10 Chinese stole ... 11,500 accounts and paid in the worst way . The hacking in MMO accounts is a common phenomenon , as wannabe hackers have invaded almost every MMORPG that exist out there ( possibly with the exception of Guild Wars 2 requesting verification via email if you take login from a different country) . This time , however, the law was not forgiving ... for 10 hackers from China accused of stealing accounts in World of Warcraft repeatedly . According to Massively, the 10 accused had intercepted 11,500 accounts ( ! ) Why and resold at prices that ranged from $ 1 to more humble and average $ 3 per account. The head of the group of hackers has suffered two years imprisonment and a fine of $ 8,000 . The 9 accomplices will be tried for less than 2 years and a fine of $ 1000 each. Recall also that the World of Warcraft has lost some subscribers whilst maintaining a respectable number of 7.7 million users, now has mikrosynallages while Blizzard prepares expansion Warlords of Draenor.
" Threat to the national security of China" is the Battlefield 4! The Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China " banned Battlefield 4 of Electronic Arts because it considers that its contents may endanger the national security of the country " , according to local news agencies . "The Battlefield 4 is an illegal video game which endangers the security of the country . It is an attack on our culture . Following the ban , demand anything associated with it (downloads, patches, news , etc. ) delete " announces the government. It should be noted also , that has banned any search on Chinese websites for Battlefield 4 and whoever tries will receive a message that " in accordance with the laws and regulations do not appear in search results for Battlefield 4" ( the term "BF4" not banned yet). This decision of the country began with the placing of Battlefield 4: China Rising DLC released on December 17, and add four new maps, whose action takes place in various regions of China . The Chinese media criticized the game . A publication characterizes as "defamation of the country in the eyes of other countries" while another states that " Even the campaign mode can be a source of aggravation , as the story focuses on Admiral Chang and conviction to overturn Chinese government to gain the support of the Russians and start war with America ! "
Discounts of 50-75 % . Total War: Rome II, Saints Row IV and Torchlight II to ... defiantly low prices ! [UPDATE] [ Original Post : 12/19/2013 ] As is known , the times are tough and video games can be classified an "expensive " hobby . The Steam however does not seem to agree with the second part of the sentence , as evidenced Of this Steam Holiday Sale 2013 that " runs " from 19.12.2013 up to 03.01.2014 . So prepare your credit cards or those who have prepaid sure to charge them with enough cash and go see what goodies are in the " digital " shelves Platform Valve We start from the Today's Deals, daily deals that is, which will last until the next day at 20:00 in the evening . From promotions logically distinguish BioShock Infinite and Dishonored, which are available at the price of 7.49 euro , but the PC version of Metal Gear Rising Revengeance available for pre-order over 13.39 euros. Meanwhile, every eight hours , the cast Valve further the differential value of securities within the Flash Sales. The titles that are on offer at the moment singles Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which is sold at 2.74 euros. View detail all Today's Deals: ( until 21/12 at 20:00 ) Metal Gear Rising Revengeance: 13.39 € BioShock Infinite: 7.49 € Dishonored: 7.49 € Space Hulk: 9.51 € Batman: Arkham Origins: 24.99 € Dead Island: 4.99 € Monaco: 2.19 Asseto Corsa: 26.24 € The Stanley Parable: 7.19 € View detail all Flash Deals: ( until 20 /12 at 04:00) Counter-Strike: Global Offensive: 2.74 € Divekick: 2.49 € The Typing of the Dead: Overkill: 8.99 € Guns of Icarus Online: 2.99 € [UPDATE 20/12/2013] View detail all new Today's Deals: ( until 22/12 at 20:00 ) Chivalry: Medieval Warfare: 4.49 € Omerta City of Gangsters: 11.24 € Total War Shogun 2: 7.49 € Far Cry 3: 7.49 € Final Fantasy VII: 3.73 € Nether: 11.39 € Fez: 2.49 € Crysis 2 Maximum Edition: 8.74 € Train Simulator 2014: 7.55 View detail all Flash Deals: ( until 21/12 at 04:00 ) Music Creator 6: 16.99 € Divinity Dragon Commander: 19.99 € Project Zomboid: 10.49 € EVE Online: 1.98 € [UPDATE 2: 25/12/13] Today Steam gives the Left 4 Dead 2! Log in to Steam to spend on your account because we do not know until when will the offer applies . [UPDATE 3: Check out the latest deals of the year from Steam that expire tomorrow Monday at 20:00 ! ] Mass Effect 2: 4,99 € (75%) Might & Magic Heroes VI: 7,49 € (75%) Total War: Rome II: 27,49 € (50%) Fallout: New Vegas: 2,49 € (75%) Spelunky: 3,49 € (75%) Euro Truck Simulator 2: 4,99 € (75%) Deadlight: 2,39 € (80%) The Swapper: 4,75 € (66%) Risk of Rain (6,02% (33%) Rebellion: 9,24 € (75%) Deadpool: 12,49 € (75%) Saints Row IV: 19,99 € (60%) Torchlight II: 4,74 € (75%) Dust: An Elysian Tail: 3,49 € (75%) Godus: 9,49 € (50%) Garry's Mod: 1,99 € (75%) Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons: 4,19 € (70%) SimCity 4: 2,49 € (75%)
The multiplayer component for PlayStation 4 game Killzone: Shadow Fall will be free to play December 28-31 for PlayStation Plus subscribers, Sony has announced. PS Plus members can start pre-loading the game now.
Developer Guerrilla Games pointed out to fans that the game's multiplayer mode is constantly evolving, with new features and content rolling out on a regular basis.
"It's also important for us to reiterate that the Shadow Fall multiplayer experience will continue to evolve and expand with new content and additional features," the developer said. "In fact, a new update will soon go live that addresses many oft-requested features, including the addition of voice chat. Moreover, all additional maps will be made available for free to ensure that the community grows without fragmenting. We’re committed to supporting Shadow Fall, and we’re excited to share more about that vision early in the new year."
''We sincerely apologize for the connection problems in the Nintendo eShop. We understand this is taking longer than expected, but we can assure you that providing a solution is our top priority. We are determined to make sure everyone can enjoy all that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have to offer. In an effort to manage the high volume of traffic and ultimately improve your experience, we are temporarily taking the Nintendo eShop services offline between the hours of 4 p.m. - 4 a.m. ET. Thank you so much for your continued patience. We will keep you updated.'' Nintendo said!
Following up on December's offer of a free copy Borderlands 2 for PlayStation Plus subscribers, Sony is upping the ante for January. Starting January 2014, PS+ members on PlayStation 3 can download a free copy ofBioShock Infinite, DmC: Devil May Cry, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.
PlayStation 4 owners will be able to download the indie hit Don't Starve. And Vita owners will be able to download Worms: Battle Island and Smart As...
PS+ is Sony's subscription service that provides several member benefits including access to a rotating "instant game collection." The game's are only available to active PS+ members, and they are generally only available to download for free for a limited time (though once you've added them to your account, you can redownload the game again at any time).
PS+ is mandatory for online play in PlayStation 4 games. The service typically sells for $18 for three months or $50 for one year.
In this, the first of four articles, we look back at highs and lows of 2013, beginning with the unveiling of Sony and Microsofts’ consoles and our collective reactions prior to E3.
2013 has been on the most hectic, exciting years in gaming in a long time. The launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One may have taken the spotlight, but we also had a portable offering from Ouya, aredesigned portable from Nintendo (the 2DS), plus the unveiling of Valve’s Steam Machine. Gaming itself may not have changed all too much in 2013, but the ways available to experience games were constantly evolving. But although the industry is looking up now, the start of the year still felt uncertain and tumulutuous. The fate of any of these consoles was (and in some ways is still) uncertain, and there was far too regular news of layoffs and studio closures. One of the larger developers to leave the industry in 2013 was LucasArts. Disney acquired the developer along with LucasFilm, and early in the year Disney shifted the game studio to a licensing model, thus canceling (or at least putting on hold) anticipated games such as Star Wars 1313 and the Battlfefront sequel First Assault .
Given the state of the industry, it was easy to imagine an imminent collapse or some other disaster just around the corner. But all that just made it even harder to predict the circular route that Microsoft and Sony would take in their console reveals. We knew that the announcements would come soon in 2013, and that the new consoles wouldbear more in common with the PC than the 360 and PS3, but anything beyond that was pure conjecture. Both Sony and Microsoft were able to keep the design of their consoles tightly under wraps.
At the beginning of 2013, Gamespot made a number of predictions about what the future might hold. Some were right: Sony going with the simple PlayStation 4 title for their new console, the exploding popularity of MOBAs and League of Legends, and the rise of eSports to greater prominence in the gaming world. However, some predictions were completely wrong. The reveal of Half-Life 3 and Source 2 from Valve, the Xbox tablet, and anything new with Final Fantasy VII were guesses that never materialized. Early in the year, Microsoft suffered from a multitude of problems communicating the virtues of what was then stillwidely referred to as the Xbox 720. Gamers were outraged when it leaked that the system would require either a constant connection to the Internet (or at the least would need to check-in every 24 hours). And matters weren’t helped when a creative director at one of Microsoft’s studios responded to the outcry with the hashtag #dealwithit. In addition, rumors were circulating that the next Xbox would be unable to play used games, and that users would be unable to unplug the Kinect. Microsoft said the Kinect would be able to be turned off at least (in an attempt to allay concerns of constant in-home monitoring), but by then it seemed too little too late.
Prior to E3, Microsoft revealed their console, but only managed to upset their fan base more by focusing on the system’s social and media capabilities rather than on gaming. Some developers argued that getting the mainstream and television-focused information out of the way early wouldfree up more time for games at E3. Sony’s press conference reveal took place before Microsoft’s media briefing and did not include a hardware reveal, but Sony was willing to directly address some of their competition’s biggest criticisms. The PS4, for example, would definitely be able to play used games. However, Sony remained suspiciously silent on whether or not their system would require the same 24-hour online check-in.
Still, Sony received praise for showing off their system’s share features (which lets you record game footage or stream online at any time) and a first look at the PS4’s games well ahead of E3. We got to see Sony exclusives like Infamous: Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, and Knack, as well as confirmation that several highly anticipated games, such as Destiny (from Halo studio Bungie) and The Witness would be coming to next-gen. More game details and pricing would have to wait until E3, but Sony was already capitalizing on Microsoft’s perceived problems...a trend that would continue in E3.
The problems around “always online” were especially prominent in the months before E3 because of a pair of games from Blizzard and EA that had non-negotiable internet requirements in order to play. A game-breaking bug in Blizzard’s Diablo III was booting players from their servers. Meanwhile EA’s reboot of SimCity hit serious launch problems in supporting the player base and just providing online server stability. The problems persisted for months and they were only exacerbated by the fact that the online component was not actually necessary to play the game.
Announcing a console that would potentially include those same problems with few obvious benefits was causing serious perception problems for Microsoft. Especially once Sony revealed that, due to the relative lack of high-speed Internet worldwide, their console would not have that prerequisite. But for better or worse, Microsoft stayed the course.
And in the background was the growing dominance of one of gaming’s biggest phenomenons: League of Legends and the MOBA. It was a genre that was already wildly popular with a devotedly dedicated fanbase, but 2013 is when the MOBA came into its own in an even more mainstream way. League of Legends players werebreaking audience records on their Twitch streams. And even in beta, Dota 2 from Valve was playing host to major league gaming tournaments.
There was a lot of excitement building up in the gaming world prior to E3, and fortunately, the rest of the year did not disappoint
The case against a Texas teenager who wasjailed after an argument from League of Legends spilled over onto Facebook is going to move forward. A judge denied the motion to dismiss the case against 19-year-old Justin Carter this week, as reported by Texas news site KENS5.
Carter was arrested in March after he said on Facebook following a League of Legends match that he was going to "shoot up" a school and "eat their still, beating hearts," according to his father.
He reportedly followed up these comments with "LOL" and "JK." A woman in Canada saw his comments and informed the police, who arrested Carter for making a terrorist threat.
Carter's comments came just months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, where 20 children and six adults were killed. An"anonymous Good Samaritan" posted Carter's $500,000 bail in July.
His lawyer said Carter's comments were "clearly" sarcastic, and prosecutors would have known that if they examined the entire Facebook comment thread, he argued. A new date for the case has not been announced.
Carter faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Includes four DLC that will be available in 2014 . The Activision today announced the content of the Season Pass for Call of Duty: Ghosts, which costs 49.99 euros.
The Season Pass gives you access to four map packs that will be released for the popular FPS in 2014 and particularly in Onslaught, Devastation, Invasion and Nemesis. Also , I added in four parts extra content for Extinction mode, although for the time being, Activision has not given us further information. Those of you who purchase the Season Pass will get totally free access to the multiplayer map Free Fall and Team Leader Digital Pack. The latter comprises a single multiplayer character head, a weapon camo, a reticle, a player patch, and a player card. The Activision has not yet announced the release date of the upcoming DLC, but the only certainty is that it will release first on the consoles of Microsoft.
The Xbox One off dozens. Google has announced that the PlayStation 4, the new console of Sony, was the information searched the world more than any other gadget in its search engine . The PS4 outperformed both competing for this consoles , and hardware, and various kinds of mobile gadgets. It is striking that the results relating to the United States , where Microsoft is up to the seventh generation played first at home. In the category of "Consumer Electronics" searched worldwide, PS4 comes third and fourth Xbox One . In contrast , the Xbox One failed to catch the top ten. The PS4 is released in our country from 13 December at a price of 400 euros
As if that were not enough , the declining sales of Battlefield 4 which sold about 69 % fewer copies in its first week in connection with Battlefield 3, the EA accepted lawsuits in America for quality first .
According to information , the two law firms that have moved to sue , claiming that EA concealed the problems facing the newest member of the series before it even released in stores and misled consumers by selling them a product of inferior quality than that advertised by the American giant . As if this were not enough , there is also the complaint that before the game released on the market , senior executives EA sold a respectable part of their shares in " inflated " price, which resulted from the rise of the share after the rave but misleading statements about Battlefield 4. All this of course in accordance with the statements of law firms Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Holzer Holzer & Fistel.
On the side of the EA commented that these claims are not valid and that they intend to defend themselves. It is not certain that the court will dismiss the complaints . To Battlefield 4 showed some bugs in stability and performance, which are corrected slowly through patches released for the game. It is the first time a company driven to court because of the quality of a game . Apparently the issue has gotten a great extent remains to be seen what will be the outcome. You can read the file 25 pages through the PDF that was published.
Chris Roberts' upcoming PC space sim Star Citizen has soared to yet another funding milestone. The most successful crowdfunded project in history recently reached $35 million, which Roberts called a "monumental achievement" and one that may alter the way games are funded and produced in the future.
"You’re not just re-writing the rules of how games are made and funded but you’re showing the power that a committed community has to achieve a vision that so many people said was no longer relevant," Roberts said.
At press time, Star Citizen funding stands at $35,029,574 from 335,272 backers.
"Unlike a typical publisher we don’t look at this initial funding as bigger profits--we look at as allowing us to deliver more of the dream sooner and ensure the online infrastructure and support is as full featured as possible, even during the pre-release period," Roberts said.
Roberts also addressed the recently delay of Star Citizen's Dogfighting module, thanking fans for their support of his decision to do so.
"I know it was disappointing for many people, and it wasn't a decision that I took lightly but after much deliberation I decided it was best for the long-term health of the project," Roberts said. "I've made a lot of single player games--I know that we can knock that out of the park but I really want to make sure that the multiplayer combat is fun, compelling, and that we solve the various challenges in having the controls and flight model work smoothly online."
At $35 million, backers will unlock the Drake Herald ship, the final fan-voted ship.
"The Drake Herald, small, armored ship, is designed to fit that need and safely get that information from Point A to Point B. Featuring a powerful central engine (for high speed transit and generating the power needed for effective data encryption/containment), advanced encryption software and an armored computer core, the Herald is unique among personal spacecraft in that it is designed to be easily ‘cleaned’ when in danger of capture. The Herald includes an array of heavy duty internal options for data protection, including redundant power subsystems and EMP shielding, and a high-powered broadcast array for data transmission."
If Star Citizen funding reaches $37 million, Roberts and developer Cloud Imperium Games will introduce the Tanga System--described as a "stellar graveyard." Backers can now also vote for the $38 million system unlock in a poll on the developer's website.
Star Citizen has been in development at Cloud Imperium Games for more than a year. The game itself centers on a storyline that is set in a persistent online universe. Roberts has said that Star Citizen will fuse elements of his previous games, Wing Commander and Freelancer. Support for the virtual-reality headset Oculus Rift is planned.
Star Citizen is expected to be released in late 2014.
More than a year after the Wii U's original release in November 2012, Nintendo has launched a new advertisement for the system reminding shoppers that the console is not a peripheral, but rather an all-new console.
"It's time for a whole new Nintendo experience," the narrator says. "Wii U is an entirely new technology and true successor to Wii U."
The ad talks up with the Wii U's exclusive features, including its tablet-like GamePad that lets you play games and view video content away from the TV.
"Wii U is all about unique experiences you can't have anywhere else," the ad says.
During E3 2012, Nintendo marketing executive Scott Moffitt admitted that the Wii U is "confusing" relative to the Wii. With the original Wii, you could watch someone swing a Wii Remote and you would "get it," but the Wii U is more of a challenge, he said.
In September 2012, Nintendo said it believed the Wii U messaging problems were largely corrected, but the new advertisement this week suggests some consumer confusion remains.
The Wii U has sold 3.91 million units so far, below Nintendo's own expectations. The company plans to sell 9 million systems by the end of March 2014. High-profile Wii U titles on the way include Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Feb. 21), Mario Kart 8 (spring 2014), Super Smash Bros. (2014), and an all-new Legend of Zelda game (TBA).
Clancy Brown, the voice actor behind the penny-pinching restaurant boss Mr. Krabs from Nickelodeon's hit animated show Spongebob Squarepants, has joined the Warcraft movie.
Legendary Pictures announced the news on Twitter this week. Brown also appeared in The Shawshank Redemption and Starship Troopers. Brown will be joined by Daniel Wu (Protege, The Banquet), the second new actor confirmed this week for a role in the Warcraft film.
The Warcraft movie will be an origins story, though neither Legendary nor Blizzard have provided any details regarding who the actors will play. Previously confirmed actors for the Warcraft film includeCaptain America's Dominic Cooper and Paula Patton fromMission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, among numerous others.
Production on the Warcraft film is slated to begin next month, before the movie comes to theaters onMarch 11, 2016.
Last-minute shopping can be stressful. To help you out, we've compiled a list of some of the best gaming deals you'll find at retailers and online in the days leading up to Christmas.
We will add and remove deals to this page as they are announced and expire. Be sure to bookmark this page to keep up-to-date on the latest deal news.
You can participate in the discussion by sharing some of the deals you found in the comments here and we'll consider them for this feature. Happy deal-hunting!
Here are some of the best gaming deals we found as of December 20 at 4 p.m. PDT.
Amazon:
PlayStation 4 - $400
Battlefield 4 (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Need for Speed: Rivals (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
FIFA 14 (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Rocksmith: 2014 Edition (Xbox 360, PS3) - $50
Skylanders: Swap Force (PS3, Wii, PS4) - $50
Gears of War: Judgment (Xbox 360) - $20
Steam:
Steam's annual Holiday Sale began yesterday and runs through January 3. New deals are added on daily basis. Highlights from today include Fez for $2.50, Far Cry 3 for $7.50, and Eve Online for $1.98.
Best Buy:
Battlefield 4 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - $40
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox 360,PS3) - $40
Batman: Arkham Origins (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Batman: Arkham Origins (PC) - $30
Need for Speed: Rivals (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Need for Speed: Rivals (PC) - $30
Madden NFL 25 (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
FIFA 14 (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Wal-Mart:
Xbox 360 250GB Holiday Bundle with Tomb Raider and Halo 4 - $200
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
NBA 2K14 (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox One, PS4) - $50
Target:
3DS XL - $150
3DS XL with Pokemon X or Y - $190
3DS XL with Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds - $190
GameStop:
Tearaway - $20
Refurbished PlayStation Vita - $130
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox One, PS4) - $50
Call of Duty: Ghosts (Xbox 360, PS3) - $45
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox 360, PS3) - $50
Battlefield 4 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - $40
Need for Speed: Rivals (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Need for Speed: Rivals (PC) - $30
Batman: Arkham Origins (Xbox 360, PS3) - $40
Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U) - $30
Skylanders: Swap Force Wii U Bundle - $275 (includes $25 gift card)
The PlayStation 4 is coming to India on January 6, Sony has announced. The system will be available in the region for 39,990 Rupees, or around $640.
When the PS4 launches in India, Sony's new console will be available in 49 countries around the world, compared to 13 for the Xbox One.
"We have received an overwhelming response for PlayStation 4 globally and are hoping to replicate this success in India too," Sony India managing director Kenichiro Hibi said.
The PS4 has sold 2.1 million copies around the world since launch on November 15, neck-and-neck with the Xbox One. Sony expects to sell 3 million consoles globally by the end of 2013--now just 11 days away.
Tomorrow at the White House, President Obama will meet with representatives for technology giants including Microsoft and Zynga to discuss government surveillance, HealthCare.gov, and how government can partner with technology firms to grow the United States economy.
TIME political reporter Zeke Miller obtained the meeting notes for the get-together, which reveals Microsoft executive vice president Brad Smith and Zynga cofounder Mark Pincus will be in attendance. Representatives for Facebook, Apple, Comcast, Netflix, and Google will also attend the meeting.
During the conference, Obama and the tech executives will discuss progresss made in addresing performance and capacity issues with HealthCare.Gov (the site struggled mightily when it launched), as well as how government can better deliver information technology to "maximize innovation, efficiency, and customer service."
Also during the meeting, Obama and the tech leaders will address national security and the "economic impacts of unauthorized intelligence disclosures." Lastly, the President will speak with the executives about new ways that the Administration can partner with the technology sector to grow the economy, create jobs, and "address issues around incoming inequality and social mobility."
Last week, new documents from former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden showed that American and British agents infiltrated World of Warcraft and Xbox Live as a means to hunt terrorists. Microsoft has since joined a coalition calling for government surveillance reform.
Nintendo will hold a Nintendo Direct video presentation tomorrow, December 18 starting at 6 a.m. PDT, the company announced today.
The event will focus on Wii U and 3DS software coming through spring 2014. No specific titles were mentioned, though some major titles scheduled for that window include Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Mario Kart 8, among others.
One title that likely won't be on display during the Nintendo Direct is the new Super Smash Bros. game for Wii U and 3DS. Responding to reports about the game's release date, director Masahiro Sakurai said this week that the fighting game is not launching this spring, but rather sometime later.
The Nintendo Direct will be broadcast through the special Nintendo Direct website. We'll have all the news for you as the event unfolds.
Disney Interactive revealed the next game in the Star Wars universe today -- Star Wars: Attack Squadrons. According to a press release, the game will be a "free-to-play, open web, space combat game."
Based on screenshots and video released with the announcement, Attack Squadrons bears a strong resemblance to the Nintendo 64 Rogue Squadron series. And like the games in that series, you'll be able to pilot classic Star Wars ships such as the X-Wing or TIE Interceptor. However, Attack Squadrons will allow players to "customize and tune" their ships to some extent.
Multiplayer battles, rather than missions, make up the game's core. Dogfights in Attack Squadrons involve up to 16 players and take place in "iconic Star Wars locations."
Attack Squadrons is being developed by first-time developer Area 52 Games. If you're interested in checking out the work in development, you can sign up for the beta on the game's official website. Invites are set to go out sometime in 2014.
The latest patch for Battlefield 4 on PC has fixed the "kill trading" bug, alongside the sound loop error and a bug related to the China Rising expansion's SUAV not exploding properly.
The phenomenon of kill trading, or when two players seem to die at the same time after shooting at each other, has had the time window of being able get a kill after death decreased for players with higher latencies, which should alleviate the situation for many players.
Since releasing the update, players have been reporting two new bugs. "We have noticed that players who have SLI enabled on their graphics card may experience graphical flickering. Also, we're looking into the issue where the revive bar would get stuck on-screen in some instances. Both of these have our attention, and we're investigating them," said DICE.
DICE's full patch notes for its December 16 update:
Fix for a crash that would cause the game to stall, resulting in a sound loop. This should eliminate most of the problems relating to this.
Fix for the SUAV (introduced in the China Rising expansion pack) not exploding when hitting enemy soldiers. While these indeed should be deadly, they were never designed for “roadkilling” opponents.
Fixed one of the issues related to the so-called “Netcode” (see below for details).
Fix for an issue where 4x the damage from a vehicle's minigun would be applied to the chest when a player had the Defense specialization equipped.
Fix for player tags not always showing when needed to, resulting in players shooting team members.
Fix for graphical flickering appearing on terrain.
Fixed the instance where players suddenly would transition into Spectator Mode while playing the Defuse game mode.
Fix for a Defuse bug where none of the teams would win a round by letting the timer run out.
Fix for players getting stuck in the revive screen after being killed.
Fix for players getting stuck in the kill camera after being revived.
Fix for the game mode specific ribbons being counted twice in the multiplayer progression.
Made NVidia 331.82 or later driver versions mandatory for all players.
Disabled DirectX 11.1 on NVidia cards that have outdated drivers.
Fixed driver version not being properly detected on NVidia Optimus systems.
Fixed a minor crash that could occur when bringing up the scoreboard.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a big game. At any moment you might be running across rooftops in Havanna trying to catch a pickpocket, dueling with a great white shark at sea, or simply gambling away your last few pieces of gold in a no-name tavern on a no-name Caribbean island.
But what makes Black Flag so impressive is the level of cohesion and harmony that binds all those activities together. This is one of the most ambitious open-world games in years, and it's one that's constantly encouraging you to run off and explore new locales. There's always some new activity or endeavor to try, and most of them have some sort of reward to help nudge your journey forward. It all comes together to create a spectacular and deeply immersive adventure.
What's most amazing about Grand Theft Auto V is the way that it manages to be both tremendous in scope and precise about detail, creating a massive world that offers an incredible assortment of fun stuff to do yet feels like so much more than just a video game playground. From its ritzy downtown neighborhoods to its inner-city streets, its beachfronts to its poverty-stricken desert towns, the world of GTAV is convincing and alive in ways that video game worlds usually aren't.
And in such a vibrant world, the opportunities for surprising, wonderful moments never seem to cease. Sometimes those moments are violent and chaotic, a spectacular chain reaction of explosions or a car chase that takes a ludicrous turn. At other times, those moments might be beautiful--the perfect song coming on the radio as you speed down the freeway, or a gorgeous sunset happening as you fly a helicopter over the Vinewood Hills.
Rockstar pushed its signature series forward in GTAV not just with a more amazing world, but with a flexible three-protagonist structure and a number of astounding cinematic missions. As we look forward to the next console generation, Grand Theft Auto V is a wonderful reminder of the amazing things the last generation of consoles was capable of.
Earlier this year, if you had asked Assassin's Creed fans what their favorite entry in the series was, most would have told you Assassin's Creed II. Sure, you could make the argument that Brotherhood is the more refined game, and no one would call you crazy for that. But the leap forward from the first game to Assassin's Creed II was just so remarkable that it has managed to linger in the minds of players all these years later. But now? Well, things are a bit more complicated.
For that, we can thank Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. With its introduction of open-sea exploration and a host of fantastic side activities, Black Flag is easily the best Assassin's Creed in years. It's an ambitious, sprawling adventure that builds on what the series has done before while never forgetting its own strengths. In short, Black Flag is that giant step forward that Assassin's Creed fans have been hoping to see again. And you know what? It also happens to be a pretty fantastic game in its own right.
With the news ofmicrotransactions in Forza 5 and Gran Turismo 6, free content in a racing game is always exciting. And that's what Need for Speed Rivals is providing today in the form of a free 2015 Mustang GT.
The downloadable car is available today for download, and CNET took it for a test drive in the video below. "The physics engine in Need for Speed is too limited to really enable this car to feel significantly different from the other Mustangs already in the game, so don't expect to get a feel for that independent rear suspension," CNET wrote of the experience. "Also, the unfortunate lack of an interior view means all the hard work Ford put inside the new car goes for naught here."
And if you're looking for what to expect from the real-life Ford 2015 Mustang GT, CNET also has a full write-up of next year's muscle car.
This time , however, the law was not forgiving ... for 10 hackers from China accused of stealing accounts in World of Warcraft repeatedly . According to Massively, the 10 accused had intercepted 11,500 accounts ( ! ) Why and resold at prices that ranged from $ 1 to more humble and average $ 3 per account.
