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Mazda's engine breakthrough promises big fuel efficiency gains
Mazda has made the announcement car manufacturers have been working towards for years: it's releasing the first commercial compression-ignition gasoline engine. Dubbed SkyActiv-X, the engine will be available in 2019 and promises up to 20-30% more engine efficiency than the current SkyActiv-G, and up to 45% more than Mazda's 2008 petrol engine. Current gasoline engines rely on a spark plug to ignite their air-fuel mix. The SkyActiv-X will ignite the air-fuel mix spark-free through compression, like a diesel engine. This, according to the Japanese manufacturer, combines the advantages of petrol and diesel engines to achieve "outstanding" environmental and power performance.
Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught DLC allegedly dated for January 28
Call of Duty: Ghosts first dose of DLC, Onslaught, will be available to Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners on January 28, according to a photo Twitter user SeriousSix2010 claims to have taken at their local GameStop. The display notes that Onslaught will reach Xbox users first, which would align with Activision's E3 announcement regarding timed-exclusive DLC for the platforms. The poster suggests that Onslaught will consist of new maps known as "Fog," "Bayview," "Containment" and "Ignition," as well as a "Maverick AR & Sniper Rifle" and the first episode of a four-part, episodic offering in the game's Extinciton mode. The poster does not display a price, but considering Ghosts' season pass is $49.99 and the prices of packs for recent Call of Duty games, $15 wouldn't be surprising. We reached out to local GameStops and were told there is currently nothing in the system concerning Onslaught's release date.
Magical Drop 5 still happening, internal beta approved by Ignition
Ignition has been silent about Magical Drop 5, other than a recent assurance that it would be ready by summer. That's why we were relieved to see this update from developer Golgoth Studio, stating that "Magical Drop V Beta version was approved by the Publisher UTV Ignition! So we are now on the road to the Master version!"Once again, we have word that it hasn't been canceled, and that Ignition is still publishing it, despite being oddly quiet for most of this year. Golgoth promises more frequent updates from now on, as well.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Help me remote-control my Mac mini from my iPad
Dear Aunt TUAW, So, I bought the new iPad hoping it would replace my need for a Mac. It's great, but just not quite there. I am wanting to set up a high end Mac mini at home to run OSX on my iPad via remote access. There seems to be a lot of remote access apps. What do you think is the best. Your loving nephew, Adam Dear Adam, There are many superb remote access apps available on App Store. These include iTeleport and TeamViewer, not to mention Splashtop, RDM+, and Screens VNC. But when Auntie polled the TUAW family, all fingers pointed to one favorite: LogMeIn. LogMeIn offers convenient remote access, and best of all it is now free. Last December, the company issued a slimmed down version of their popular Ignition app, simplifying the app's features to only those needed for basic control over your remote computer. You can log in and run apps, with the screen transmitted to your iPad. A strong collection of keyboard and gesture options let you perform all the tasks you normally do, from clicking to dragging to using command-key combinations, all from the comfort of your iPad. So what features got removed from the free app? There are two key premium features that didn't make the cut: file transfer and HD media streaming. Both are available, however, through in-app purchase or you can buy the Ignition app separately. You may have read this post from last year about LogMeIn's file management and transfer capabilities. The full-featured Ignition offers a browser feature that provides access to all the data stored on your remote computer. If you have a good Internet connection (and if you're using LogMeIn to begin with, you probably do, it's a bandwidth hog, unsurprisingly), you can transfer files to and from your iPad. This lets you download documents and open them in other apps using iOS's built-in "Open in" menu, or go the opposite direction and transfer data from your iPad back home to your desktop computer. Extended options let you perform that same file transfer to the cloud (DropBox and Google Docs support are built in) and between LogMeIn-enabled computers. The second premium feature offers HD streaming. If you have iTunes running on your home computer or you've got a recorded TV episode open in EyeTV or QuickTime, the media you're playing back there streams in real time to your iPad. Basically, you can watch and listen to items from your computer in high quality. Both of these are great features, but they come at a rather high cost. You can buy lifetime access to them for $130 by purchasing Ignition directly. If you already own Ignition, which used to cost just $30 on the App Store before LogMeIn split the app into its Free and Premium options, then you already own these features as well. Alternatively you can buy 3 months of use for $20, 6 months of use for $30, or 12 months for $40 through in-app purchase from the free app. Auntie thinks the free version of LogMeIn, exactly as is, is just dandy for nearly all the remote access features most people will need, which is why she doesn't hesitate to recommend it to you for your Mac mini scenario. Hugs, Auntie T.
Ignition teaser site hints at new El Shaddai title
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron was one of the prettiest and most uniquely original games we played last year, and we'd be lying if we said we weren't itching to get another glimpse into Ignition's surreal world of pseudo-Judeo-Christian mythology and fashionable jeans.We weren't expecting that itch to ever get scratched, if we're honest, considering how weird El Shaddai is and everything, but it looks like Ignition has more in the pipeline. A teaser site has launched showcasing concept art for five new characters, two of which bear a striking (albeit distinctly female) resemblance to Lucifel and Enoch from the first game.The text in front of the concept art roughly translates to "Who is the ultimate angel who God speaks of?" according to Andriasang. The site's URL, www.elshaddai-sb.jp, may also contain clues, specifically that "sb" may be the initials of this thing's subtitle, whatever it is. We'll keep an eye our for more details, but right now our money is on a fighting game: El Shaddai: Super Battle, El Shaddai: Seraphim Battalion, something along those lines.
Disney purchases controlling stake in UTV Ignition for expansion into Indian market
Joining Mickey, Donald and Spider-Man in Disney's universe are such characters as insane detective Francis York Morgan, and a very nicely dressed Lucifel. The BBC reports that Disney has purchased a controlling stake in publisher UTV Ignition, following approval of Disney's previously announced plan by the cabinet of India (where Ignition is based).In fact, India is what Disney has in mind with this move (rather than, say, building a giant worldwide El Shaddai gaming franchise). "Increasing our brand presence and reach in key international markets is a cornerstone of our growth strategy," Disney International chair Andy Bird said. "This acquisition expands our footprint significantly and allows us to more effectively build, monetise and brand multi-platform franchises, and deliver a rich library of content to the world's second largest population."Neither Bird nor Disney have said anything specific about Ignition's gaming division, which recently published Quarrel and is known for games such as Deadly Premonition, Swarm and the internally developed El Shaddai.
Quarrel iOS on sale this weekend in honor of XBLA version
To celebrate the release of Quarrel on XBLA, publisher Ignition has temporarily dropped the price ... of the iOS version. Don't spend too much time thinking about that -- instead, enjoy the excuse to pick up Quarrel Deluxe this weekend for a dollar.The XBLA version remains at its full price, but, like, full price is five dollars. As we approach a 1200 MS Point ($15) standard for games, five bucks is not bad for a bit of wordplay.
Deja Review: Quarrel (XBLA)
We're of the firm opinion that your time is too precious, too valuable to be spent reading a full review for a game that was already reviewed many, many years ago. What's the point of applying a score to a game that's old enough to be enrolled in the sixth grade? That's why we invented Deja Review: A quick look at the new features and relative agelessness of remade, revived and re-released games. Quarrel was originally planned for XBLA, and then all the publishing deals fell through. Then Ignition took it on and began working with developer Denki on an iOS release -- which ended up coming out first. That makes this XBLA version, which was the original version, a re-release. Weird!What isn't weird is playing this on XBLA. It's still just as difficult to battle over territory by quickly spelling out anagrams, and just as satisfying to capture your opponent's soldiers by doing so. The combination of fairly quick board-game design and online play is an obvious winner, giving it a decisive advantage over its portable counterpart. Even if you're playing alone, new modes offer experiences not found in the iOS release. %Gallery-145658%
Holiday Gift Guide: iPad apps & accessories for business
From one-person shops to giant enterprises, if businesses agree on anything right now it's "iPad Yay." The Apple tablet hasn't even reached the terrible twos yet, but it's clearly making its presence felt across countless verticals and different industries. For at least a couple of mobile professional writers (who might have been termed "ink-stained wretches" in times gone by), the iPad's capability as a writing tool has led it to largely replace their laptops for day-to-day work. While consumers may be the drivers behind most iPad sales, chances are that the iPad-toting professional on your gift list is using his or her iPad for a combination of personal enjoyment and work tasks, so why not find a gift that supports and extends the biz savvy of everyone's favorite quasi-computer? Here's our brief list of gift ideas that you could conceivably write off on your taxes. Cloudy Days If your business iPad user is a sole proprietor or running a small business, they don't have to compromise about getting big-biz-level enterprise tools anymore. The same Google Apps or Box.com infrastructure that supports huge corporations can be theirs for a modest investment. Consider gifting a pro Dropbox account (50 GB is quite a bit of room to maneuver), or going with Box or Egnyte for more sophisticated file services & sharing. (Dropbox's Teams product is great, too, but requires more coordination with other colleagues.) Maybe a Pogoplug account, or a subscription to one of 37 Signals' highly-regarded services? If your businessperson is already a user of 37 Signals' Backpack business collaboration tool, the $9.99 Pouch app makes their iPad a fully-featured Backpack client. Another collaboration platform, Pagico, just released its official iPad app last week. Then again, what we want from the cloud, often as not, is access to the files we have sitting right there on our computer at the office or at home. With the free Polkast service and iPad app, business users can quickly get to their PC or Mac storage over local networks or remotely as long as the computer is on. It's not the sort of thing that BigCorp IT departments find particularly appealing, but for a lean and mean solo operation or small team it might just do the trick. Speaking of big IT, the pricey ($29.99) but indispensable LogMeIn Ignition client makes it easy to remotely control one or hundreds of remote computers from the iPad's screen. If your gift recipient has to keep tabs on a lot of PCs, Ignition is a wonderful gift. Hardware Given that the iPad is mostly self-contained, unless your recipient is asking for specific accessories or gear there's not much to add to the list that is business-specific. The two notable exceptions come under the "input" and "output" departments. For text-heavy users, a wireless physical keyboard may make the difference between frustration and joy. The Zagg and Logitech keyboard cases get a thumbs-up from Technologizer; our fearless leader Victor votes for the AmazonBasics Bluetooth keyboard, which at $44.90 is $25 cheaper than Apple's wireless compact keyboard. While the folding Jorno keyboard remains vaporgear, Logitech is now shipping its $129.99 fold-up keyboard for the iPad 2, and I have to say it looks awfully tempting. Almost any Bluetooth keyboard will work reasonably well with the iPad, so if your giftee has a preference it should be honored. As for output, it's all about presentation. Give your road warrior the $29 VGA and/or $39 Digital AV Adapter HDMI adapter cables and they'll be ready to hook up in the office or at a client, wherever there's a projector. Both adapters support mirroring with the iPad 2, so the full interface of the iPad can be shown on the screen. Of course, anyone who's going to be tossing their iPad into a backpack or laptop bag will need a cover. Apple's Smart Cover does a fine job on the front, and there's a fair assortment of matching shells for the back. The choice may come down to personal (or professional) style. Presentation & Meeting Apps Speaking of presentation output, what busy professional doesn't have to throw down a few slides now and then? The unquestioned king of the hill when it comes to iPad-driven presentations is Apple's sleek and straightforward $9.99 Keynote -- in fact, you can't really go too far wrong by bundling all three iWork apps for the new iPad user. Still, Keynote is less effective if your giftee isn't Mac-based on the desktop side; the fidelity of PowerPoint file conversions is what I'd call 'adequate.' The QuickOffice Pro HD suite does a slightly better job of keeping PPT files (not PPTX, so be sure to save down) looking the way they should, although neither product supports all the fonts, animations and transitions you'd get from your laptop when presenting. Of course, with QuickOffice you get all three productivity functions in one app. (If you really truly need the full fidelity of PowerPoint 2010, keep reading.) You can't always present in person, so don't forget the remote meeting apps. Fuze Meeting HD and WebEx for iPad both made Apple's Rewind list this year, and both are effective for video conferencing alongside content-centric presentations; Fuze even lets you upload presentation content from your iPad to the service on the fly, and run the meeting completely PC-free. Your iPad owner may already have a business account with a distance meeting service, so keep an eye out for the official app that matches their platform. Note that WebEx's tool does not support Training Center or Event Center programs, so if those features are important to you be sure to let them know. If your decks are already in the cloud with SlideRocket, the company's iPad viewer app is a must-have (and free). The way things are headed, it's not out of the realm of possibility that your iPad owner might show up for a meeting where there's no projector, but where every other attendee has his or her own iPad. In that case, the tool to use is Condé Nast's Idea Flight. This "follow along" presenting tool works just as if you had handed out copies of your deck to 14 people -- but they can't flip ahead without permission, so they won't spoil your big reveal. Idea Flight ties into LinkedIn for contact sharing, meaning you'll never have to suffer the shame of not remembering the name of the next person at the conference table. For unforgettable and unusual presentations, step away from the slide metaphor and go flying away with Prezi. While you need to author your 'cosmic zoom' presentations using the company's Flash-based web tool, the iPad viewer app works great for downloading and showing these wild and head-turning media experiences. Not every bit of dynamic content will play on the iPad, though, so be sure to leave time for experimentation. If you need to be able to show PDFs and other documents in a pinch, the most flexible (and one of the oldest) apps in this category is GoodReader. While its interface has been variously described as "idiosyncratic," "quirky" and "unique but not in the good way," the power and flexibility it offers are unmatched. It's worth having on any business-use iPad just for all the various use cases it covers and the number of other apps you won't have to buy. The latest version adds AFP filesharing support and auto-sync, so Mac users with shared folders can automatically have a set of files copy over to GoodReader without intervention for reading/review on the road. GoodReader also supports nearly every cloud storage service imaginable, from Box to Dropbox to Google Docs to WebDAV. This app would be a bargain at $15, but at $4.99 it's a steal. Travel & Expense There's no way your iPad owner is going to shine at that big pitch meeting if they don't get there on time and on budget. Fortunately the iPad makes a killer travel assistant (and not just because you can play Madden or watch movies on it). For booking air travel, the indispensable Hipmunk app makes finding the least-agonizing itinerary as simple as tap and go (Kayak is also great for complex searches). Once you're booked, Tripit for iPad gives clarity and coherence to your travel plans, allowing you to keep flight schedules in-line with hotel, car and other bookings. There are scores of expense-centric apps on the App Store, and I wish I could recommend a task-specific tool, but sad (or glad) to say I don't have to go any further than my Swiss Army app for all things remembery, the free Evernote app and cloud service (premium subscription optional). Forget the fact that all your notes and tidbits are handily synced to the cloud for easy access no matter where you roam; that's just the start. Evernote's astonishing OCR abilities on your sync'ed image-based notes mean that handwritten comments on receipts, boarding passes or hotel bills actually get recognized and indexed alongside the printed text. Once you've had the experience of jotting a client name or a project code onto a restaurant bill, snapping a picture of it with the iPad 2's camera for Evernote to digest, and then searching back at the office for that client name only to have your scrawl-adorned note pop right up... well, I'll tell you, it's magical. This capability to do IRL tagging on the fly with nothing more than a ballpoint pen is one of many features that keep me perfectly happy with Evernote. For $55, you can gift a year of Evernote's premium service (though the free version is nothing to sneeze at), and get a snazzy t-shirt in the bargain. Evernote can even help you maintain your gift list and plan your holiday celebrations. Notes & Text Having mentioned Evernote enthusiastically, there are plenty more options all over the store for text-centric tasks. The multitalented Notability gives equal time to those who prefer writing by hand, while also supporting keyboard input, PDF annotation, audio recording and cloud synchronization; it's on sale for $0.99 this week (usually $4.99). If you prefer a more minimal notes app that includes the sound-to-text timeline, check out SoundNote. Meteor Notes also adds some interesting features to the party. The free or $1.99 (lite vs. pro) app delivers a familiar folder paradigm, easy search and organization plus Dropbox sync. Of course, the iPad's onboard Notes app is capable of syncing with iCloud, Google mail or Exchange, and there's always Apple's Pages app. But then again, Evernote. Remote Access & Virtualization Aside from the aforementioned LogMeIn Ignition, there's no shortage of solid remote access clients all over the App Store. Wyse's $14.99 Pocket Cloud Pro/free Pocket Cloud gets my personal thumbs-up after Ignition, but really they all work quite well (Mel is a fan of Edovia's Screens app, for $19.99). If you're trying to do a presentation in a PC-specific app (such as PowerPoint 2010) and you haven't been able to get it quite right in SlideRocket or Keynote, using a remote access tool is a great way to deliver a high-fidelity experience. When it comes to remote access to virtual machines, Parallels & VMware have slightly different approaches. For your own personal VMware Fusion setup, VMware recommends using any capable VNC or RDP app to access a running VM. For the company's big-iron infrastructure setups of virtualized desktops, however, you can use the free VMware View app with VMware's new PCoIP connection protocol to easily and securely get a full desktop experience, including 1080p output and a 'Presentation Mode' option that turns a display-connected iPad into a sleek trackpad/keyboard combination -- but that depends on corporate support of a View server. (Wyse's Pro version of Pocket Cloud also supports connections to VMware View, and VMware is also doing View clients for Android, Windows and Mac.) Parallels is happy to offer you a $4.99 (soon to be raised) iPad app that supports remote control of the company's virtualization app on the Mac; this is a solid way to get quick remote access to your virtual machine, assuming your Mac is online and accessible (it should also work with the PC versions of Parallels Desktop, although I haven't tested that). There is a twist, however; you can use the Parallels app to 'pop the stack' and actually control the host Mac system in addition to the virtualized system. This could get confusing! Above and Beyond There are obviously thousands of business-centric apps and millions of ways the iPad can be employed where you're employed; if we went through all of them, that would be enough material to write a book. Or two. Since there's no time for that, here's a few more biz-friendly app finds. The Marketcircle suite of apps (Billings, Daylite) play extraordinarily nicely between the Mac apps that help run the business CRM and other functions and the mobile pros who need that data in a hurry. The Canadian company has gained a reputation for strong service and customer dedication, and if the businessperson on your gift list is looking for a Mac-friendly CRM solution with a good iPad story then they should be running for Daylite. If your scheduling and meeting-invite needs are more you against the world, the tough-to-search-for, great-to-find cloud calendaring service Doodle has an app that's currently iPhone-optimized; we hope it makes it to the iPad soon, but in the meantime the company has just added an iCal connector that allows users on Intel Macs to sync their iCal schedules up to Doodle quickly and easily. Project management? Merlin. Business intelligence & visualization? Roambi. Mind mapping? iThoughts HD or MindJet. So many gifts, so little time! If you've given or gotten a great app for business on the iPad, share it with us all below in the comments. Happy holidays!
El Shaddai coming to Android as side-scroller
Ignition's bizarre but beautiful action game, El Shaddai, is visiting Earth once again in an Android incarnation. Famitsu has the first screens of the game currently called ... El Shaddai Ascension of the Metatron Android Version. While the original game had both 2D platforming and 3D action segments, the mobile version is strictly 2D -- but the screens show that it keeps the distinctive visual style(s) from the console release. The two screens show locations found in the first game. It'll be released in Japan at a date to be announced, through GMO's market. An Xperia Play version is also planned.
Portabliss: Quarrel
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Quarrel. "If you're an Independent Developer, and you're not selling games directly to customers yet, start worrying, because this industry is changing beyond all recognition." – Denki founder Colin Anderson After failing to find a publisher for its Xbox Live Arcade word puzzler Quarrel, developer Denki laid off much of its staff and got to work on abandoning its "old business model" so it could start selling games directly to customers. And while that Xbox Live Arcade version has been done for some time, and has finally found a publisher in Ignition Entertainment, it's the new iOS version that Denki is releasing first ... last Thursday, in fact. Quarrel is a polished word puzzler that bills itself as equal parts Scrabble and Risk, and it works like this: You face-off against computer-controlled opponents, trying to capture every territory on the map; however, unlike Risk, battles in Quarrel are fought with words. At the beginning of each match, both players will be given the same eight letters, an anagram shuffled up beyond recognition (my last round was PANELLED). The number of letters you're able to deploy in battle depends on how many troops you have on each territory. My six-troop territory played PLEAD, worth 10 points, against the AI's six-troop PEEL, worth a measly seven. %Gallery-131083%
Quarrel brings verbal warfare to iOS on Aug. 25
We've been looking forward to Denki's word game/war game mashup, Quarrel, for a long time, even long before playing it at E3 this year. Finally, after years of uncertainty about the game's fate, developer Denki announced a release date (for the iOS version at least) and it's this Thursday. Publisher Ignition confirmed to Joystiq that the date applies to North America, and not just the game's native European territory. Quarrel will be released as a universal (iPhone/iPad) app. Two versions will be available on the App Store, a free game called Quarrel and a paid version called Quarrel Deluxe. "Quarrel caters to those who are new to our lovely word game or otherwise want to try it before buying it," the developer explains. "If the trial pleases you and your budding interest turns into a real love for it, you can upgrade to the full Quarrel extravaganza within the app with one easy In-App Purchase." Quarrel Deluxe is simply the full version paid in advance. Quarrel challenges two players to build the longest word out of a jumble of letters in order to capture territory on a map. Ignition also plans to release it on console download services later this year.%Gallery-131083%
Disney looking to buy out Faxion Online developer
Disney could become a major player in the future of Faxion Online if it goes ahead with a proposed deal to buy out the rest of UTV Software Communications' stock. Currently, Disney has a majority stake in the company -- 50.4% -- but this move would bring it up to a nice round 100%. The Ignition Entertainment label would fall under this deal, which has already been struggling with numerous layoffs and studio closings. We recently reported that UTV Ignition had to cut a good portion of its programming, maintenance, and customer service staff as part of these problems. Whether or not this deal will prove a boon or a hammer blow to Ignition remains to be seen. Disney has previously closed down developers Black Rock and Propaganda Games, although Mickey's parent company is looking to move in the direction of more social and casual gaming. We'll keep a close eye on this deal to see how it plays out.
Word game Quarrel rescued by Ignition, now headed to iOS and consoles
Last year, developer Denki was forced to cut staff when it couldn't find a publisher for Quarrel, an XBLA word game that combines anagram-searching with very light Risk-style territory battles. But over a year later, the developer finally did find the right partner for Quarrel, one who "values good games," as a frustrated Denki blog post put it last year: Ignition. It was the XBLA version of Quarrel that Ignition showed off in its E3 booth, but Ignition's Shane Bettenhausen explained that the word game will actually launch on iOS first this summer, followed by console versions later in the year. Quarrel pits two players against one another as they attempt to capture each discrete chunk of territory on a map. To do so, players must challenge the opponent to, essentially, a word jumble. Eight letters appear on screen, and the number of those letters that can be used is determined by the number of soldiers in the particular group you're controlling. So, for example, if a regiment of four soldiers attacks a territory manned by six, the attacking player can only make up to four-letter words, and the defender can make six-letter words. Each letter has a point value, like Scrabble, and the player with the highest score wins. Proving its implied commitment to value -- "good games" -- Denki added some interesting educational extras. At the end of every match, the best possible word, one that uses all eight letters, is presented on screen, and even defined. When it comes to games that increase our word power, there'll be no contention from us.%Gallery-125923%
Vita sizzle reel teases lineup, shows mystery game 'Dragon's Crown'
Sony flashed footage of a lot of upcoming PlayStation Vita games during its presentation tonight, including some things that remain unannounced. For example, Shinobido 2, a new ninja stealth game in the style of Tenchu, from original Tenchu developer Acquire. And soon after that is "Dragon's Crown," an unannounced, 2D side-scroller that can only be from Muramasa developer Vanillaware. Or someone biting Vanillaware's style big time. We would guess it's Vanillaware, because the title shows up in a trademark by Ignition, who published Muramasa.
El Shaddai rises July 26 in North America, Sept. 9 in Europe
We can understand your confusion, dear reader. "But, the Amy Grant platinum record Age to Age which featured the Michael Card-penned classic 'El Shaddai' was released to great acclaim in 1982! How can it be released on July 26 in North America and on Sept. 9 in Europe?" We love Contemporary Christian hits of the early 80s too, friend, but in this case the title refers to El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, a video game with few narrative ties to the career of Mrs. Vince Gill. Also this summer, look for Baby, Baby, a babysitting sim from Majesco and Nintendo's first application of the Vitality Sensor in Mario's Every Heartbeat.
Visualized: the National Ignition Facility in a pannable, spherical panorama
Hopefully your brain has recouped from the explosion it endured when you first laid eyes on some glorious shots of the NIF out in Nor-Cal. Now, xRez Studio's imaging gurus have provided the common folk the ability to virtually stand in front of a 500-trillion watt laser experiment at ultra high resolution. Better yet, the interactive, detailed look at an attempt at nuclear fusion allows for zooming and a full, 360-degree pan-around experience. Since this might be closest in proximity you'll get to the NIF, hit the source link to truly get a feel for what we're yapping about, and -- if you're feeling audacious -- be sure to check out the BBC video tour after the break.
Swarm priced at $15, marches to Euro PSN on March 30
The Swarm has been granted its European visa and will enter the union on March 23 and 30 on XBLA and PSN, respectively (while North American PSN users can get it on March 22). Taking control of the "pudgy, clueless little blue morons" will cost 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox and $14.99 on PSN. PlayStation Plus members get a slight discount, downloading the little goobers for $12.99. On the surface, Swarm sounds like a Pikmin- or Lemmings-style type of game, but it actually has more in common with platformers, as we recently found out in our hands-on preview.
More Reich footage surfaces, from TGS '09
We've seen footage of Ignition's canceled FPS Reich before -- remember those videos from back in November? -- but what about the 2009 demo reel, set to erratic German metal, shown at Tokyo Game Show? Thanks to YouTube user "JanusTheChosen" (a reference to the game) the lengthy clip is now available for the world to see, showcasing the canned title's destructible environments and Psi-Ops-style telekinesis gameplay. Additionally, Reich's apparent subtitle, "Downfall," is revealed, positioning the game one step closer to an internet meme. Head past the break to get a look at this most "up-to-date" footage.
Ignition L.A. studio moving to Austin
Ignition Entertainment's Los Angeles branch is moving to Austin, Texas, reports IGN. "All business will be continuing as usual," a company representative told the site -- which, for Ignition, means typically unusual business. While no official reason was given for the closure of the Glendale, Calif. publishing offices, a fresh start in Austin is an unsurprising choice given the city's rich history of game development and the state's business incentives. Maybe the move is simply a matter of consolidating Ignition's two U.S. studios, L.A. and Gainesville (Fla.), and having them meet halfway. The move from L.A. is said to have no effect on the company's current staff or projects, according to IGN, while Ignition still won't confirm exactly what is going on in Florida. A month ago, the Florida branch was reported to be closed and staff rumored to be forced out to Texas (or to find a new job). The studio's sci-fi FPS Reich was assumed to have suffered the same uncertain fate as Ignition's WarDevil game, which was left in limbo following the closure of the Ignition's London-area development studio in late September. Of course, WarDevil has since been resurrected as "Project Kane" and is supposedly in the hands of a "core team" and on track for a Q4 2011 release. See? We told you: unusual business. [Image sources: UTV Ignition; 25or6to4 (Wikipedia)]
