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Skype gets shareable conversation links for easy invites
Need to invite someone to join a Skype session? Well, that task just got a lot easier. The video-chatting app added a new feature that lets you invite folks to join a conversation with a shareable link. All you have to do is nab the URL, send it to the person and they can click it to join. What's more, the invitee doesn't need a Skype account to do so. Clicking on a shared link can employ Skype on the web as a guest, but it'll still offer access to messaging and both video and voice calls. If you're familiar with sharing links to Dropbox or OneDrive files, you have an idea of how this works. It sounds like a simple addition, but it's sure to save time, and allow people who aren't using the app to easily participate as needed.
Valve Steam Link review: Better than a 50-foot HDMI cable
Steam Machines are finally here -- real gaming PCs designed to live in your entertainment center and play the role of hardcore gaming console. There's just one problem: I've never wanted one. Don't get me wrong: Valve's quest to drag PC gaming into the living room is awesome, but I already have an incredibly powerful gaming rig in my office. I don't need a second, redundant machine in front of my couch. On the other hand, I'm an insane person who drilled holes in his wall to run 50 feet of cabling from his gaming PC to the back of his television set. There's an easier way, according to Valve, and it's called the Steam Link. This $50 micro PC was announced at GDC earlier this year with one express purpose in mind -- piping high-end PC gaming over a home network on the cheap. That sounds pretty good, but can it outperform my power drill and various lengths of cable?
Misfit Link offers activity tracking and more in a $20 wearable
Misfit's Flash activity tracker was already useful for handling stuff other than tallying your sleep and exercise stats. The wearable could already complete automated IF tasks and control connected tech via Logitech Harmony Home Hub. Now, the Misfit Link app will allow users to do things like snap selfies, control music or flip through a slide presentation, too. The new software is available on iOS now, but it won't arrive for Android until next month. There's a new gadget that also carries the Link name too, and the "easy to use activity tracker and smart button" offers an even more affordable option for folks who've been eying Misfit's devices. At $20 (£20) the company touts the Link as the "lowest-priced multifunctional and modular wearable on the market" -- $30 less than the Flash. It's only available directly from Misfit for now, but it's set to hit retail outlets later this quarter.
Facebook wants to help you share that must-read story
Picture the scene: you're browsing on your phone when, suddenly, you find a list of the Top 10 celebrity pets that have killed people. Now, you just have to show this to your friends on Facebook, but that means finding the share link, holding it down until it copies, opening the app and pasting it in, which could take several seconds. Naturally, that's an intolerable situation for Mark Zuckerberg, which is why the social network is testing a way to search and add these links from within the Facebook app itself. That way, all you'd have to do is click the Add Link button, type "10 celebrity pets that have kil..." and the link should pop up all by itself.
$50 Steam Link streams PC games anywhere within your house
Along with a slew of new Steam Machines, Source Engine 2 and VR news, Valve announced an interesting add-on for anyone interested in in-home streaming for their PC games: Steam Link. These $50 boxes (in the US, international pricing is TBD) will stream content from your PC or Steam Machine, as long as they're on the same WiFi network. Adding a Steam Controller will cost an extra $50 when they launch in November, and can handle gaming in 1080p at 60Hz with low latency. Sony's Remote Play game streaming is a couple of generations old, while Microsoft just announced the feature for Windows 10, and now Valve has a cheap hardware solution too. The boxes were listed on the Steam store for a moment (see it in Google's cache here), and pictures showed a slim design, with three USB ports (one up front, two in the back) along with Ethernet, HDMI and power.
Hyrule Warriors getting Majora's Mask pack next month [Update]
Hyrule Warriors will receive a new piece of downloadable content themed after The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on February 5, Nintendo revealed during its Nintendo Direct livestream this morning. The DLC will include Tingle and the game's youthful Link as playable characters, the former giving his enemies a kiss of death and whipping them with bags of rupees. The pack will also include three as-yet-unknown character skins. Update: Nintendo says the DLC will cost $7.99 and will also feature a new Adventure Mode map. [Image: Nintendo]
Outfit your Hyrule Warriors with costume DLC, now available
If you missed out on pre-ordering Hyrule Warriors to snag retailer-exclusive costumes inspired by Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time (or wanted more than one set of said costumes), there's good news waiting for you in the eShop, as four costume packs are now available for $0.99 each. Note: While the full game can be purchased via Nintendo's website, the DLC waits in the wings of the Wii U eShop. The Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time costume packs each provide Link and Zelda with costumes inspired by the respective game. A fourth pack, called the Demon King Costume Set, provides two new costumes for Ganondorf - one inspired by his appearance in Ocarina of Time and one inspired by Twilight Princess. All of the costume packs now for sale are the same as those given to customers who pre-ordered (or in the case of the Ganondorf costumes, those in Club Nintendo) so be careful not to make a double purchase. [Image: Nintendo]
Platinum gets conceptual with Bayonetta's Nintendo costumes
You can channel Nintendo's heroines (and Hyrule's hero) while unleashing crazy combos in Bayonetta 2, but it's worth taking a break from witchcraft to see how the collaboration came together in the first place. As Platinum Games detailed in a recent blog post, Bayonetta's first borrowed garb was the result of director Hideki Kamiya asking Platinum's Yong-Hee Cho to draw Bayonetta in a Princess Peach outfit. The above image and the full gallery below shows some of Cho's conceptual interpretations, but Kamiya pushed to keep the dress closer to Peach's original style. After tying Bayonetta's hair up, adding a Mario charm and some forearm flair, Kamiya and Cho were pleased with the results. Kamiya's direction similarly led to the Samus costume resembling the bounty hunter's initial venture on the NES, but the development of Bayonetta's tunic is interesting: After Kamiya approved Cho's traditional take on Link's classic attire, Cho turned the designs in to Nintendo for approval. They were returned with a suggestion that Cho open the tunic's top a little more. Bayonetta's Nintendo-themed wardrobe is available in both Bayonetta games on the Wii U, and in the case of Bayonetta 2, Contributing Editor Earnest Cavalli's review remarked that it's a "grand sequel that overshadows the most gleefully over-the-top aspects of its predecessor with entirely new levels of awe-inspiring spectacle." [Image: Platinum Games]
Link's Master Cycle makes spirit tracks in Mario Kart 8 DLC
The first downloadable content pack for Mario Kart 8 will include a special motorcycle inspired by the Legend of Zelda series, Nintendo revealed on Twitter. The Master Cycle features Link's iconic Hylian Shield on the side and a body shape that vaguely resembles a horse. Seen in the concept art above, the cycle also sports a blue and gold paint job and a Triforce on the front wheel. The Master Cycle is one of four new vehicles arriving in the November DLC pack, another being Mario's B Dasher kart from Mario Kart DS. The pack will also include three new playable racers, Link, Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach, as well as eight race tracks. Mario Kart 8's first piece of DLC will cost $8 on its own, though players will be able to pick it and another pack up in a two-for-one bundle for $12. The second DLC pack is Animal Crossing-themed and will arrive in May 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
Mario Kart 8 DLC packs priced $8 each, $12 2-in-1 bundle
Nintendo of America confirmed the crossover Mario Kart 8 DLC packs spotted yesterday on the company's UK site, with the Zelda pack due to launch stateside in November and the Animal Crossing one in May 2015. Both packs will be available for pre-order starting today, each priced at $8. However, if you know you're going to get both, you can save 25 percent by ordering the $12 two-in-one bundle. The saving doesn't apply if you buy both packs separately, unfortunately. On the flip side, anyone who buys both packs unlocks eight new colors of Yoshi and Shy Guy "immediately," in case you're in immediate need of some technicolor racing.
Link revs up in Mario Kart 8 this November
Link is a playable character in Mario Kart 8 with the "Legend of Zelda X Mario Kart 8" DLC pack, due out in the UK in November for £7. We're contacting Nintendo of America for more information about a stateside release [Update: The packs are now confirmed for North America]. The pack includes Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach and Link as new playable characters, plus four vehicles and eight courses (that's two new cups with four courses each). A second DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 is due out in May 2015, called "Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8." It includes new playable characters in Isabelle, Villager and Dry Bowser, plus four vehicles and eight courses. Purchase both packs in a bundle or separately and snag eight different-colored Shy Guys and eight different-colored Yoshis. Score. [Image: Nintendo]
Best Buy, Amazon offer Hyrule Warriors pre-order costumes
GameStop won't be the only retailer with special costumes for Link and friends when Hyrule Warriors battles for control of your Wii U on September 26. Best Buy and Amazon have also opened some special chests and ... Dun-dun-dun-DUN! ... have pulled out some exclusive costumes as well. Fans of the latest Legend of Zelda game should head over to Best Buy, where you'll get Skyward Sword-themed costumes for Link and Zelda when you pre-order the game. Those who prefer their Hero of Time to be a bit darker should opt for Amazon, which has Twilight Princess-themed costumes for the tunic-wearing swordsman and Hyrule's most-kidnappable princess. And don't forget, no matter where you pick up the game, if you're a Club Nintendo member who registers your copy before October 23, you'll receive two costumes for Zelda baddie, Ganondorf. [Image: Nintendo/Tecmo Koei]
Do not collect 200 rupees in Monopoly: The Legend of Zelda
You know, when we were kids playing Monopoly, all we had to choose from were the thimble, shoe, top hat, car, wheelbarrow, dog and battleship, and cousin Johnny always took the battleship! Hmph! Well, kids today won't have to suffer such indignities thanks to USAopoly, the company behind custom versions of classic board games; they're releasing Monopoly: The Legend of Zelda Edition, complete with way cooler player tokens. Customers who pick up this special version of Monopoly will be able to choose from such Zelda series staples as the Bow, Hookshot, Boomerang, Triforce and Hylian Shield to represent their progress. If you're picking up the board game from GameStop, you'll also be able to choose the Ocarina of Time. The GameStop edition also comes with six "Power Cards" to tweak gameplay and a Hyrule map lithograph, all packaged inside an exclusive square box. A GameStop pre-order page for Monopoly: The Legend of Zelda Edition lists September 15 as a release date. If nothing else, it might not be a bad way to pass the time until Hyrule Warriors hits shelves on September 26. [Image: USAopoly]
GE promises smart light bulbs without the usual steep prices
Many smartphone-controlled light bulbs cost a pretty penny, even if you're not interested in mood-setting colors or other elaborate tricks. How are you supposed to afford enough bulbs to illuminate your entire abode? That's where GE's new Link bulbs could save the day. While you'll need a hub ($30 by itself) to get everything connected, the LED-based white lights cost just $15 to $25 each -- in contrast, Philips' upcoming Lux models are $40 a pop. There's also a kit that includes two 60W-equivalent bulbs and a hub for $50, or half as much as you'd pay for an equivalent Lux bundle.
Link discovers pyromania in new Hyrule Warriors trailer
The defining feature of each of Tecmo Koei's "musou" games is the ability to destroy legions of enemies with a few massive strikes, and in that regard, the Legend of Zelda-themed Hyrule Warriors lives up to its pedigree. Above you'll find the latest footage released by Tecmo Koei. It depicts Nintendo icon Link using one of the game's bigger weapons. "Bigger," in this case, refers both to the size of the staff, and the damage it inflicts on enemies. Standard attacks fire a barrage of rings that blast foes unlucky enough to stand in front of Link, while more powerful strikes create flaming whirlwinds, explosive blasts and even summon meteors to crush Link's enemies to bits. In related news, the latest issue of Famitsu (courtesy Siliconera translation) claims that Hyrule Warriors will feature Agitha as a playable character. It's unknown what the self-described "Princess of Bugs" will bring to the large-scale brawler, but it's nice to the see that the oddball character has a life beyond her origin in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Hyrule Warriors is slated to appear in Japan this August, with a European launch following on September 19, and the game's North American debut on September 26. [Image: Tecmo Koei]
Legend of Zelda producer says female Link theories are rumor
Game trailers have a way of getting people buzzing, and the presence of a new Legend of Zelda game at E3 stirred up noise louder than a bumblebee alarm clock. As fans searched every frame for detail, one particular question began to circulate: "Was that a girl we saw in the trailer?" According to series producer Eiji Aonuma, the answer is no. Interestingly, it was Aonuma's own comments that fueled the speculation fire: "Another interesting comment I've heard, quite frequently actually, is that, 'Oh Link's a woman. Link is female now,'" Aonuma told Game Informer. "That might be something that consciously we kind of did, but not to say anything specific – I am not saying anything specific – but, I am hoping people continue to comment, and I will continue to follow the fan comments and reactions to the trailer." However, Aonuma clarified to MMGN that his comments were made "jokingly," and that the rumor has taken off more than he intended. That said, Aonuma told MMGN he hopes players won't get caught up in the sex of the legendary hero. "I don't want people to get hung up on the way Link looks because ultimately Link represents the player in the game," Aonuma said. "I don't want to define him so much that it becomes limiting to the players. I want players to focus on other parts of the trailer and not specifically on the character because the character Link represents, again, the player." [Image: Nintendo]
Here's what makes Bayonetta's Nintendo costumes special
Bayonetta 2's special brand of absurdity includes a few nods to Nintendo's roster, but its outfits are more than just reminders of Link, Samus and Princess Peach's existence. Isao Negishi, director of the Bayonetta Wii U port that will be bundled with Bayonetta 2, wrote out a few details about the garments, covering summons, sword-based attacks and a prime method to disarm tension. Princess Peach and Bowser disagree on the romantic qualities of kidnapping, but channeling Peach's fashion sense as Bayonetta lets players summon the spiky-shelled antagonist. As seen in the above image, Bowser will stuff his limbs through portals to knock around enemies, leaving coins as remnants of the carnage. Donning Link's tunic adds the Master Sword to Bayonetta's arsenal, but it also recalls iconic audio samples from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Negishi specifically mentions the triumphant sound that plays while opening a treasure chest, but he notes that there will be other audio-based cues as well. Negishi's post finishes with the Samus costume, which reflects the bounty hunter's original suit of armor by request of Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya. While arm cannon-oriented details weren't offered, players will be able to toggle Samus' visor up or down, which Negishi adds is surprisingly amusing when "endlessly going up-down-up-down during the game's more serious moments." Considering Bayonetta's one-liners and the new portal-punching Bowser, it's tough to remember serious moments even exist in this universe. [Image: Platinum Games]
Talk show's 'Nintendo Gay Marriage' video pairs up Mario, Link
Last Week Tonight discussed the ten-year anniversary of Massachusetts' legalization of same-sex marriage by poking fun at Nintendo's apology for not including same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life. Steamier than the average fan-fiction, the talk show played match-maker with Nintendo's characters.
Dropbox cuts access to shared documents that were accidentally exposed to the web
If you've shared a Dropbox document recently, but your intended recipients are complaining that the link is bust, then here's the likely reason: The cloud storage service has been forced to sever many shared links after realizing, perhaps a bit late in the day, that they contained an inherent security flaw that could potentially expose documents to the wrong people. Specifically, an authorized user who opens a shared document and clicks on any hyperlink within its text could unwittingly expose the entirety of that document to the webmaster of the hyperlinked site.
PBS Game/Show probes link between nostalgia, Zelda's success
In its most recent entry, PBS' Game/Show YouTube series wonders if Nintendo's beloved Legend of Zelda series is only so beloved due to an incessant reliance on player nostalgia. While Game/Show doesn't offer an answer to this question – the series is aimed at prompting discussion, not taking any one stance – the points it makes are intriguing. How many of you are immediately transported to the gleeful whimsy of childhood on hearing the Legend of Zelda overworld theme? How often have we seen new entries in the series directly reference prior games, much to the delight of fans? How many times can players explore the Lost Woods before the cartographers of Hyrule finally decide maybe that mysterious grove of trees isn't so lost after all? Watch the above footage, take in its arguments, then post your own thoughts in the comments below. [Image: Nintendo]
