Jun 17, 2013
Gopher Launch v1.0.0 free download for android
SLINGSHOT YOUR WAY ACROSS 3D PLANETS IN THIS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL FREE ACTION PUZZLER
Earn your place in outer space with a ‘revolutionary’ twist on mobile
gaming action! Bounce and roll your way across rotating 3D planets,
racing against the clock to gather goodies from the surface and get back
to your rocket before the auto-launch sequence kicks in.
Stranded in a strange star system far from home, our fearless Gophernaut
finds himself with his ship running on empty. Players hop from planet
to planet collecting as many Fusion Crystals as they can to continue the
journey home.
Collect as many supplies as you can as you sprint along the maze-like
pathways, avoiding the traps and enemies. It’s a race against the clock:
when the countdown hits zero the ship’s auto-launch initiates… and it’s
game over for our little gopher!
PLAN A STRATEGY
Before each level begins pan across the planet surface to gain insight into where the obstacles lie and plan your path.
TOUCH ‘N’ GLIDE CONTROLS
Drag back and release the Gophernaut to slingshot him like a pinball
across the field of play. Discover awesome Bumpers and Boost Pads that
accelerate you forward at light speed!
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
It’s a race to make it to your ship before the last second runs out, but
keep an eye out for Time Boosts to add a few precious seconds.
NEW CHALLENGES AWAIT
Dreaded Roller Bots and Doom Balls lurk behind corners and chase you
mercilessly, but the Power Suits awarded on every level grant you
special skills to help deal with these and other obstacles!
A TRULY BEAUTIFUL GAME
Not only is Gopher Launch fun to play, its highly detailed 3D models and
exquisite graphics also make it a lush visual experience.
Download Here
TheEndApp game for free for android and ios
Besides offering a perfect end to our list, Goroid Games' TheEndApp employs the basic skill of running for as long as you can. It is a behind-the-back endless runner, with a currency and IAP system and tilt and swipe controls and uses original water effects.
The environs offer a refreshing look with urban hazards, striking looks, light-hearted tone and the damage model it applies. Obstacles along the way include lava pits, cracked cement, jack-knifed trucks and broken car. There are ramps at various points to help you cover longer distances. There are 28 days with 5 challenges each day.
Unlike other games, TheEndApp offers you multiple chances to keep running even if you bump into an obstacle. For instance, if you bang into a car while tilting to pick up a snaking line of duct tape, your screen becomes a shade of crimson for a few seconds. Another differentiating factor that is themed to the game is that while most other games allow you to collect coins or gems, The End App offers duct tape.
You can unlock different characters like Fed the Zombie, Suzy, Yukiko and Bobby with duct tape collections as well as buy PowerUps and other Extras from the Camp. In case you're greedy for additional duct tape, you can Like TheEndApp on Facebook (5000 DT), Follow them on Twitter (for 5000 DT), connect with friends on Facebook (for 10000 DT) and so on.
You can explore different surroundings in three different game mode - The End Origins, The End Pro Zone and The End London Apocalympics. While Origins is free for all, the Pro Zone needs to be bought. However, free users can get a Single Ride Pro Ticket for 10,000 duct tape to gain entry in the Pro Zone without having to purchase the episode separately. The London version is accessible only if you have Pro.
TheEndApp (iOS, Free)
TheEndApp (Google Play, Free)
Totem runner for ios
An iOS exclusive from Chillingo, Totem Runner is one of a kind. You're a warrior trying to secure harmony and happiness to the earth, sowing flowers as you go along. The game has an upbeat soundtrack that ensures you'll be surprised every step of the way.
The initial stage, Waterfalls Valley is a tutorial to get you acquainted with the various kind of totems you'll be using in your journey. Eternal Wind Totem makes you fly with Eagle Wings, which can soar and dodge cliffs and spikes in air.
Nature's Rage Totem transforms you into a boar form to smash obstacles and enemies on the ground. The Dragon's Light Totem is an ancient force you can summon with enough gems that easily gets you through stretches until the next checkpoint arrives. But you'd want to spend them wisely since collecting gems is not all that easy and only after 50 odd gems or so, you'll be awarded with one Dragon Light Totem.
You need to constantly sow flowers in the earth as you're running that fills the three stars in each stage and unless you accomplish that, other episodes in the game won't unlock. While in most levels getting two stars is still manageable but collecting all three requires great skill and careful timing. At times, you'll even find yourself memorising a certain stretch since it will be unknown to you the first time and the sequence can be very long as well.
Mastering the quick switch between one form into human and back, over and over is a real challenge and this comes with a combination of before hand knowledge and quick reflexes. At times you need to swap between bird and boar mid-flight or on the trailing edge of an attack. The difficulty level only increases as you progress.
The graphics of the game differentiate it from the rest in this list offering a very raw experience with each level featuring a vibrant colour scheme and fantastical backdrops -- forests, castles, villages and other strange things. The background layers give a beautiful parallax effect that just can't be ignored.
Totem Runner (iOS, Rs. 55)
Run Like Hell FOR ANDROID
The name just says it all. That's the basic aim and once you play Run like Hell, you'll know that it is difficult to keep up. The game is a frantically paced run-and-jump platformer where you'll mostly see yourself sliding, climbing, stringing, jumping and crawling to safety and avoid the clutches of the native hungry tribals coming at you with spears for a juicy spit roast!
The game has three game modes namely endless, story and time-trials set in various environments like ancient ruins, night jungles and beach, village and caverns. Every environment has its own set of obstacles such as boulders, treasure chests, turtle shells on the beach; mad bee hives, anger tribal women in night trails.
While Endless mode can get you running until the tribals catch you, in time trials you can challenge yourself to complete a stage in a stipulated time. Story mode has comic cut scenes as you progress in the storyline.
In case you trip and fall, it will take a few seconds before you pick up speed again. At various points you can collect fog or thunderbolts to slow down the tribals along with the letter 'A' connoting Adrenaline, which boosts your speed should you choose to use it. YOu can spend coins in the Store to purchase various doses of Adrenaline.
You can also play through the Yeti, Avalanche and Heartbreaker bonus modes. Collecting coins unlocks other levels and additional game modes. Reaching milestones The graphics and gameplay experience for both iOS and Android are really smooth and will keep you hooked for hours.
Run Like Hell (iOS, Free)
Run Like Hell (Google Play, Free)
AGENT DASH FOR ANDROID AND IOS
Here's a game that lets you don the Bond avatar in true style. As the name suggests, you're Agent Dash and your mission is to sprint as far and as fast as you can through a series of dangerous yet gorgeous environments of enemy bases. The game's animation resembles a lot like Disney's art style. The soundtrack is very spy-like and so are the subtle touches like those of footsteps.
Players will find themselves starting each round with jungle surroundings that itself is pretty challenging. It will take more than a while before you can witness other bases such as the lava lair or the town.
Swipe gestures have Dash sidestep, leap and slide beneath incoming obstacles such as laser beams, falling trees, skidding trucks and fiery lava while he also tries to collect stray diamonds, which are used to purchase new gadgets and unlock new agents. Of course, as a free title, those gems can be bought through in-app purchases.
There's a long list of Objective challenges to complete, each one rewarding players with an extra percentage multiplier on their score. Tapping destructible objects has your agent open fire with one of two pistols.
The game offers plenty of spy gadgets to help you on your way like jetpacks, parachutes, magnets and even slow-mo to slow down time. In addition to Agent Dash, players can unlock other runners, including a female agent and some distinctly familiar villains, like one character with an iron jaw and a short fellow with a deadly hat.
Though most of those unlocks are simply new outfits for existing characters, the customisation is taken care off and it's better than dealing with an array of individual items. Facebook integration allows you to connect and compete with friends.
Agent Dash (iOS, Free)
Agent Dash (Google Play, Free)
INTO THE DEAD FOR IOS
It's safe to say that everyone loves a zombie game whether it's intense like Dead Trigger and Age of Zombies or light hearted like Plants vs. Zombies. A first-person endless runner game exclusive for iOS from PikPok, Into the Dead let's you experience a grim zombie apocalypse by simply running in the opposite direction. As you'd like a true zombie game to be, Into The Dead offers an intense and visceral zombie-escaping experience in the wilderness with your own breathing sounds occasionally overshadowed by zombie cries.
Eventually you will succumb to the flesh eating zombies, but you're also rewarded for your success with coins. Those coins can be used to pay for perks, which cost little and last just one round. It's easier to survive when you can pay to start with a gun, or to jump ahead 1500m, hold more ammo or find more weapon crates.
Coins can also be used to skip missions or unlock new weapons early. Along with the zombie-slaying Massacre mode, they add some much-needed variety to the game.More powerful weapons unlock as players complete goals like reaching distance and zombie kill milestones. The shotgun has a scatter fire and the chainsaw can slice through multiple zombies.
There is no story, apart from the fact that your chopper crashes and you're invaded by a horde of flesh eating zombies. There is no ending so to say. All you do is continue to run as far as you can engulfed in thick fog and the game keeps you at the edge of your seat. A recent update has brought new Footballer and WWII zombies, kill based scoring and a new map layout.
Into The Dead (iOS, Free)
PIT FALL FOR ANDROID AND IOS
A remastered version of the 1982 classic, Pitfall for iOS and Android follows the adventures of Harry in a volcanic jungle filled with treacherous twists. In this game from Activision, you'll find yourself dodging your way across narrow trenches, dark caverns, and cascading waterfalls, swinging past chasms and whipping away the occasional rattlesnakes, scorpions and crocodiles blocking your path. You must jump and slide to avoid obstacles such as fiery volcanic flames, tumbling ancient artefacts and narrow cliff side pathways.
The game has certain checkpoints marked by the presence of a giant colourful Macaw and a gold bell. You can choose to activate these check points by spending your loot of diamonds collected during the game. You can also use them for power-ups that aid in your running experience. The in-game store also offers added extras like costume changes, potions for extra speed and antidotes for when you're poisoned by the game's snakes and scorpions.
While running you also come across rare gold tokens that provide you help in the form of a black Jaguar or a big black Bear to cover a certain stretch.
Though the jungle is just one aspect of it, you'll also be running through villages offering alternate path routes, even under mines riding in a cart over spilled lava and riding a motorcycle in part sequences. Since the paths are very random, you'll always be surprised while playing. Like the other games in the list so far, Pitfall doesn't miss out on social media
Pitfall (iOS, Free)
Pitfall (Google Play, Free)
RAIL RUSH FOR ANDROID AND IOS
Developed by Miniclip.com, Rail Rush is a challenging on-the-move game set in underground mines. Hop in to the cart and start exploring 6 different surroundings amongst caverns, waterfalls, spider nests, dead cities and mushroom halls, tilting and swiping to avoid signals and obstacles on the rail tracks.
You can complete missions such as "Jump up 20 times in a game", "Enter secret level five times" or Die in Dead City 5 times" and level up from a Passer By to Novice and other higher ranks.
Collecting gold nuggets lets you purchase power ups for your cart such as Wood Ram, Super Magnet Force, Iron Grid etc. as well as other characters like Ace Upsleave, Axel Firechief, Charles Longshot and more from the Shop. You can also collect Rock Eggs that offer extra nuggets and other gems to complete your explorer's collection.
The game begins really fast after a certain distance and demands greater focus and presence of mind. The graphics look stunning on both platforms, which also include social networking integration from Facebook and Twitter.
Rail Rush (iOS, Free)
Rail Rush (Google Play, Free)
Subway Surfers free for android and ios
A product of Kiloo Games and Sybo Games, Subway Surfers is based on Jake's running skills on train tracks amidst incoming trains and being chased by the station officer and his police dog. You'll find yourself mostly dodging objects by sliding, jumping and shifting to the sides in vibrant and colourful environments. The game animation gives a very child-like appeal and the music has a hint of naughtiness that doesn't go unnoticed.
Collect shiny gold coins by not just covering the ground, but also somersaulting over train tops to purchase items for one-time use or upgrade power ups like Jetpack, Super Sneakers, Coin Magnet and 2x Multiplier.
Mystery boxes at various instances in the game award you with more coins and extra power-ups just in case you happen to run low. They also give you articles related to the other characters Tricky and Fresh that will unlock them. You can complete daily challenges by collecting all letters of a particular word to earn more coins or complete a mission set of 3 tasks.
The app recently got updated with the adventure continuing in Rome, for both iOS and Android and now also includes other goodies like a paint powered jetpack, new hovering boards, an egg hunt (collect 100 eggs for a special prize), Roberto a new Italian scooter kid character and the ability to make your jetpack and other power-ups last even longer with extra power-up upgrades.
Subway Surfers (iOS, Free)
Subway Surfers (Google Play, Free)
A product of Kiloo Games and Sybo Games, Subway Surfers is based on Jake's running skills on train tracks amidst incoming trains and being chased by the station officer and his police dog. You'll find yourself mostly dodging objects by sliding, jumping and shifting to the sides in vibrant and colourful environments. The game animation gives a very child-like appeal and the music has a hint of naughtiness that doesn't go unnoticed.
Collect shiny gold coins by not just covering the ground, but also somersaulting over train tops to purchase items for one-time use or upgrade power ups like Jetpack, Super Sneakers, Coin Magnet and 2x Multiplier.
Mystery boxes at various instances in the game award you with more coins and extra power-ups just in case you happen to run low. They also give you articles related to the other characters Tricky and Fresh that will unlock them. You can complete daily challenges by collecting all letters of a particular word to earn more coins or complete a mission set of 3 tasks.
The app recently got updated with the adventure continuing in Rome, for both iOS and Android and now also includes other goodies like a paint powered jetpack, new hovering boards, an egg hunt (collect 100 eggs for a special prize), Roberto a new Italian scooter kid character and the ability to make your jetpack and other power-ups last even longer with extra power-up upgrades.
Subway Surfers (iOS, Free)
Subway Surfers (Google Play, Free)
Jetpack Joyride For FREE for android and ios
The adventures of Barry Steakfries are never-ending. Jetpack Joyride is the brainchild of HalfBrick Studios, immensely popular for their creations such as Fruit Ninja, Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots, Age of Zombies and another running game called Monster Dash. Jetpack Joyride features the adventures of Barry Steakfries, a disgruntled bureaucrat who breaks in to a secret laboratory and runs amok dodging dangerous objects like zappers, lasers, electricity fields and even guided missiles. Barry is equipped with a jetpack powered by machine gun propulsions to begin with, that help him on his missions.
The game offers many interesting missions like 'high-five 10 scientists in a run' or 'run 500m without collecting coins' and much more. Completing three missions in a row takes upgrades Barry's rank, that starts from 'Beginner'.Gamers can collect coins to purchase utilities from 'The Stash' which includes other jetpacks, snazzy outfits for Barry and can even stock up on items for later use. Players will get a boost of speed and power using the Lil' Stomper, Profit Bird and Crazy Freaking Teleporter, just a selection of the vehicles pickups available, all playable with one touch controls.
Jetpack Joyride (iOS, Free)
Jetpack Joyride (Google Play, Free)
Temple Run for ios and android free download
Developer Imangi Studios had thought this out well from the beginning. Right from day one, Temple Run has been a huge hit amongst the masses for its simple gameplay, missions and the one motive that keeps you hooked: keep running. Your reflexes are put to the ultimate test as you navigate through cliffs and ruins by sliding, jumping, turning and tilting. Collect coins to unlock various character, abilities and power ups that can be put to good use during the game. The iOS app offers social integration with Facebook, Twitter and even lets you Message, Mail or save your scores to camera roll.
The game's popularity knew no leaps and bounds and Imangi cashed in on the opportunity to release two spin-offs in association with Disney namely Temple Run: Brave and the more recent Temple Run: Oz along with a recently introduced sequel to the original hit. Temple Run 2 offers tons of new gameplay features and story lines offering more diverse and stunning environments with the introduction of new traps and hurdles along the way. The game now also has new characters, more power-ups, special achievements, better gameplay graphics and this time round a bigger monkey chasing you down the structures.
Temple Run (iOS, Free)
Temple Run (Google Play, Free)
Jun 16, 2013
Zynga Released What’s the Phrase Onto Google Play Last Month, Seems Pretty Fun
You can choose to play the already installed 40,000 phrases or even create your own phrases for a friend to solve. It’s free and can be found on Google Play by following the link below. Go have some fun.
Play Link
Jurassic Park Builder Lets You Live Your Inner Dr. Hammond
There is something ultra addictive
about amusement park games where you get to make the attractions to draw
in the crowd. Throw in pre-historic dinosaurs and it makes the whole
thing even more fun. A fully licensed game, Jurrasic Park Builder
gives you all the options to build your own dinosaur park alongside all
your favorite characters from the movies, Dr. Grant included.
Leveling up in the game lets you purchase more dinosaurs and features
for your park and paying customers. You start off with the awesome, but
boring triceratops and work your way up to the eventual T-Rex. Managing
food for each dinosaur, income of the park and researching new
dinosaurs will keep you busy as you level up. You can even unlock an
underwater park that you can fill with giant dinosaurs of the sea.
For a free game, it’s pretty easy to use and fun. There are in-game
transactions for certain items, but most can be acquired by just playing
which is a nice change. If you think you can build a better Jurassic
Park than the ones in the movies, hit the link below.
Jun 14, 2013
Jun 13, 2013
The Brand New Sony PS4 DRM, controller, price, release date & specs news
So the big guns have fired their salvos at E3 and it looks like Sony is making the early running. A lower price, more powerful hardware and a popular stance against DRM put it ahead of its main rival after the first hurdle.
Here we’ll go through everything we know about the PS4 and also highlight everything we still don’t know. We’ll compare it to the competition and look at where a PS4-dominated future might take console gaming.
Below is the full E3 press conference, though there’s a lot of pre-amble so skip ahead to 33min in to get the start of the presentation, and right up to 54mins if you want to skip all the PS3 and Vita stuff and get straight on with the PS4 content.
If you missed out on the initial PS4 announcement event, which contains a lot more hardware information, you can watch a condensed version below.
There’s quite a lot to get through so we’ve broken it down into key sections.
PS4 DRM AND USED GAMES
Video games are often presented as being cutting-edge entertainment, but at E3 Sony struck a massive blow against its main rival by simply standing still. DRM, digital licensing and mandatory internet connections have become big topics in this fledgling console war. Microsoft’s plan was to join the likes of Apple, Amazon and Steam - with content that lives in the cloud and is attached to your user account rather than physical media - with all the restrictions and advantages that entails.
Sony subtly presents its point to Microsoft
It wasn’t a popular move though, or at least not popular with those on gaming websites, forums and twitter. And so Sony scored an open goal by announcing that disc-based games would work the same as ever, yours to play, yours to sell and yours to lend. This sounds simple compared to the Xbox One’s DRM system which you can read about in our Xbox One article, but at least Microsoft has detailed exactly how its system will work.
Interviews soon after the event made it clear that although Sony was certainly in the lead in this department, its statement wasn’t as all encompassing as first thought. It only applies to first-party Sony games, with third-party publishers free to implement whatever DRM restrictions they can invent. That leaves PS4 gamers in the same position as they are today, with constant incremental implementation of DRM by publishers. Microsoft’s system may be unpopular, but it looks to be all-encompassing, so you wouldn’t have a myriad of different DRM systems, and user accounts, from different publishers.
We hope we’re wrong and that DRM issues will not be a big issue on the PS4, but gaming is swimming against the tide here and we’re pessimistic. Many are picturing Microsoft as the big bad and Sony as a knight in shining armour, but until we get some clear answers to our questions (Sony hasn't been able to comment so far) we’ll be wary.
We're interested in such things as:
1. Has Sony made any commitment to getting all games on sale through PSN on the day of disc release? (first party and/or third party)
2. Will Sony be allowing gamers to share PSN purchases with friends/family on other consoles
3. Will PSN purchases be locked to a user account or to the console, or both in some way?
4. Will others on your PS4 be able to play multi-player online under their own ‘Truenames’ or will it only be the PS Plus subscriber?
1. Has Sony made any commitment to getting all games on sale through PSN on the day of disc release? (first party and/or third party)
2. Will Sony be allowing gamers to share PSN purchases with friends/family on other consoles
3. Will PSN purchases be locked to a user account or to the console, or both in some way?
4. Will others on your PS4 be able to play multi-player online under their own ‘Truenames’ or will it only be the PS Plus subscriber?
Primarily, we want to know whether or not third-party publishers will be limited by Sony in their implementation of DRM through user accounts, with regards to gamers using cloud features, multiplayer, patches and other online components. The way gaming is moving, it’s all well and good to argue that you want to play single-player games alone and offline, but that is increasingly becoming sidelined, with single-player, multi-player and co-op all being blended together - such as in Bungie’s Destiny.
CONSOLE DESIGN
After months of waiting, Sony has finally revealed its hardware. The console looks great, with a split design, both around the middle and across the top. The raked front looks cool and it’s fairly compact too - measuring just 305x53x275mm, less than an estimated 343x80x263mm for the Xbox One.
It has a built-in power supply, so there’s no external power brick to deal with and the ports on the rear are kept to necessities: HDMI, optical S/PDIF, two USB3 and a mysterious AUX port. The original spec we saw listed an AV output, but there’s no sign of that on the device shown in up-to-date press shots.
Our only concern is that the design is fairly slender, with air vents on the rear, which suggests the use of one or more small fans, this could make the device louder and whinier than the Xbox One, especially given its more powerful GPU and the extra heat it will generate.
The new console is hardly groundbreaking but it’s compact and has a built-in power supply, so it’s a big thumbs up from us
You can read a full specs sheet here: full press release PDF from Sony. And the console is reportedly region free, so you’ll be able to play games bought anywhere in the world - presuming you can read Japanese of course.
PS4 PRICE
The PS4 will cost £349 in the UK, EUR399 in mainland europe and $399 dollars in the US. We were hoping for a price closer to £300 over here, but even considering the lack of a bundled camera peripheral, the price is far easier to swallow thatn the £429 for the Xbox One.
It does seem that we’ve been we’ve got the short end of the stick again when it comes to exchange rates, with the PS4 costing approximately £42 more here than it should. For more details on this read our PS4 Price - We lose out in exchange rate calculation.
PS4 RELEASE DATE
The official PS4 release date is currently pencilled in for 'Holiday 2013', which most-likely means in time for Thanksgiving in the US, so a mid-November PS4 launch date. The launch has now been confirmed as being worldwide, with the US, Japan and numerous European countries all getting the console during that period. There’s no precise date as yet, but we’ll update this article as soon as we hear anymore
PS4 SPECS
Here's the official listing of the PS4 specification as it stands
Main Processor:
Single-chip custom processor
CPU: x86-64 AMD 'Jaguar' 8 cores
GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD next-generation Radeon™ based graphics engine
Single-chip custom processor
CPU: x86-64 AMD 'Jaguar' 8 cores
GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD next-generation Radeon™ based graphics engine
Memory:
GDDR5 8GB
GDDR5 8GB
Hard Disk Drive:
Built-in 500GB
Built-in 500GB
Size and weight:
305x53x275mm and 2.8kg
305x53x275mm and 2.8kg
Optical Drive (read only):
BD 6xCAV
DVD 8xCAV
BD 6xCAV
DVD 8xCAV
I/O and communication:
Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0)
AUX
Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0)
AUX
Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
AV output:
HDMI
Digital Output (optical)
HDMI
Digital Output (optical)
PS4 PROCESSOR AND GRAPHICS
It's been widely-known for some time that the PS4 would use AMD technology, both for its CPU and GPU elements – as is the remarkably similar Xbox One. It turns out that the PS4 looks to be significantly more powerful than the Xbox One two areas, Memory and GPU, the reasons for which we’ll explore here.
MEMORY
Even what proved to be the most reliable leaks said that the PS4 would have 4GB of system memory. It was theorised that use of a single pool of fast GDDR5 memory would more than make up for the 8GB of slower memory in the Xbox One . However, when the reveal came, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the PS4 will have a whopping 8GB of superfast memory.
The change was due thanks to tumbling memory prices of the once very expensive GDDR5 memory, combined with a simple architecture on the PS4 that allowed the single lump of memory could be easily increased in size without affecting other components.
This fast and unified memory system is seen by Sony as its main advantage against the Xbox One, and looked at historical precedents, the console with the most simple and streamlined architecture has usually gained the upper hand. Sony’s lead system architect is certainly in a bullish mode though, describing the system as ‘Supercharged’ here: PS4 lead architect describes its "supercharged PC" design
GPU
The PS4 and Xbox One GPUs look to use practically identical hardware designs, both from AMD and both very similar to the recently released AMD Radeon 7790. However, the PS4 GPU looks to have 50 per cent more compute units than the Xbox One. This has been long known from detailed technical leaks that appeared on VG Leaks and then further confirmed in briefings after the XBox One launch, where a Microsoft engineer stated the Xbox One had 768 compute units - 50% less than the PS4’s 1,152 units.
That disparity alone should mean that the PS4 will run third-party games smoother and with more graphical details. However, as confirmed in the initial PS4 reveal, these can be used for more than just graphics, with Sony showing off an impressive Havok physics demo, with thousands of objects bouncing about – largely managed by the GPU.
Console comparisons aside, the bottom line for a next-gen console is fairly obvious. It should be able to run graphically detailed games at 1080p and 60fps, and preferably also cope with the processing overheads of 3D as well. The PS4 looks well equipped to do this.
Quantic Dream shows what’s possible with the PS4 hardware
PS4 PORTS
When it comes ports, connectivity and video output there was very little space for manoeuvre, and the PS4 is equipped as expected. A HDMI output, built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port are all most people need, there's also an S/PDIF output for older surround sound hardware. Bluetooth remains of course – and continues to be used for all controllers.
It wasn't mentioned during the announcement, but after the event Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that the PS4 would support 4K resolutions - but only for video playback. This isn't a surprise, as playing 4K video isn't taxing for a next-gen console and HDMI 1.4 supports the resolution required – up to 4,096×2,160p at 24 Hz - the same as in digital cinemas. The big question is then how such content would be supplied?
HDMI 1.4 will also bring support for Ethernet channel, so it would be possible for your PS4 get a network connection from your AV Receiver, cutting down on cabling - presuming of course you have the right kit.
STANDBY, UPDATES AND CONTROLLER CHARGING
One of our biggest complaints about the PS3 was the size and regularity of its system updates. We'd often turn on the console for a quick game of something, only to have to wait for ages for a massive update to download and install. With the PS4, Sony claims to have solved these problems, with downloads and updates occurring in the background, even when the console is in its 'Standby Mode' so it should always be ready to go.
The Standby Mode has other uses too, the console will now be able to charge the new DualShock 4 controller (via Micro USB) while powered-down - and will probably be able to charge your phone or tablet too, which is handy.
The PS4 will also be capable of going into a Suspend Mode mid-game, which means that tedious boot-up and game loading times should be a thing of the past. Simply go into standby when you want a break, and be able to resume from where you left off at a push of a button when you're ready. This is fantastic news, cutting down on waiting time and increasing playing time.
You'll also be able to start playing demos and downloaded games before they fully download. Essentially, the PS4 will download the core game code and the first level, and then download the rest as you play. Again, less waiting, more playing.
We don't have any cold boot times, boot from Standby times, or power usage figures for the PS4 as of yet. But we'll keep you updated as we get more information.
PS4 STORAGE AND BLU-RAY
The specification of the PS4 includes a 500GB traditional hard disk. We'd have loved to have a super-fast SSD drive in our PS4, but that was unrealistic at launch. Thankfully, Sony continue to provide the option to swap drives as you wish, with compatibility for standard 2.5in models, so we should be able to add our own SSD in the future.
Blu-ray is a must for PS4, the PS3 came a little too early for Sony to comfortably include the hardware, but it still pushed ahead with it at great cost. These days, Blu-ray is one of the defining parts of the PlayStation brand and essential for delivering huge amounts of data for top-end games.
Blu-ray wasn't mentioned at all at the event, we're guessing that was just to keep things centred on games; it is in the specification though and the good news is that read speeds have risen from a measly 2x to a more respectable 6x. This will hugely speed up game installation times.
PS4 CLOUD GAMING AND SHARING
With its purchase of Gaikai last year, Sony was always likely to be pushing cloud gaming on the PS4. Still we're impressed how much the company has achieved on PS4 in just seven months, since its acquisition in July 2012. It goes well beyond just being able to play demos without downloading them too, with the PS4 able to connect with other devices, and your friends, in ingenious ways.
SHARED PLAY
For starters, the PS4 has built-in video compression hardware, which constantly records your gaming as you play. Using the new Share button on the PS4 controller, you can instantly grab a section of gameplay using simple edit controls and post it to say your PSN profile or Facebook. Live streaming is also possible through the popular Ustream sevice – so you'll be able to stream constant footage to you fans – presuming you're some kind of pro gamer.
It goes one step further though, allowing others to join in your gaming session, from which they can talk you through difficult parts or even (with your permission) take over the controls to help you out directly when you get stuck. We're not sure how popular this will be, but games developers might be able to spin it into something far more intriguing – possibly even central to a clever indie game – where you have to help out other players by taking temporary control of their characters.
The cloud gaming system looks impressive, with the ability to instantly share and stream video, as well as allow a friend to take over the controls to help out
The PS4 can also stream video to a Sony PlayStation Vita, in much the same way as the Wii U can stream video to its tablet-like controller. This will allow gamers to play when the TV is being used for other purposes. It wasn't stated what range such a feature will have, but you might be able to play games remotely (presuming a quick enough broadband connection) when away from home. This would of course mean you'd need to be able to turn the PS4 on-and-off remotely. Dave Perry of Gaikai said it was an aim of there's to have every PS4 game playable on the Vita, though we think the number supported will depend on Vita sales and developer support.
Other devices will be supported, but we don't know to what extent you'll be able to play PS4 games on them
STREAMING GAMES
Gaikai's tech also allows you to do more traditional streaming from Sony's servers. As expected, you'll be able to play demos from the PlayStation Store without having to download them first. Beyond this, the store will have a TiVo-style style system that will automatically download demos and games in the background based on your gaming preferences (such as trophies won in other titles).
Streaming of full games via Gaikia has now been confirmed for an early 2014 launch in the US, with other countries coming later.
TRUE NAME
THe PS4 will include a function that will allow you to use your real name online. This will be optional, so you can get your anonymous moniker if you prefer. You'll also be able to add friends from other social networks (Facebook essentially), and then be able to see each other's real names when playing, while others will only see your anonymous name. It's a brilliant idea and one that will help you keep an eye on your friends online without having to remember what ridiculous moniker they go by on that particular service.
PS4 INTERFACE
The new PS4 interface looks to modelled after the latest update to the current PlayStation Store on PS3
The interface on the PS4 will be about much more than launching games, playing Blu-ray and having game-based social experiences with your friends. Sony is keen to also provide a wide range of content - as its Head of Worldwide Studios stated recently: PS4 will continue battle for living room says Sony's Shuhei Yoshida. Yoshida noted that they hadn’t wanted to distract attention from its games playing potential at the initial unveiling but that there was a lot more to the PS4 than that.
More content to be added after the E3 unveiling when we should be able to see the full interface in action
PS4 CONTROLLER - DUALSHOCK 4
After seeing many leaked pictures of the new controller, it was hardly a surprise when we saw it onstage. The final controller, though, is a far more refined version than the prototype that's knocking about with development kits. It's nicely sculpted, has what appears to be a grippy underside, and every facet is redesigned, while still keeping the iconic layout largely intact.
It has a small touchpad above the analogue sticks and a coloured light on the front. In this respect it includes functionality we've seen on both the Vita (which has a rear touchpad) and in Sony's motion-based Move controllers. A speaker is also built-in, allowing for local audio effects and a headphone socket too - probably for headset use, but we're also hoping for Bluetooth audio for easier headphone use while playing - very handy for split-screen gaming.
The button layout has been rejigged, with a new 'Share' button added for quick access to social media. Check out our Cloud Gaming section for more details. For further details see PS4 controller revealed as the DualShock 4
There's also a new Eye device with two 1,280x800 resolution cameras – 4x the previous camera's resolution. This gives increased accuracy to pick up the existing Move controllers or the new DualShock 4. You can read more about this at PS Eye revealed for PS4.
The eye will be an optional extra for the PS4, with an RRP of £44, so don’t expect it to be as fully integrated into games as with the Xbox One’s bundled Kinect device.
PS4 GAMES
We’re working on a best PS4 games article at present, once we’ve had time to digest everything from E3.
Jun 8, 2013
Download: Temple Run (Android, iOS)
temple Run has been very popular on iOS devices. Now, after a month's delay, the never-ending running game finally landed onto Google's Play Store. The protagonist is quite similar to Indiana Jones,
and has stolen a cursed idol from an old temple. Now, in order to save
his life, you have to help him escape the evil monkeys. The controls are
very basic and you just need to swipe in a particular direction to
dodge obstacles and collect power-ups.
According to the developer Imangi Studios, the game has been downloaded over 45 million times. This number is expected to swell further, especially after the app has made it way to Androids. The best thing about the game is that it's free on both platforms.
Developer: Imangi Studios
Size: 20 MB - 26 MB
Licence: Freeware
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: iOS (20 MB); Android (26 MB)
According to the developer Imangi Studios, the game has been downloaded over 45 million times. This number is expected to swell further, especially after the app has made it way to Androids. The best thing about the game is that it's free on both platforms.
Developer: Imangi Studios
Size: 20 MB - 26 MB
Licence: Freeware
Platforms: Android, iOS
Download: iOS (20 MB); Android (26 MB)
NVIDIA Launches GTX 700M To Enable High-End Gaming On Notebooks
When one thought of serious
PC gaming, a desktop would automatically come to mind. Barring a couple
of ultra high-end models, a laptop was largely synonymous with casual
gaming, or at best, a visually scaled-down version of what you would
enjoy on a good desktop PC. Things are set to change with the launch of
NVIDIA’s new GTX 700M series of GPUs.
The new GeForce GTX 700M GPU lineup includes:
- GeForce GTX 780M – Supposedly the world’s fastest notebook GPU.
- GeForce GTX 770M – Claimed to be 55% faster than the last-generation product it replaces.
- GeForce GTX 765M – Selected by Razer for the world’s thinnest PC gaming laptop, 40% thinner and lighter than the current record holder.
- GeForce GTX 760M – Claimed to be 30% faster than the last-generation product it replaces.
NVIDIA
claims that even the least powerful of the four — the GTX 760M is
capable of playing recent graphics-intensive games such as Far Cry 3,
BioShock Infinite, Battlefield 3, etc smoothly with High settings at
1080p resolution. The company has brought in something called as the
GeForce Experience, which at the click of a button, optimizes your game
settings depending on your hardware. It is meant to save you the hassles
of fiddling around with settings until you eventually get the best
frame rate at the highest detail level and resolution.
NVIDIA
Optimus technology is expected to have gotten a tweak too. For the
uninitiated, this piece of tech saves power and optimizes battery life
of a laptop. It uses two graphics processing units (GPU), one that draws
less power and is used for basic day to day tasks such as word
processing, browsing etc. The second is a discrete and more powerful GPU
that jumps into action only when you start a game or any
graphics-intensive application. When not in use, the discrete GPU
remains in a near-switched off state, thus saving power.
In
addition to that, the new R320 GeForce drivers are expected to boost
performance in certain games such as Dirt: Showdown by up to 20%.
Already
a bunch of reputed laptop manufacturers including Asus, MSI, and Acer
have jumped onto the GTX 700M bandwagon. I happened to try my hand at
some of those and the gaming experience seemed absolutely smooth, easily
as good as that on a desktop PC. I won’t jump to any conclusion yet
till we get some of those gaming laptops in our labs and put them
through the grind. The India pricing for those machines is also not
known yet.
All said and done, things look promising for those who
aspire to own a fairly portable gaming laptop. We will bring you more
info as soon as we get our hands on it.
Jun 5, 2013
PS4 release date, news and features
At GDC 2013 at the end of March, a room
full of would-be PS4 developers and press got some new details about the
hardware, controller, online and social functions of the forthcoming
PlayStation 4.
Well before Microsoft eventually announced the Xbox One,
Senior Staff Developer Support Engineer Chris Norden unveiled the news
under an overarching theme of a "frictionless and seamless" gaming
experience.
We've known that the PS4
will track both the controller in a gamer's hand, as well as their face,
since the console's launch in Feb. But during his GDC talk Norden
revealed some interesting ways that this technology will be implemented
in games.
For example, the old
multiplayer standby of split screen, divvying up television real estate
when two or more players go at it, will be aided by this tracking tech.
If a gamer gets up and moves right or left, his section of the screen
will automatically be swapped.
So here's everything we know about the PlayStation 4 so far...
PS4 release date
The
PS4 release date is "Holiday 2013" for the USA. That's the only
official detail Sony revealed at the launch in February and it's unclear
which other territories it applies to, if any.
However, Sony recently took out a newspaper ad in the UK, clearly advertising the PS4 release date as '2013'. That tallies with an interview in May with our buddies at CVG,
a source inside Sony said that the company is pulling out all the stops
to launch worldwide in 2013 and ensure that the PS4 is not trumped by
the new Xbox.
Sony also advertised at the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium, London, with 'PS4 - coming 2013' signs.
Officially,
Sony has said it wants the PS4 release date in Europe to be as soon as
possible but makes no promises on whether the UK and other European
countries will get a release date in time for Christmas this year or
whether it'll be an uncomfortable wait until sometime in 2014.
Stock
issues might be the reason for this, and that's exactly what happened
back in 2006/2007 when the PS3 launched. It went on sale in the US and
Japan in time for Christmas and Europe and the rest of the world had to
wait for March the next year.
But that
newspaper ad certainly seems to confirm that we'll be able to get our
hands on the PS4 before Christmas in the US and Europe.
What we know for sure is that we'll get our first glimpse of the PS4 at E3. Check out the PS4 teaser video.
PS4: Hardware specs
AMD, as we guessed all along, is coursing through this new system's veins.
Post-event,
Sony revealed the system runs on a single-chip custom processor and
utilizes eight x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU cores, with a next-gen AMD Radeon
based graphics engine powering the way.
So
it's very much a PC-based system then, which is great news for
developers who will find it much easier to code games for the next gen
consoles and for PCs. However, that CPU is hardly next-gen - it may have
been modified for this system but the AMD Jaguar platform is by no
means the fastest of its kind - indeed it's slower than Intel's fastest
by orders of magnitude.
However, with
fewer redundancies than a PC has, the PS4 will certainly be able to make
use of every single Watt of power it draws.
The
"highly enhanced PC GPU" is another story. It's another AMD part -
something along the lines of a Radeon 7850 card - and packs 18 GCN
units. That may sound a like a lot of techy mumbo jumbo but what it
essentially means is that the GPU packs 18 processing clusters, each
packing up to 64 cores. That provides a lot of parallel processing
power, and will thus handle the majority of the PS4's grunt work. It
hits 1.84 TFLOPS of processing mojo. This is a far more powerful
component than the Jaguar CPU and is rumoured to have the edge on the
GPU inside the Xbox One.
Sony announced
at the NYC event that the console will even use GPU compute features to
take advantage of the GPU's raw power - it'll be used for general
computation tasks as well as making games shiny.
Memory
The
PS4 will ship packing 8GB of GDDR5 memory. That's some super-fast stuff
right there and should enable lightning fast performance.
Indeed,
Sony has revealed that you will be able to power down the PS4 mid-game
and then switch it on again in seconds and pick up right where you left
off. That's the sort of loading power that this memory enables.
Other specs
We're
also looking at Blu-ray disk support plus good ol' DVD, plus HDMI
output support as well as Analog-AV out and an optical digital output.
PlayStation 4 Eye
What's
really grabbing though is the development of the PlayStation 4 Eye, a
newly developed camera system that utilizes two high-sensitivity camera
equipped with wide-angle lenses and 85-degree diagonal angle views.
Sony
said the cameras (amounting to 1280 x 800 pixels) can cut out the image
of a player from the background or differentiate between players in the
background and foreground, enhancing game play handily. There's also
mention of logging in using facial recognition and using voice and body
movements to play games "more intuitively."
If you want to know how these specs stack up against what we know so far about the Xbox One (clue: PS4 is more powerful) - check out our comparison of PS4 and Xbox One specs.
PlayStation 4 Specifications
- CPU: low power x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
- GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engine
- Memory: GDDR5 8GB
- Hard Disk Drive: Built –in
- Optical Drive (Read only): BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
- I/O: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
- Communication: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
- AV output: HDMI, Analog-AV out, Digital Output (optical)
DualShock 4 specifications:
- External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm
- Weight: Approx. 210g (tentative)
- Buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right), Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), R1/L1/R2/L2/R3/L3, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad Button, Touch Pad 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
- Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
- Ports: USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
- Wireless communication: Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR
PS4 camera specifications
- External Dimension: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm
- Weight: Approx. 183g
- Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
- Video Frame Rate: 1280x800 pixel @ 60fps, 640x400 pixel @ 120fps, 320x192 pixel @ 240fps
- Video Format: RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
- Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
- Field-of-View: 85 degrees
- Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
- Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
- Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)
PS4 pre-orders
We
don't yet know what the PS4 price is going to be in any territory, but
in the UK at least, retailers are clambering all over each other to take
£20 deposits in return for guaranteed PS4 consoles on release date.
PS4 controller: DualShock 4
If you have an eye for details you may have noticed that the PS4'sDualShock 4
controller has no Start or Select buttons. Norden confirmed this,
saying that it will have a so-called Option button instead, as well as
the much bandied about Share button on the rear.
The
analogue sticks have been tightened up to be more precise, and the
controller also features a brand new three-axis gyroscopic motion sensor
with three-axis accelerometer which should be great for getting you
immersed in the games. The camera continuously tracks all four
controllers with precise accuracy. Rotational tracking is provided by
the internal components and.
The
controller has a two-point Vita-like touchpad on the front with a
1920x900 resolution, and a tactile clicking sound letting you know
you've pressed it. The light bar on the front will glow different
colours depending on whether you're player 1, 2, 3 or 4 and will be
tracked by the new PS Eye camera. It also has an Xbox-style headset jack
and a mono speaker inside it.
Video-watchers take note
This new PS4 controller won't accidentally fast forward when you set it
down. Norden said this was one of the biggest complaints his team heard
about the PS3's DualShock. The PS4's controller has triggers designed
not to depress when set down. What's more, Norden even said he'd been
dropping controllers without skipping a single frame.
That
touchpad on the DualShock 4 will be capable of two simultaneous inputs.
The light on the controller will glow blue, red, green or pink light,
depending on whether you're player one, two, three or four.
The Share button
The
PS4's ardware encoder always records the last several minutes of game
play without using any additional resources from the game, by pressing
the Share button you can then upload or save your gameplay and show your
friends or keep it just for your own amusement.
PS4 Streaming
PS4
streaming lets you stream out live gameplay to your friends. This is
all built into the hardware and does not need to be supported by
developers. Users can react to the video by typing comments in real
time. You can do this to friends, or public.
PS4 user interface
The XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface of PlayStations past has been completely ditched in the PS4, with Sony instead choosing to design a new OS that looks a lot more like that of the Xbox 360 than the PS3.
Will the PS4 be 4K capable?
In a chat with Kotaku, Sony has revealed
that the PlayStation 4 will be able to playback 4K/Ultra HD video.
However, it will not upscale to 4K or play games at 4K resolution.
Sony has also confirmed that it will definitely launch a 4K movie service on the PS4 and is looking at ways it can get around the 100GB downloads required.
Backwards compatibility
The PS4 will definitely not offer native support for PS3 games.
However, there will at some point be a service on the Sony
Entertainment Network that offers server-side emulation and streaming of
games from PS One classics right through to PS3 Platinum Editions.
PlayStation Move
Sony
has confirmed that PlayStation Move will play a big part in the PS4
ecosystem. However, it has not yet been revealed whether the PS4 will
launch alongside a new PS Eye camera and new Move controllers or whether
the peripherals are staying the same with all the enhancements made
console-side.
By tracking the light bar
on the DualShock 4 pad and associating it with faces in the image, the
game can identify which player face is connected to which game avatar.
By using facial recognition the game can associate a face with a PSN
profile.
- High sensitivity, dual color cameras. Two cameras here.
- 1280x 800 12 bits/pixel, 60hz
- Higher frame rates at lower resolutions
- Wide angles – diagonal field of view is 85 degrees
- 3 axis acceeletromter, tilt sensor
- Wide baseline 4 microphone array
- Dedicated port, exclusive SCE connector
- Game-loop sync can be changed, depending on framerate of game
PS4 Blu-ray drive
Not
only will the PS4's 64-bit x86 architecture and 8GB of GDDR5 memory
blow its predecessor out of the water, its Blu-ray drive will be three
times faster.
"If you're coming from
the PS3 you're probably quite used to the headache of having to split
memory arhchitecture, you can't quite use all of it, the speeds are
really wacky on some of it - we don't have that with PS4," said Norden.
He added that this would offer developers "crazy high bandwidth".
Synergy with PlayStation Vita
Sony
has revealed that the PS4 will launch with the ability to stream games
directly to your PS Vita. In exactly the same way as the Wii U allows
you to switch off your TV and continue playing on the tablet controller,
the PS4 will wirelessly send your games to the Vita.
There will be similar synergy between "all Sony devices" which means Xperia handsets and tablets, Bravia TVs and BD players.
Sony
hinted that there will be more announcements in this area, too. We
think the obvious next reveal in this area is the ability to play PS4
games on your Vita from any location using a wireless connection.
PS4 Instant On
The
PS4 will be one nippy device if Sony is to be believed. It will have an
instant on/off feature allowing your to shut down during a game and
then boot up from scratch in seconds and resume where you left off. The
days of waiting 60 seconds as your console loads up are about to end.
What's
more, Chris Norden has stressed that Sony has three tenets of PS4
design: simple, social and immediate. Gamers will be able to start
playing titles before they've even finished downloading.
And with one button sharing, Norden says the goal is to make it so simple users will "do it without thinking about it."
PS4 price: how much will it cost?
We
really don't know what price the PS4 will fetch. Some rumours suggest a
figure of around $450/£399. But it's pure speculation at the moment.
The sake Zavvi page which lists the UK release date as 31st December 2013 has a pre-order available for £399. Again, we'd take that with a pinch of salt, but if it's their best guess, there might be a grain of something in it.
PS4 launch titles
A number of games have been revealed for the PS4. They Are: Deep Down (Capcom), Destiny (Bungie), Diablo III (Blizzard), Driveclub (Evolution Studios), Final Fantasy (Square Enix), Infamous: Second Son (Sucker Punch), Killzone: Shadow Fall (Guerilla Games), Knack (Sony), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt RED), Watch Dogs (Ubisoft).
US talkshow host Jimmy Fallon was the first to get near Killzone 4...