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UberPool riders in London might have to do some walking
Uber has performed a number of experiments in the UK, and its latest slightly rewrites how fares for UberPool work in London. Whereas before a driver might take a roundabout way to get to your on-demand bus stop, now there will be more direct routes.
'Vampyr' and the gender politics of 1918 London
Vampyr, the next game from Dontnod Entertainment features a white, male protagonist. For any other studio, this is de rigueur, something dictated by the gaming industry's presumed demographic. But for the team behind Life is Strange and Remember Me, it's the first time they've delved into the male mindset. And it wasn't the result of market research either: It's because Vampyr's story wouldn't have worked any other way.
England isn't windy enough for new turbines, claims industry boss
Every country has its stereotypes, but England will always be famous for its terrible weather. You'd think a land labeled for its cold, wet and windy conditions would be ideal for generating energy, but it turns out that isn't the case. The head of the UK's wind industry trade body, Hugh McNeal, has even gone on record to admit that England simply isn't windy enough to justify the creation of any more wind farms.
BBC will make its first broadcast into space tomorrow
British astronaut Tim Peake has already achieved a number of "firsts" while aboard the International Space Station, but his next milestone will possibly be the most entertaining. Tomorrow (February 6th), Peake and his two astronaut colleagues will view the BBC's first ever space broadcast, when it live-streams the Scotland vs England Six Nations rugby match live from Murrayfield. The BBC says it's working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to feed the game to the space station, which kicks off at 4:50pm UK time. It's obviously no surprise to Peake: he knew of the BBC's plans well before blast off -- he even had time to pack an England rugby shirt and Gilbert rugby ball in his suitcase before making the trip.
BT outbowls Sky to show England's next Ashes series
The 2015 Ashes series may only have concluded yesterday (with England retaining the urn), but broadcasters are already focusing their attention to the next round of tests in two winters' time. After stealing a significant chunk of Sky's prized football coverage away, BT announced today that it's won the rights to the 2017-18 Ashes series, dealing a heavy blow to its rival in the process. As part of its bid, the company secured access to Australian International Cricket and KFC Big Bash League matches from 2016 to 2021, which will include the five all-important Ashes matches in late 2017.
Color-changing condoms could tell which VD you just got
A group of teenage inventors have struck upon a clever (albeit still very conceptual) way to alert folks to the presence of various venereal diseases before the burning starts: fluorescing condoms that light up when they encounter dangerous bacteria or virii. The team from Isaac Newton Academy in Illford, England developed the "glowing condom" concept, dubbed S.T.Y.E, as part of this year's TeenTech awards. It would reportedly operate as a normal condom does but also incorporate a sheath of molecules that attach to the diseases and set off a fluorescent reaction. The added layer would literally glow different colors when in contact with various STDs -- green for chlamydia, yellow for herpes, purple for HPV and blue for syphilis.
BioShock shakes hands with Stepford in 'We Happy Few'
Smile for the camera -- and for the TV, and during the walk to the store, and while you're sitting in the living room, in the dark, all alone. Smile, because if you don't, they will come for you. That's the story behind the first trailer for We Happy Few, the new game from Compulsion Studios, maker of PlayStation 4 launch game Contrast. We Happy Few features a "drug-fueled, retrofuturistic city in an alternative 1960s England," filled with citizens with permanent smiles literally affixed to their faces. It's creepy, unsettling and cheerful all at the same time. Think BioShock with a splash of V for Vendetta and a smattering of picture-perfect Stepford. "I will say that Bioshock wasn't a direct inspiration, it's just that our interests have kind of always aligned with Irrational's games (people made the same comparison with Contrast)," Compulsion marketing director Sam Abbott says. "It's a pretty daunting comparison, given that we're less than one-tenth their size."
The UK will decode the genes of 100,000 people to help fight cancer
The UK is about to launch one of the more ambitious attempts at using genetic research to fight cancer and other nasty diseases. The National Health Service's England branch plans to collect and sequence the genomes of 100,000 people in hopes of understanding both how DNA affects these sicknesses (such as gene-specific causes or symptoms) and what doctors can do to test and treat patients. The strategy will see the NHS run 11 specialized Genomic Medicine Centres across England, with more due in the future. So long as everything goes smoothly, the first recruits will sign up in February.
UK plans to build first spaceport outside the US by 2018
The UK may not have the best history when it comes to space exploration, but that doesn't mean it's not interested in boldly going where only a few people have gone before. According to Sky News, Britain could play host to one of the first spaceports built outside of the US, with a shortlist of eight possible sites expected to be confirmed later this week. As it stands, six of the possible locations are in Scotland, suggesting places like Prestwick, Stornoway and Kinloss, with one in Wales (Llanbedr) and the other in England (Newquay). According to the report, construction could begin as early as 2018, although we're not sure what effect the Scottish Independence referendum would have on the plans. Still, we're loving the fact that any visiting aliens who've hitched a ride on a Virgin Galactic flight will be able to load up on Irn Bru or Teisen radell before heading back to space.
Sony will give your PlayStation controller a free World Cup makeover
Major sporting events serve as the perfect time for brands to thrust their latest wares in fans' faces. With only weeks until the start of the 2014 World Cup, Sony is maximising its marketing opportunities as one of only six official FIFA Partners by offering PS3 and PS4 owners the opportunity to give their DualShock controllers a World Cup makeover. Sony will set up Customisation Stations in three UK cities where teams of graffiti artists will adorn the controllers with names, numbers and countries completely free of charge. To take advantage of the offer, make your way to the PlayStation Customisation Stations situated in the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham on May 24th, Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester on May 31st or Westfield Stratford City in London on either the 7th or 8th June. All you'll need is your PlayStation controller and an idea of what you want done with it.
Burnout creators set out to find paradise in new studio
When Criterion Games co-founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry both left the developer in January, they revealed plans to open a new studio. That studio is Three Fields Entertainment, and according to recent tweets from Ward, it is seeking talented individuals that are "skilled in at least three fields of creating electronic entertainment." While the British studio's website doesn't offer anything that further explains its mission, Ward added on Twitter that the developer "will make games for all platforms where we can self-publish." Ward and Sperry's departure from the Burnout developer followed an internal decision to downsize Criterion in September 2013. Many of the developers moved to Need for Speed: Rivals developer Ghost Games, while those remaining at Criterion were said to be "hard at work on a new project for next-gen consoles," according to EA. [Image: Three Fields Entertainment]
2DS down to £99 at some UK retailers
Nintendo's brand-new 2DS handheld, which launched alongside Pokemon X/Y earlier this month, is already about £10 cheaper at certain retailers in the United Kingdom. Originally priced at £109.99, the svelte little device can now be had online for £99 from Amazon UK and Tesco Direct. A couple of brick and mortar installations are also on the discount train, with Sainsbury's matching Amazon's price drop and Argos running its own £99 bundle promotion from tomorrow through October 26, MCVUK reports. It's important to note that this is not an official price drop from Nintendo, but rather a bunch of British retailers taking a proactive stance on pricing ahead of the imminent holiday shopping season. Regardless, £10 works out to about $400,000 at today's imaginary exchange rates, so it's still worth doing.
Go hands-on with Xbox One in Europe starting October 25 [Update]
Microsoft will kick off its "The One Tour" on October 25, bringing the Xbox One to London and Manchester, England. The tour offers players a chance to attend one of many five-hour sessions with a friend in order to play the Xbox One ahead of its November 22 launch. Londoners will have a chance to play the console from October 25 through November 3 before it's available in Manchester from November 18 through November 27. Among the games Microsoft will have on hand for the event are Forza 5, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, Killer Instinct, Battlefield 4 and FIFA 14, though the available titles are subject to change. Those looking to get hands-on time with the Xbox One during the event will need to register on the official tour site, as tickets are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis. Players in Italy, France, and Spain aren't out of luck, as Microsoft will have the Xbox One on hand at its respective booths for Milan Games Week (October 25 – 27), Paris Games Week (October 30 – November 3) and Madrid Games Week (November 7 – 10). Update: As it turns out, players in France have had time with the Xbox One, as Microsoft's Paris tour is still happening through Sunday.
Nintendo opens UK web store with free delivery in this, our year of Luigi
If you're a resident of the United Kingdom and would prefer to put your money directly into Luigi's pocket, rather than into the coffers of big business, you now have the option of doing so, as the Nintendo UK Online Store has opened for business. The shop offers the expected range of Wii U bundles, limited-edition Pokemon-themed 3DS units, games and other various sundries. While there don't appear to be any sales or surprises to speak of, other than in-stock New Leaf 3DSes, you do get free shipping on every order and free next-day delivery on orders over £200.
UK cyber defense unit promises to 'strike back' at enemies
The UK government announced last December that it was building a "Cyber Reserve" to protect itself, and now it has a few more details to divulge. Crucially, rather than merely focusing on defending the country from attacks, it'll also have an "offensive capability" to help it act as a deterrent. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said Britain needs to be able to "strike back in cyber space against enemies who attack us, putting cyber alongside land, sea, air and space as a mainstream military activity." Although it's a fair guess to suspect that other countries are honing offensive cyber skills too, the Financial Times reckons that the UK is the first nation to admit it's doing so. According to Hammond, the strikes could be used to disable enemy chemical weapons, communications, planes, ships and hardware. As for the forces carrying them out, they could be given a budget of up to £500 million ($800 million). Work on the Joint Cyber Reserve is already underway, with reservist recruitment scheduled to start next month. If the required physical military test intimidates you, there's nothing to worry about: a less rigorous version will be used to let those of us with desk-bound physiques protect (and fight for) the Queen.
UK game sales down 17% in 2012, digital crosses £1 billion for first time
The UK's Entertainment Retailers' Association has released its final report for 2012, and video game sales in that country are down more than 17 percent. Total entertainment sales, including music and movie sales, are down by about 12 percent. The culprit seems to be physical sales, with video game shares of that category dropping from 73 percent to 65.4 percent, and physical sales overall dropping by about 5 percent.ERA Director General Kim Bayley actually cited the drops as a success for physical media, in that "despite digital's seemingly inexorable growth, the CD, the DVD and the physical games disc show incredible resilience." Bayley added that despite the shrinking numbers, "physical formats still account for three quarters of the entertainment market."On the digital side, sales crossed a record of £1 billion for the first time ever. Digital video game sales rose by 7.7 percent, just slightly less than the overall growth trend in digital. For now, however, digital growth isn't enough to keep the industry at large growing. The ERA says the lack of growth was largely due to a "dearth of attractive releases" last summer, and the organization hopes to "offer the public a much better release slate in 2013."
Proportional VR experiment shrinks man down to rat size, lets us play games with rodents
Sure, you can always play catch with the dog, but what kind of game can you play with a caged rodent? Well, "find the poster," apparently. A team of researchers from Universities in Spain, Germany, Austria, England and the US have put together a virtual reality system designed to let humans interact with rats at the rodent's scale, challenging human participants to find and lead the rodent to a unmarked goal. According to a paper published in PLoS One participants were "beamed" into the rat's environment by linking a head-mounted display and joystick to a rat-sized telepresence robot. Human players were then treated to a proportionally accurate representation of the game arena. The rat was there too, tracked with an overhead camera and represented by a human avatar. Participants were tasked with coaxing their opponent in front one of three posters in attempt to sleuth out which one represents the "winning" position. When both players are in front of the correct mystery poster, a bell sounds and the game ends. The game was primarily created to test a scaled immersive virtual reality teleoperator system, but researchers are optimistic the technology could be used to observe animal behavior from a new perspective. Check out the setup in action after the break, or read on through to the source link below for a detailed description of how mankind and some of nature's smaller creatures can get along in a virtual space.
Kickstarter now an option for UK game developers
Indie developers looking for free money from Americans no longer have to rob tourists at knife point in the busy London Underground (not that any lovely Brits would do such a thing), as Kickstarter has now established itself in the United Kingdom.Rather than being separated into their own website, UK-based Kickstarter projects will be interspersed alongside American fundraisers in the site's main ecosphere. Pledge levels will be listed in pounds sterling and monetary transactions will take place through a different third-party intermediary via Kickstarter itself, rather than Amazon Payments, but otherwise the donation process is identical to Yankee 'starters.Previously, Kickstarter had been limited to projects originating from the colonies due to the limitations of the Amazon Payments system. Now though, British creatives of all type can reap the benefits inherent to the Kickstarter system, as can Americans looking to exploit the current state of our exchange rate.
UK pricing begins to filter out for Motorola's Intel-powered RAZR i smartphone
Soon after it's unveiling, the Intel-based RAZR i showed up in Clove's listings with a SIM-free price of £342, and now it looks as if a few more outlets are pushing pricing details to the world. Expected to storm the UK in October, the phone should ship to Virgin Media customers for around £23 per month on its Premiere Tariff, while T-Mobilers will be able to score one for £0 to £31 per month depending on the contract. All told, not too shabby for the world's first 2GHz Atom-backed Android phone, and if you're eager to push all of this iPhone 5 stuff aside, at least you know precisely how many quid to save up between now and next month.
Microsoft announces new entertainment and game studio focused on Windows 8 tablet development
Windows 8 slates are riding a wave of 40 Xbox titles into an October launch, and now Microsoft has laid the foundation to deliver more games with a brand new studio focused on tablet development. The currently unnamed, London-based outfit will be headed by former Rare Production Director Lee Schuneman, who has shepherded Kinect Sports titles, the Xbox 360 Avatars, Fable: The Journey and the Xbox's Sky TV app to completion. Slabs running Redmond's latest OS won't see a project from the team for a while, however, as the studio is still looking for new hires and won't open its doors until November.
