CEO of Nintendo of America, Satoru Iwata, Has Died At The Age of 55

Nintendo has announced that Satoru Iwata, the legendary CEO of Nintendo, has passed away at the age of 55. The cause of death has been stated to be a growth in his bile duct.

Satoru Iwata had joined the video gaming industry at a young age, firstly working for Hal Laboratory, where he had helped developed games like Kirby.

He joined Nintendo in 2000, and had become the president of the company in 2002, and in 2013 he had announced that he was appointed as the CEO of Nintendo of America.

At Nintendo he helped create games like Mario, Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. He directed the company in the development of the Nintendo Wii consoles and Nintendo DS, which were extremely beneficial to the company.

In 2014 he had announced that he would cut his salary in half to help the company deal with the financial loss it had been experiencing, due to the poor sales of the Wii U.

Following the death of Satoru Iwata, the company will be ran by Shigeru Miyamoto and Genyo Takeda until another CEO is appointed.

This is indeed a saddening moment for the gaming industry and gamers from all over the world are paying him a tribute.

One of the most famous quotes of Satoru Iwata was in his 2005 GDC Keynote speech:

On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.

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Mortal Kombat X Is Apparently Selling 'Easy Fatalities' For Real Money

Picture credit: IBTimes

Remember when we used to buy extra skins and cheats through the Krypt? Remember that even earlier, we just had to input a cheat to enable options like extra time for entering fatalities? I do too, but that's just good old memories now.

NetherRealm Studios is apparently selling 'Easy Fatalities' for real cash, for either 30 fatalities altogether or by batches of 5.

'Easy Fatalities' are basically easy inputs for fatalities, which can be frustrating to pull off for some gamers. While they were rather simplified for Mortal Kombat 9 and were easier to enter, it seems it's been a bit hardened for Mortal Kombat X again, and the easy inputs are being sold.

A batch of 30 'Easy Fatalities' costs €3.99(or $4,99), while the batch of 5 'Easy Fatalities' costs €0.79(or $0.99). Also with them is a 'Blue Steel Sub-Zero' skin, but skins are pretty 'casual' as paid DLC these days.

Selling easy inputs for money. Literally.

Is this a new step for the dark world of DLC? Will others adapt to such things? Are you fine with it or is this a bad cash-in?

Leave your comments, opinions, feedback and issues in the comments section below!

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EA Shuts Down Maxis, The Studio Behind The Sims and SimCity Franchises

Electronic Arts(EA) is officially closing down Maxis, the legendary studio behind The Sims and SimCity franchises.

After several reports on Twitter from former(as of now) Maxis employees about losing their job or the end of the studio, EA eventually confirmed the shutting down of the studio in a statement to Polygon. The details of how many employees will be losing their jobs is unknown at the moment.

The statement reveals that Maxis is officially shut down, but it does not mean that the development of The Sims or SimCity will be stopped. The two franchises will now continue to be developed at EA's studios in Redwood Shores, California - Salt Lake City - Helsinki and Melbourne, Australia. But the core/home offices of Maxis in Emeryville, California are being closed.

The statement by EA says:

Today we are consolidating Maxis IP development to our studios in Redwood Shores, Salt Lake City, Helsinki and Melbourne locations as we close our Emeryville location. Maxis continues to support and develop new experiences for current Sims and SimCity players, while expanding our franchises to new platforms and developing new cross-platform IP. These changes do not impact our plans for The Sims. Players will continue to see rich new experiences in The Sims 4, with our first expansion pack coming soon along with a full slate of additional updates and content in the pipeline. All employees impacted by the changes today will be given opportunities to explore other positions within the Maxis studios and throughout EA. For those that are leaving the company, we are working to ensure the best possible transition with separation packages and career assistance.

Many of the Maxis employees tweeted about the studio closing down, which includes the long time 12 year long employee Guillaume Pierre who was one of the designers and the lead gameplay scripters. These are a few:

Well it was a fun 12 years, but it's time to turn off the lights and put the key under the door. #RIPMaxisEmeryville
— Guillaume Pierre (@MaxisGuillaume) March 4, 2015

Well it was a good run. Maxis Emeryville closes as of today :( #simcity
— Barrie Tingle (@barrietingle) March 4, 2015

Sad to see end of Maxis Emeryville. So many great folks and so much talent, but I guess all good things must end. Best of luck to everyone!
— Maxis Scott (@MaxisScott) March 4, 2015

Very sad to hear about Maxis in Emeryville closing. Working on Spore and Sims 2 with amazing people were the highlights of my years in SF.
— Alex Hutchinson (@BangBangClick) March 4, 2015

 Leave your comments, opinions, feedback and issues in the comments section below!

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Hideo Kojima Says Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Will Be His Last Metal Gear Game + Console and PC Release Date

Hideo Kojima has stated in an interview that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be his last Metal Gear game, while also admitting the fact that he has made this statement earlier as well with previous Metal Gear games. However, he has stated that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain will be the end of the 'Metal Gear' saga. The statement says:

I always say 'this will be my last Metal Gear', but the games in the series that I've personally designed and produced - Metal Gear on MSX, MG2, MGS1, 2, 3, 4, Peace Walker and now MGSV - are what constitute a single Metal Gear Saga. With MGSV, I'm finally closing the loop on the saga.

While stating that this will be the last Metal Gear game of the original saga, the franchise as a whole might continue:

In that sense, this will be the final 'Metal Gear Solid. Even if the 'Metal Gear' franchise continues, this is the last 'Metal Gear'.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is set to be released in September 1st of this year, while the PC version will be delayed until September 15, two weeks late. Like Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, the game will be coming out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. 

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Capcom Is Adding The Cancelled Offline Split-Screen Co-op Campaign and Raid Modes Back Into The PC Version of Resident Evil: Revelations 2

After Capcom did not add the offline/local Co-op mode for the campaign and Raid mode on the PC version of Resident Evil: Revelations 2, saying it was excluded due to 'quality concerns', there was extreme negative feedback regarding this, especially due to the fact the game's description on Steam was not clear enough and led many customers to believe that the offline/local Co-op mode will be included in the PC version of the game just as it was on the console versions.

It got the point that a PC modder called 'FluffyQuack' took the matter in his own hands and created a working and playable offline/local Co-op campaign mod for the game.

However, after the negative feedback and the incident with the customers angered over the misleading Steam description, and possibly, the fact that a PC modder ended up making it in the game himself, Capcom has now officially stated on Steam that they will be adding the offline/local Co-op mode for the story campaign and Raid modes on the PC version of Resident Evil: Revelations 2.

The statement says:

Hello RE fans, 

Following Resident Evil Revelations 2 PC player feedback, we've got some new information to share. The development team has been exploring various options and we're in the process of creating a way for players to utilize a local co-op feature Soon we plan to release a beta branch on Steam which will allow two players to play the Story and Raid modes locally via a split screen. We want to get this feature in the hands of our PC players as soon as possible, so this option may not be 100% polished when it is released. Feedback from those who try it out is welcomed. For anyone who isn't satisfied with this option, refunds are available through Steam.

As mentioned in the statement, Capcom is adding the local/offline co-op mode for both the story campaign and Raid mode back into the PC version of the game, but have stated that it will not be '100% polished' right on release and it will be available through beta, requiring feedback from those who try it out. However, Capcom is also offering refunds through Steam for those who are still not satisfied with how things turned out.

Capcom has released instructions for those who want to join the beta local/offline Co-op program, which can be accessed 'here'.


Leave your comments, opinions, feedback and issues in the comments section below!

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German Game Rating Board, USK Rates Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition for PC

The German game rating board, USK(Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle), has officially rated the upcoming Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition for PC(as well as other platforms). This could confirm that the game is coming to PC, whereas Capcom only mentioned the title for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles.

Capcom has not yet commented on this, but USK is the official game rating board of Germany, so it is not an unreliable source.

You can check the German game rating board's official site 'here'.

The game is set to be released sometime around Summer this year, and whether the PC port is delayed or released alongside the console versions, is unknown at the moment.


Are you excited for the Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition or DmC: Definitive Edition? Leave your comments, opinions, feedback and issues in the comments section below!

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Modder Adds The Cancelled Offline Split-Screen Co-op Mode in Resident Evil: Revelations 2 for PC

Resident Evil: Revelations' first episode has been released and the second episode is up to be released in a day or two. People were expecting it to come with a local/offline Co-op mode for the campaign, as it did with the console versions, however, Capcom did not include a Co-op campaign mode for the PC version of the game.

After the dismay of players and fans, fortunately, a PC modder called 'FluffyQuack' has modded Resident Evil: Revelations 2 and have successfully added a split-screen offline Co-op mode in episode 1 of the game.

The mod is said to have a 'few issues', but you will be able to play the entire game in Co-op. The Co-op also only works with gamepads, instead of the keyboard.

The Co-op mode was originally to be added by Capcom in the game, but they cancelled it due to "quality concerns". They eventually apologized to the players who were misled after reading the Steam description of the game which did not clearly explain that the offline Co-op that was available in the console versions is not going to be in the PC version.

You can get the offline Co-op campaign mod by 'FluffyQuack' by clicking 'here'.


Leave your comments, opinions, feedback and issues in the comments section below!

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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas HD Version is Out For The Xbox 360 And It's Only For $3.74!

As you may already know, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was getting a HD port(720p) with improved graphics for the Xbox 360, as the game marked it's 10th anniversary.
The graphically improved HD(720p) port is finally released and can be downloaded from the market place.

We all had different price expectations, but no one would've actually guessed the real price. The game is on sale for $3.74 only.

Although there is confusion among gamers whether the price tag is a mistake, the price is working and people are buying the game without an issue, and enjoying it. Some UK users have also confirmed that the UK version of the market place states that it's actually a 10th anniversary celebration sale and will be active until the end of the 27th this month.

So hurry up and grab it on this extremely small price for such a great game, before the sale ends and the price eventually increases!

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Resident Evil: Revelations 2 Is Officially Announced!

Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is coming to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

The game is coming out in early 2015, according to Capcom's producer Masachika Kawata's announcement at a Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia press conference held today.

The game will be set in a new period of time and even a new setting, and the game's protagonists will not be Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield. The game will be developed by the same team of staff members who developed the first Revelations game.

The game has been announced with a live-action teaser trailer which you can see above.

 Masachika Kawata has stated that Capcom will reveal more information about the game in the next 2 weeks and even a playable demo will be available at this month's Tokyo Game Show.

Leave your comments, opinions, and feedback in the comments section below!

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Resident Evil 4 HD Ultimate Edition Coming To PC

After countless ports of Resident Evil 4 on major and handheld platforms, Resident Evil 4 is getting yet another re-release.

The Resident Evil 4 HD Ultimate Edition has been announced by Capcom for PC, and it's already available on Steam for pre-order now, while Europe will have a retail version of the new edition as well. The pre-order of Steam comes with digital bonus content which is 60+ track digital music album, a 80+ page digital archive which is only in English which features Resident Evil 4 characters, creatures, story, concept art and "more". 

The HD Ultimate Edition's key features are:

• Stunning HD running at a smooth 60 frames per second for the first time. 
• A complete visual overhaul has been performed to bring this revered title to the highest graphical quality ever. 
• Fully optimized for the wide screen, texts have been sharpened and textures have been upgraded on characters, backgrounds and in-game objects. 
• Steam platform support with Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, global leaderboards, and full game controller support. 
• Native keyboard and mouse support with customizable key binding, mouse sensitivity, and mouse acceleration settings. 
• This new PC version will include everything from the prior iterations including subtitle support in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Japanese as well as previously released bonus content such as the Separate Ways epilogue.

The system requirements are also revealed:

Minimum System Requirements: 

• OS: Windows XP/ Vista®, Windows 7, Windows 8 
• Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz or better, AMD Athlon™ X2 2.8 Ghz or better 
• Memory: 2 GB RAM 
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800GTS or better, ATI Radeon™ HD 4850 or better 
• DirectX: Version 9.0c 
• Hard Drive: 15 GB available space 
• Sound Card: Standard audio device 

Recommended System Requirements: 

• OS: Windows Vista®, Windows 7, Windows 8 
• Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Quad 2.7 Ghz or better, AMD Phenom™ II X4 3 Ghz or better 
• Memory: 4 GB RAM 
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 560 or better 
• DirectX: Version 9.0c 
• Hard Drive: 15 GB available space

The Resident Evil 4 HD Ultimate Edition is priced at $19.99USD on Steam and is available for pre-purchase/order. The game will be released on February 28, 2014.

These are some HD Screenshots released:

 Click To Enlarge Images

Resident Evil 4 is a survival horror game by Capcom, released in 2005. Originally an exclusive for the Nintendo GameCube, the game has since seen many other ports such as PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows(PC), Wii, mobile, iOS, Zeebo, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. 

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Devil May Cry's Dante and Vergil Costume DLC For Sengoku Basara 4

Dante and Vergil from Devil May Cry are going to be available on the PlayStation Store as costume DLCs for Sengoku Basara 4.

Dante's costume will be for Date Masamune, while Vergil's costume will be for Ishida Mitsunari. The Vergil costume as displayed by Capcom:

The Dante costume as displayed by Capcom:

Sengoku Basara 4 is a Japanese hack 'n' slash game from Capcom, and will be released for the PlayStation 3 on January 23, 2014.

Photo Credits: PushSquare, Siliconera and DengekiOnline

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The Thief Reboot's Minimum and Recommended PC System Requirements Revealed

The PC system requirements for the reboot of the classic Thief franchise have been revealed. A post on the website of Eidos Montreal has revealed that they have finished optimizing every part of the Thief reboot and they can now announce the minimum and recommended system requirements for the PC version of the game. They have stated that:

Even with the advent of next-gen consoles, for many old-school fans, Thief will always be most at home on the PC. To ensure the best possible experience on the platform, we've teamed up once again with the pros at Nixxes, who previously worked on the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and last year's Tomb Raider. Now that we're done tinkering and optimizing every aspect of the game, we can finally announce the minimum and recommended system requirements.

The requirements of the Thief reboot are:

Minimum System Requirements-

OS: Windows Vista with platform update

CPU: High-performance dual core CPU or quad core CPU

RAM: 4 GB

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon 4800 series / Nvidia GTS 250

DirectX: DirectX 10

HDD/SSD: 20 GB

Recommended Specs-

OS: Windows 7 or 8

CPU: AMD FX 8000 series or better / Intel i7 Quad Core CPU

RAM: 4+ GB

Graphics Card: AMD Radeon HD / R9 series or better / Nvidia GTX 660 series or better

DirectX: DirectX 11

HDD/SSD: 20 GB

The technical art director of the Thief reboot, Jean-Normand Bucci stated earlier that the reboot will look better on PC than PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. He stated that the PC version of the game will go further than the console versions, which are already said to deliver "much more" than what the console gamers are expecting from the game.

The 'Master Thief Edition' is available for pre-order on Steam and other digital download services. It is created especially for PC and it includes "bunch of digital bonuses- comic book, art book, soundtrack and a booster pack of items to speed up your progress in the game".

The game is a reboot of the cult-classic stealth Thief franchise and will be released on February 25, 2014, for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC.

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Sony's Cloud Game Streaming PlayStation Now Service

On the CES event, Sony has accounced the PlayStation Now which is an all-new service that will stream PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 games to the current-generation PlayStation products, which are PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, and several other non-gaming platforms, such as televisions, tablets and smartphones, with 2014 Bravia televisions confirmed. Sony has stated in a press release that:

Eventually the service will expand beyond PlayStation platforms and Sony devices, allowing users to stream PlayStation games on numerous other Internet-connected devices.

The service will use the power of the cloud-gaming service Gaikai, which Sony purchased for $380 million in 2012. Sony wrote about the service on the official PlayStation Blog:

Leveraging Gaikai’s advanced cloud-based technology, PlayStation Now will allow you to: 

• Play video games instantly across multiple devices, similar to the way you might stream TV, movies, and music.
• Stream full games to all of your compatible PlayStation devices including PS4, PS3, and PlayStation Vita as well as non-PlayStation devices, beginning with 2014 BRAVIA TV models and expanding to numerous other Internet-connected devices. 
• Always play the most updated version of your game. With games hosted in the cloud, you can take your game with you – just log in with your Sony Entertainment Network account on a compatible device and your games and saved progress will be easily available.

The games will be most likely limited at launch, but Andrew House of Sony confirmed The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls as titles that will be out. Sony also confirmed God of War: Ascension and Puppeteer will be playable on PS Vita and Bravia televisions.

PlayStation Now will be a subscription-based service, which will support trophies and online multiplayer as well. Players can also not subscribe and rent games on a by-game basis instead.

Erik Kain of Forbes questioned Sony on whether physical-discs and/or digitally owned games of PS1, 2 and 3 would gain you free access on the PS Now service, to which Sony replied that you would have to pay for the games on PS Now regardless of any previous purchase of the game.


The PlayStation Now beta is set out to release on Summer in the US.

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