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Internet of Things could save lives during Antarctic expedition
Can the internet of things do more than just let your phone control your home's lighting and temperature? It's an idea that Sigfox is putting to the test after revealing that it's equipping an Antarctic research base with its low-power wireless network. Rather than being used to run the facilities' creature comforts, the tech will be used to connect personal GPS trackers onto the team stationed there. It's hoped that the system can be employed to prevent personnel getting separated from each other in the harsh blizzards encountered during expeditions. The only thing we're wondering is how come it's taken until 2016 before someone's been able to get a system like this working in such a dangerous environment.
Defiance developers answer a dozen player questions
Good news, Defiance fans: Your questions have been answered. Assuming that your questions were closely tied to the 12 questions answered here, of course. Otherwise your questions remain unanswered. But if you want to know more about expeditions or the upcoming Alcatraz hub, the answers have you covered. Whether or not you'll like the answers is another story entirely; expeditions are very much about straightforward shooting engagements with a full group using a drop-in-drop-out approach to forming a party. At this point there's no exact ETA for when the Alcatraz update will be available on the game's test server, although the developers are hopeful for "soon." The answers also discuss some long-standing issues and a few bugs as well as take on the issue of character customization, which isn't going to be expanded any time soon. Even if your question isn't among the ones answered, it still would behoove Defiance players to take a peek at what's in store for the game.
EVE Online tightens things up for Phoebe
A new blog post at EVE Online reveals that the team is working on streamlining a few of its existing features for the upcoming Phoebe patch. The first tweak is to exploration, as the team will be making data sites more valuable and frequent. Career agents will also stop blabbing so much in the mission boxes, with shorter text messages to emphasize the objectives. Finally, the team is bringing its semi-hidden expedition content into the light with easier-to-follow breadcrumbs and bug fixes: "We've added in some messaging to guide you towards these specific structures. We have also increased the percentage chance of the rarer types of expedition occurring as we simply found these figures to be too low. These combined changes should help somewhat in bringing this 'hidden' content to the surface for you to enjoy."
Go on an Expedition with Titanfall DLC gameplay trailer
As you wander the scorched earth left behind by your umpteen-hundredth battle in Titanfall, you discover what looks like a travel brochure. It reads: Dear Titanfall players: Tired of the same places? Need to get away from it all? Respawn's Expedition travel package has what you need. Try scenic Swampland, where you, your jetpack and your giant robot can crush your enemies in a quiet, natural environment. Then again, if you like the hustle and bustle of modern life, you can always head for Runoff and fight in a more industrial arena. Not the outdoors type? Order a pizza, stay inside your Titan and battle for virtual supremacy in Wargames instead. Titanfall's Expedition DLC (that's short for Dramatic Life enCounters) will be available via Xbox One and PC in May and for Xbox 360 in June for $9.99. Intrepid explorers ready to grab the Titan by the handles can also purchase a Season Pass for $24.99 and automatically receive the Expedition package, as well as two more upcoming DLC packages. [Image: EA]
Watch the evolution of Titanfall's DLC map 'Swampland'
Respawn Entertainment's first DLC pack for Titanfall is due this month, and offered insight on the creation of the game's new multiplayer levels. Designer Chris Dionne elaborated on the development of one of the Expedition levels called "Swampland" in a recent blog, which features a large cluster of redwood trees in a murky area. The developer also included a video showing the stage's (over)growth since its inception, seen above. The concept for the level first came about in the summer of 2011 while Titanfall was still in development, and was tabled for nearly two years before being considered again as a multiplayer DLC stage. Dionne said Swampland started out "almost completely flat with yellow fog and towering redwoods," which became crucial to its overall design. At one point, Swampland was overrun with IMC buildings, temples and a massive infrastructure, which caused it to lose some personality, as the designer put it. The focus shifted to the towering trees as playtesters found it enjoyable to bounce off them as pilots and dodge around them as titans, leading to the decision to place the trees in the center of the action. Announced last month, the Expedition pack includes the "War Games" and "Runoff" maps and will cost $9.99. Those that pick up the $25 Titanfall season pass will receive Expedition in addition to two other map packs down the road. [Image: Respawn Entertainment]
Titanfall pilots make a swamp landing in 'Expedition' screens
Respawn Entertainment has released a new batch of screens for "Expedition," its upcoming Titanfall expansion that sends pilots up, over and through three new maps, including this above-standard bog. [Image: EA]
Take an Expedition into Titanfall's War Games map
Following an initial reveal earlier this month, developer Respawn Entertainment has now graced us with a handful of screenshots and solid information on the War Games map included in Titanfall's upcoming "Expedition" DLC pack. Unlike the game's other maps, War Games isn't real. That is, it's even less real than the video game's other maps as it takes place within the same simulator players strolled through during Titanfall's training mission. As a result, the developers were able to craft imaginative structures with a focus toward acrobatics without having to worry about things like design congruency and sensible architectural layouts. This virtual setting also allowed Respawn's level designers to incorporate level battlefields for the game's titular giant robots, free of debris that might distract from the task of blowing apart opposing robots. For more, pay a visit to the Titanfall website where designer Jason McCord offers his take on War Games. This map, along with two others, will debut in the Expedition DLC at some point in May, at a price of $10. [Image: EA]
Titanfall's first DLC map pack, Expedition, due in May
Titanfall pilots that are a bit fatigued from stomping around the same set of maps, take note - the game's first round of DLC maps is due in May under the title of "Expedition." Polygon reports that the three-pack of maps will include "Swampland," a stretch of alien ruins that offers trees for wallrunning, "Runoff," a map that incorporates water, and "War Games," a map that's hosted within the game's training simulator. "Expedition" is the first of three $10 map packs that are included in Titanfall's season pass, which was announced in March alongside its $25 price tag. The pass provides a $5 discount from what the combined price of the three map packs would be if bought separately. [Image: Respawn Entertainment]
Oregon Scientific's App In Sports watches sync with your phone, grab apps from it
One of the many new products we spotted at Oregon Scientific's CES booth was the App In Sports range of watches. As the name suggests, these wearables can link up to your Android phone (via ANT+ wireless connection) to grab up to three app profiles, and the range of profiles available depend on the model of the watches due to their different sensors: for the RA900 (Expedition) you get cardio, weather, hiking and sleep; whereas the SE900 offers coach, running, workout and sleep. More profiles will be made available, though it's not clear whether they'll make it before or after the watches launch in a few months time. Either way, users will need to install the matching Android apps according to their watch models, but both apps can sync with the watches for exercise summary data (including heart rate, exercise time, distance and speed). Demo video after the break.
Ford SYNC AppLink gets rolling in ten new models, still just three apps deep
Back when we gave Ford's SYNC AppLink a test drive in that little green Fiesta, we got word that the Mustang was next in line to receive the service. Well, earlier this year, the auto outfit Linked-up the Mustang and now it's rolling out the application for 10 new 2012 models, including the F-150, Fusion (Hybrid and otherwise), Super Duty, and Expedition. It also says it's got a slew of developers lining up to bring hands-free control of their apps to AppLink. For now, though, no matter which SYNC-enabled beast you boast, or which OS you're rocking (BlackBerry OS, iOS, or Android), you'll be riding dirty with just two linked apps at most. Full PR after the break.
Phat Loot Phriday: Sawed-off Hand Cannon
A brand new continent, full of new loot to get. We'll start off with this rep piece -- if you're Alliance and need a ranged weapon and a rep to grind, Vanguard is a good place to start.Name: Sawed-off Hand Cannon (Wowhead, Thottbot, Allakazham)Type: Rare GunDamage/Speed: 208-386 / 3.10 (95.8 DPS)Abilities: +17 Agility, +27 Stamina. Not too shabby at all. And it even gives you +18 hit rating, which is extra nice (by 78 you've hopefully already reached your hit cap, whatever that is, but putting it on the gun and off of your other gear will allow for a little more flexibility. It's an all-round good gun on your way up to 80 -- there will certainly be better but for the rep, which you'll probably get sleepwalking through Howling Fjord, it's a new reward. How to get it and a request after the break.%Gallery-33600%
