickly frustrated with the tossing out of all that good pulp which I was sure was being wasted and could be good nutrients for the body, just being tossed out. Prep time on top of that and the clean up was becoming quickly a chore. I am convinced on the benefits of fruits and veggies and to date have lost more than 50lbs since Jan incorporating juicing... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink   Comments (176) 622 of 644 people found the following review helpful So Thrilled - One week, down 9.5 lbs., May 8, 2012 By  D. Johnson (FL) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Nutri Bullet NBR-12 12-Piece Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer System (Kitchen) Love to read reviews but rarely do I take the time to write them. From the moment I saw the NutriBullet on TV, I was on a mission to find one locally. Target $99, $105 included tax. Mine came with the Quick Start booklet, the User guide and Recipe booklet, as well as all the mixing/drinking cups, lids, rims, etc. One reviewer mentioned how eating salads was becoming monotonous/bunny food. Agree. Even though I dressed them up with tilapia, salmon, etc., it still just got old. Now, on to my REVIEW: I started with the Phase I Toxin Cleansing Blast. I had one on Tuesday, May 1. OMGosh it was so good and was liquefied, no gritty bits, so no worries there. Day two, I had two of the same (Toxin Cleansing Blast) drinks. Both nights I saturated my sheets with sweat (TMI?). I lost three pounds but chalked it up to water loss. The remaining of the week I have been drinking three NutriBlasts a day, alternating between the Vita-Berry and Nutty Nectar blasts as I have still... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?  Report abuse | Permalink   Comments (31)

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Snoop Dogg announces new video game "Way of The Dogg"

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – March 5, 2013 – 505 Games, a global publisher of video games, game developer Echo Peak and Snoop Dogg announce Way of the Dogg, a new rhythm-action combat game for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®Network and mobile platforms. Way of the Dogg is an officially licensed collaboration with Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion and 505 Games, inspired and soundtracked by the music that defined a genre

and a generation.  “Everyone knows that Snoop is down with the biggest and best video games whether it's droppin' my hits on the soundtrack or showing the world I can go toe- to-toe with the best fighters on the street but Way of the Dogg is the first true gamification of my music. It's the way you live, it's the way you do what you do and captures the beat, the rhythm and the spirit of my music. It's not just about who you are or where you've been but where you are headed to. This game shows how we evolve as individuals and they've incorporated the journey of my own personal reincarnation as Snoop Lion into my character, the environments and the path that players have to follow,” said Snoop Dogg.

Way of the Dogg combines Snoop Dogg's passion for Kung Fu movies and his chart-topping, global hits with Echo Peak's expertise in music gaming to create a truly unique rhythm-action, beat-matching combat experience. Each level is a fresh fight against a different style of character, in a new location, defined by a Snoop track that drives the beat of the combat.

“Snoop Dogg is a true one-off and from our first creative discussions two years ago the idea of creating an original game concept around his music and love of ‘70s Kung Fu and

Blaxploitation movies was a mouth-watering prospect. The game brings these influences together in the form of visually stylish rhythm-action combat wrapped in a Blaxploitation-inspired narrative. 505 Games understood our vision from the start and were willing to take a chance on us as a start-up studio – they've been a fantastic partner for us,” said Ciaran Walsh, Director, Echo Peak. Way of the Dogg will release later this year alongside Snoop's new album and film, REINCARNATED, under his moniker Snoop Lion. The album is set to release April 23, 2013 and the film will hit select theaters on March 15, 2013. To purchase tickets to see the film, please visit SnoopLion.com. For a behind the scenes preview into the game VO recording session with Snoop, visit http://youtu.be/rh7TpqfY0K0

The first visuals for Way of the Dogg can be found here www.wayofthedogg.com

About 505 Games

505 Games is a global video game publisher focused on offering a broad selection of titles for players of all ages and levels.  The company publishes games on all leading console and handheld platforms as well as for mobile devices and social networks.  Product highlights include Sniper Elite V2, Naughty Bear, Rugby World Cup 2011 and IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey.

505 Games is headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK with offices in Los Angeles, Lyon, Munich, Milan and Madrid and a network of distribution partners within the Nordic territories and Australia.  For more information on 505 Games and its products please visit www.505games.com

About Echo Peak

Echo Peak is a specialist games developer, based in Brighton, UK, focusing on collaborative projects with top creative talent and brands.

About Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion

Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion is multi-platinum artist and entertainment icon. With over 20 years in the industry, Snoop's ability to stay at the forefront of popular culture and new technology through hit records, brand partnerships, innovative digital strategies, philanthropy and more has resulted in unwavering relevance.

Most recently, Snoop has been making headlines with his upcoming REINCARNATED project and announcement of his new moniker, Snoop Lion - which has been the most controversial journey of a modern day icon. His spiritual awakening as Snoop Lion grew from his recent trip to Jamaica - where the Jamaican people and culture positively affected him. Snoop spent a significant amount of time in Jamaica recording his upcoming REINCARNATED album, which was also documented with a film of the same name. An official selection of the critically acclaimed Toronto International Film Festival, the highly anticipated VICE Films/Snoopadelic Films release, REINCARNATED, chronicles his illustrious career dating back to his beginnings and leading up to his spiritual awakening as Snoop Lion. 

REINCARNATED is a multifaceted project, which includes a reggae-influenced album executive produced by Diplo and Major Lazer, releasing in conjunction with Berhane Sound System, Mad Decent, VICE Music and RCA Records; a feature-length film; a photo book; and a self-sustainable gardening initiative named Mind Gardens. The REINCARNATED film hits select theaters nationwide on March 15 and the album is set to release spring 2013.

Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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