euphoria
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Roku will stream the first season of 'Game of Thrones' for free
If you and your nearest and dearest have been meaning to check out Game of Thrones but haven't gotten around to it yet (or don't have an HBO subscription), you can stream the first season for free on Roku over the holiday season. The monstrously popular series' first 10 episodes will be available at no cost during Roku's second annual Stream-a-thon, which runs December 26th to January 1st.
HBO's 'Euphoria' isn't afraid to show how teens really use tech
It's easy to mistake Euphoria as an R-rated version of typical teen TV fare. It stars former Disney Channel mainstay Zendaya; it's set in a nameless American suburb; and it focuses on troubled high school students who, at first, fall right into the John Hughes playbook of stereotypes. And living up to HBO's reputation, it's chock full of sex, drugs and just about everything else that makes parents cringe. But the show's first season, which ended this past Sunday, made it clear that creator Sam Levinson (Assassination Nation) is aiming to tell a deeper story about the struggles teenagers face today.
HBO will let you stream full episodes of fan-favorite shows for free
If you're hunting for something new to watch, you may have looked to Twitter for suggestions. The site often serves as a human-powered recommendation tool for new TV shows and movies, with fanbases of shows like Game of Thrones and Big Little Lies tweeting reactions in real-time. In a clear bid to leverage all that social media buzz, HBO has launched a new site, "Recommended by Humans" that both compiles fan picks and gives curious non-subscribers the chance to watch episodes for free.
Shifting Perspectives: Further redesigns to the Mists of Pandaria balance druid rotation
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Shifting Perspectives for cat, bear, restoration and balance druids. Welcome to our DPS edition, brought to you by Chase Hasbrouck, aka Alaron of The Fluid Druid blog. This week, we make ch-ch-ch-changes. A new week, a new beta patch, and a new design for the balance druid rotation (again)! There are some large changes here, as it appears the developers have scrapped a few of the new ideas that they were trying in the beta and have reverted to more of a Cataclysm-style model. All the theorycrafting on this is still being done, so some caution is in order, but I'm tentatively excited about how this is turning out. First, here's a quick list of the new changes (thanks to Elrahd): Moonfire and Sunfire are now two separate spells independent of Eclipse. Base damage of DoT component damage for both spells increased by 50% and duration reverted to 18 seconds. When Celestial Alignment is activated, casting Moonfire will apply both DoTs. Crits from Starfire and Wrath increase the duration of Moonfire and Sunfire respectively by 2 seconds. Starsurge crits increases both by 2 seconds. This effect is independent of Eclipse. Fae Empowerment no longer exists. Euphoria is no longer a proc but a passive that guarantees double energy generation from nukes outside of Eclipse. Shooting Stars proc rate now 30%, down from 40%. Astral Communion now channels 25 eclipse energy per second for 4 seconds, from 15 energy per second for 7 seconds. New PvP 4 set bonus allows Astral Communion to be channeled while moving.
NaturalMotion gives us a crash course in game physics
Physics can make or break a game -- imagine how boring Half-Life 2 would've been without the gravity gun. NaturalMotion, the studio behind Backbreaker, shows how physics work in-game through its Euphoria engine (a staple of Rockstar's most recent games, like Red Dead Redemption and GTA IV).
Backbreaker update 'Greathouse' getting ready to huddle up in 'early August'
505 Games has announced a new update for its Euphoria-powered footballer, Backbreaker. Dubbed "Greathouse," this new update -- which should be available sometime in "early August" -- adds a host of features the community have apparently clamored for, such as an "improved Quarterback camera view and passing game" and 100 new plays, including nine new formations to use. Greathouse also tweaks gameplay on the other side of the ball, introducing a new "user catch system" and "full control" over interceptions. For the full patch notes, head past the break. Update: We mislabeled the launch window for the "Greathouse" update as "next month," when in fact we meant to say "early August." We apologize for the confusion.
Backbreaker demo blitzes Xbox Live
A demo for the Euphoria-powered, tackle-infused Backbreaker is now available on Xbox Live. The demo clocks in at 415MB and allows players to try out the training mode, an exhibition game and the "Tackle Alley" mode. Tackle Alley is an arcade-style game that has you running the ball up the field against a pre-placed set of defenders. Using Backbreaker's offensive options, it's your job to shake the defense and get the ball to the end zone. Backbreaker also has another innovative feature: being one of the only football games that isn't Madden. Unfortunately, the team editor isn't available in the demo, so you'll have to wait for the retail release in order to create your totally fictional team that doesn't use any NFL names or trademarks. Xbox.com: Add Backbreaker demo to your Xbox 360 download queue
Backbreaker video shows off team customization options
The Euphoria-powered football game, Backbreaker, shows off team customization tools in its latest trailer. Sure, you could use the robust editing suite to manufacture a pretty sweet team logo and end zone design ... but we know most people won't. When it launches on June 1st, could you at least promise us to keep your creations clean and devoid of objectionable genitalia for, like, the first day? How about you be a bit more mature and go with something like the Sioux City Slammers or, dare we suggest, the Jasper Joystiqs? No no, not the Joy Sticks. What is wrong with you people?
Backbreaker ad packs in the tackles, release pushed to June 1
It's okay, you don't have to read this. You saw that there was a new Backbreaker video and you came to watch some dudes get tackled. That's fine, and we understand. So, really, you don't have to read this just to make us feel like we're earning our keep. Besides, we've already seen the video, and you should totally watch it. Like, seriously, so many dudes get tackled. Actually, there is one thing you should read: The Backbreaker release date has been pushed back a week to June 1. Okay, now you can watch.
Video dev diary explains Backbreaker's unique camera
One of our favorite aspects of the Euphoria-powered football game Backbreaker has to be its innovative camera. While many focus on the game's graphics and its incredible physics animation system, it's the low-angle camera that truly separates Backbreaker from its competition. Not only does it make the game look more visceral, it drastically changes the gameplay, making it feel far more like an action game. "One of the benefits of having this down-on-the-field camera view is that it really makes playing as the quarterback -- like the passing mechanic -- feel really natural," Rob Donald explains in the dev diary above. While we're inclined to argue that the game certainly looks more real, we wonder if the close view will make players feel like they're at a disadvantage. It's something we'll have to judge when the game comes out in May.
Backbreaker hits the field on May 25
505 Games' ambitious tackle-em-up Backbreaker is looking to prove that an NFL license isn't all one needs to make a good football game -- and it'll get its chance on May 25, when the Euphoria-powered game will release in North America. Europeans anxious to break a back (and maybe an arm or two) will have to wait until May 28. So, what's your favorite part of football? Is it all of the home runs or the great names, like Dick Butkus? %Gallery-82057%
Impressions: Backbreaker
Click to enlarge Backbreaker may be the greatest football game no one will ever play. While I can attempt to detail its incredible use of the Euphoria physics engine, its spectacular graphics and truly innovative gameplay, all these features are moot thanks to the crippling fact that the game does not have the NFL license. Without the license, the annual Madden devotee won't have this on his (or her!) radar -- ironic, because Backbreaker makes good on the lofty promises of Madden 06's teased "CG movie" effect, which EA Sports has yet to deliver on, even four years later. It's easy to get jaded about sports games as they iterate, releasing slightly improved games year after year. We've grown accustomed to complacency. But simply watch a video of Backbreaker and you'll probably agree: this game is a breath of fresh air no one expected from the genre. It goes to show that with proper competition, there's a lot of room for innovation. Perhaps the most obvious thing to discuss are Backbreaker's animations, powered by the same tech used in Grand Theft Auto IV and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Euphoria allows game characters to react to their virtual environment and create dynamic animations. Unlike canned ragdolls, these animations are surprisingly lifelike, and because they can be generated on the fly, ensure the game feels spontaneous. Backbreaker has one huge advantage over games like The Force Unleashed, though: it's developed by NaturalMotion, the studio that made the Euphoria tech. %Gallery-82057%
Video: Backbreaker asks us how it feels
NaturalMotion just released a new "How Does it Feel?" trailer for their upcoming (American) football contender Backbreaker. A no-name football game that NaturalMotion is confident can compete against Madden 09 solely because of their gameplay trump card: the Euphoria engine. Promising realistic tackles, unscripted animations and dynamic fumbling goodness, Backbreaker sounds pretty decent on paper. So that's why we have trailers, to actually see with our own two eyes what the game has to offer. But, oddly enough, this Backbreaker trailer doesn't even show a hint of Euphoria goodness. No crunching bones, gang tackles or helmet to helmet collisions. Come on NaturalMotion, let's see your Euphoria trump card.
Missing@E3: Indiana Jones and the Vanished Game
One notable absence from LucasArts E3 room was any presence of Indiana Jones whatsoever. While they were highly touting Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Fracture, they didn't even have a poster featuring a silhouette of Indy and the Hat anywhere to be seen. Not only that, but LucasArts employees visibly bristled whenever we asked about it. "No comment" stung us like a whip several times.Matt Shell, marketing manager at LucasArts, finally let us know that yes, they're working on something. However, they didn't want to talk about it at all. It just seems odd that they have one of the highest grossing movies of the year, based on one of their most iconic properties, and they don't even want to show us a photo of a whip and say "It's in the game." Jump on that opportunity, Lucas! Especially after you were honking your Euphoria physics engine so loud in 2006.
38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine
38 Studios, the star-studded development studio working on a mysterious MMO codenamed Copernicus, has announced that it will use an animation engine called Morpheme. Morpheme has also been used in EVE Online and Heavenly Sword. Its creator is a company called NaturalMotion, which also created the related and acclaimed Euphoria engine used in Grand Theft Auto IV and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.Jon Laff, 38 Studios' chief technology officer, was quoted in the press release saying, "Morpheme allows us to create very high-quality character animations quickly, cutting down on a lot of intensive animation design and implementation time." Uh, good! Wouldn't want you to pick middleware that slows you down instead!So for those who are keeping track: Copernicus now uses BigWorld, Unreal Engine 3, and Morpheme. It's got the trifecta!
Get a physics lesson with this Euphoria tech demo
With the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto IV and the building anticipation for titles such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Backbreaker, we're constantly asked about the Euphoria physics engine featured in said games -- and by constantly, we mean never. However, to prevent such a onslaught of queries, we present you with a recently released tech demo from Euphoria creators NaturalMotion, which exhibits some of the differences between their engine and those of the ragdoll variety. Yes, we truly have reached a new era of making Michelin Men fall down in increasingly realistic ways.
Euphoria-based Backbreaker gameplay video is intriguing
It's far too early to pass any sort of judgment, but we're intrigued by this first gameplay video of the upcoming football game Backbreaker, which seems to be more focused on putting players into the shoes of the athletes than the godlike skycam view of most football titles. No, it has no license, but it does seem to be a different take on the genre, and really, isn't that just as important?The tackles also look fairly realistic and with good reason: The game is powered by the euphoria engine, the same one used in The Force Unleashed and Grand Theft Auto IV. We're going to hear more about this game (slated for a vague 2008 release) in the coming weeks. As such, we just want to be the first to make this joke: Gridirons of War. ... We don't have a wider context for it, but when you see it start to pop up just remember who dropped that bon mot first.
