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PlayStation Plus members can get 'Destiny 2' for free right now
September is shaping up to be a bumper month for PlayStation Plus members, as they can get their hands on Destiny 2 for free. It's the type of big-name recent release that Sony doesn't often include in its monthly PS Plus giveaways, and while most of the games in the latest batch will be available from September 4th, you can grab Destiny 2 as a freebie right now.
Playing with shiny, mysterious blocks in 'QUBE 2'
The original QUBE came out in 2012, making a name for itself as a clever spatial-puzzle game. Nearly five years later, the developers at Toxic Games have unveiled QUBE 2, a sequel that takes the best aspects of the original and throws them all in a beautiful new 3D environment.
North Dakota cops use a drone to nab three suspects in a cornfield
Both the Argentine and the UK police have nabbed bad guys with the help of drones in the past, but what about American cops? Well, the police department in Grand Forks, North Dakota, for one, is putting its drone to good use -- just recently, the city's cops have caught four underage men who've been pulled over for drunk driving using a quadcopter called Qube. The teenagers reportedly ran into a cornfield after being pulled over, but instead of giving chase, the cops flew their trusty Qube to find them amidst rows upon rows of corn.
QUBE sequel squaring up for PS4 with Project Morpheus support
Toxic Games is building a sequel to its late 2011 physics-based puzzle game QUBE. Dubbed QUBE², the sequel is in development for PS4, the studio announced via PlayStation Blog. The first-person follow-up will include refined mechanics and new puzzles along with a "tightly-woven narrative" that expands the series' universe. The "definitive version" of the first game, QUBE: Director's Cut, arrived on Steam in May. The upgraded version added a new story to the game, a sore spot for our review of the original edition. QUBE: Director's Cut is still planned for PS4, PS3, Wii U and Xbox One. It's unclear what platforms QUBE² will target other than PS4, but it will be powered by Unreal Engine 4 and support Sony's Project Morpheus virtual reality headset. [Image: Toxic Games]
Humble Weekly Bundle shoots for the stars
Brace yourself for an influx of neon, spaceships and robots in the Humble Weekly Bundle: Sci-Fi Edition. Available for any price you wish is Velocity Ultra, Cosmic DJ (Early Access game) and QUBE. For $6 or more, add in The Fall, Strike Suit Infinity and Strike Vector. The Last Federation is available for $15 or more. These purchases include the soundtracks for Velocity Ultra, QUBE, Cosmic DJ and The Last Federation. As is the case with these delicious Humble Bundles, part of the cash goes to charity, this time Child's Play and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Also, pay at least $1 and grab Steam keys for all of the games in the bundle. [Image: Humble Bundle]
QUBE: Director's Cut spins a new story on Steam, 15% off
QUBE: Director's Cut is now available on Steam, and is 15 percent off ($8.49) until Wednesday, May 28. The Director's Cut edition features a new story and additional puzzles, and is described by developer Toxic Games as QUBE's "definitive version." It also adds a ten-level time trial mode and Oculus Rift support. The original version of QUBE first arrived on PC in December 2011, and our review of it noted that game wasn't strong on narrative, but acted more as a "delightful on-screen Rubik's Cube." The first-person puzzler draws many comparisons to Valve's Portal, and has players moving blocks to solve puzzles with increasing difficulty. QUBE: Director's Cut will launch on PS3, Wii U and Xbox One "throughout 2014." [Image: Toxic Games]
Nintendo's eShop indie list sees Treasurenauts in May, QUBE in April
Nintendo has laid out its 2014 indie eShop lineup for the next few months: Mutant Mudds developer Renegade Kid has two games up for 3DS, Moon Chronicles in March and Treasurenauts in May. Wayforward's Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is due out in Q1, and Mojo Bones' side-scrolling bouncer, Siesta Fiesta, is due out in March, both for 3DS. Wii U's "Japan steam rock" platformer, Wooden Sen'Sey, is targeting a February launch, while Nicalis' 1,001 Spikes is due out in Q1 for both Wii U and 3DS. Nihilumbra, Scram Kitty and His Buddy on Rails and Squids Odyssey should land in March for Wii U. Teslagrad is aiming for March or April, and QUBE Director's Cut should launch in April, each for Wii U. For those who want to get their indie gaming on right now, the eShop's two-week Super Indie Connection Sale is live, offering a handful of games for 60 percent off, if you already own one of the games in the sale or if you buy one at full price. Sale games include Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Spin the Bottle, Toki Tori 2 and Mighty Switch Force. As a friendly reminder, Retro City Rampage DX is due out on February 6 for the 3DS eShop, and Shovel Knight hits Wii U and 3DS (and Steam) on March 31. [Image: Toxic Games]
PSA: QUBE DLC out now on Steam, 10 percent off until May 13
The Against the Qlock DLC for puzzler QUBE is out now on Steam, and is 10 percent off ($5.39) until May 13. Against the Qlock challenges players to beat ten levels in record time to top the scores of their friends. QUBE will be coming to Wii U the form of QUBE: Director's Cut. "Quite possibly," it may also make its way to Vita. No release date for either platform has been announced.
Get 7 Unreal-powered hits in Steam's Unreal Indie Bundle
Today's Steam Spotlight deal is the Unreal Indie Bundle, a steeply discounted collection of seven standout titles created using the Unreal Engine.Priced at $19.99, the compilation features the multiplayer tower defense game, Dungeon Defenders, dinosaurian online shooter Primal Carnage, and first-person puzzle game Q.U.B.E. (Quick Understanding of Block Extrusion). The Unreal Indie Bundle also includes a second tower defense darling, Sanctum, along with the first-person adventure game, The Ball, side-scrolling puzzler Unmechanical, and twin-stick shoot-'em-up Waves.Purchased individually, these games would normally set you back $79.93, making this a solid deal all around. The Unreal Indie Bundle will be available through May 6th.
ASUS Cube Google TV review
The past year has been a busy one for Google TV -- in fact, with the big I/O conference right around the corner, we're sitting down to review our fifth such device in the past 12 months. The ASUS Cube naturally does everything one would expect from a Google TV set-top box, but it also has a few tricks of its own, like a mic for voice search and a unique "Cube" main menu interface. At $139, it's priced just above the Vizio Co-Star and far below the Sony NSZ-G57. So how does it stack up? Let's see.%Gallery-186508%
QUBE takes a spin on Wii U, 'quite possibly' Vita
QUBE, the first game to come out of (the pockets of) Indie Fund, is on its way to Wii U and maybe Vita, according to a series of messages on the game's official Twitter. Toxic Games reveals a picture of QUBE running on the Wii U (shown above), along with the note that it "can't wait to get this out." As for a Vita version, Toxic responds to an inquiry with, "Quite possibly!"QUBE launched on PC in December 2011 – and we found it to be "a delightful on-screen Rubik's Cube" – and made its way to Mac one year later, in December 2012. The game recouped its $90,000 development cost in just four days, selling more than 12,000 copies on Steam in that time.
ASUS Qube to launch on April 23rd, says GTV Source, will cost $129 (update: now spelled 'Cube')
Remember that Google TV device ASUS brought out at CES? It could be available later this month. When the ASUS Qube's March 2013 release window passed without fanfare, the folks at GTV Source took note and did some probing -- eventually uncovering an April 23rd launch date. ASUS hasn't made a statement regarding pricing or availability, but the site says the release date and a $129 sticker price were confirmed by the manufacturer. When the streaming box does get here, it'll feature its own shape-themed UI, controllable by either the Qube's own remote, or via any Android device running a companion app. We'll let you know when ASUS makes things official. In the meantime, feel free to check our hands-on to see if it's hip to be square. Update: judging from a Newegg video spotted by AndroidCentral, ASUS has dropped the funny Q. "Cube" will do fine from here on out.
ASUS Qube hands-on (video)
One of ASUS' most significant announcements at CES this year is the Google TV-powered Qube. Just as the name suggests, the device comes in the shape of a cube, with an IR receiver on the front side, a USB port on the right, and a bunch more on the back: HDMI-in, HDMI-out, another USB port, RJ-45 and IR-out. Internally the Qube packs a Marvell Armada 1500 chipset with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage. Like the chassis, the Qube's interface also features a rotating cube, but that's pretty much the only thing special about it so far. The Qube naturally comes with its very own remote control, and with the exception of the lack of a numpad it comes with all the standard buttons, and on the other side it has a QWERTY keyboard. It's worth pointing out that there's also a voice command button as well as motion-sensing, thus making the most out of Google TV ver.3. Not a fan of the remote control? Then you can simply download an app onto your Nexus 7 or any Android device to get the same functions. In terms of availability, ASUS plans to launch the Qube in the US in around March for around $150. For the mean time, grab yourself a beverage and check out the demo video after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
ASUS Qube announced at CES: Google TV arrives with on-screen cube interface
While the FCC may have already punctured ASUS' surprise, at least the company's now made it official. ASUS' first Google TV device is coming and will arrive with 50GB of WebStorage cloud space and access to over 100,000 movies and TV shows through Netflix and Amazon Instant Video. It'll arrive with its own "Qube interface," unsurprisingly featuring a three-dimensional tetrahedron that rotates for access to your content. There's also motion-sensing remote control support for gaming and other apps, while anyone with an Android phone will be able to download ASUS' Mobile Remote app and steer from there. No word yet on pricing or a launch date -- ASUS won't be hosting a press event this week, but we'll be pounding the CES floors for more details. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
QUBE makes a break for Mac on Steam
QUBE, the whitewashed indie puzzler from Toxic Games and backed by Indie Fund, is now out for Mac on Steam. That's right, PC gamers no longer have a monopoly on playing with bright blocks in sterile white spaces. Children in waiting rooms worldwide, rejoice.We first heard that QUBE was breaking out of its PC prison in January, when Toxic said it was working on iOS, Mac and OnLive versions of the game. The last update mentioning an iOS version was in August; Toxic said information on a touchscreen game with "similar mechanics" to QUBE was coming "soon enough." That same post says DLC for QUBE is in the works, and QUBE 2 is a possibility, perhaps with some crowdfunding. Toxic has a few ideas regarding a sequel, at least.
Netgear's NeoTV Prime (GTV100) is the latest Google TV box outed by FCC filings (update: pictures!)
Just like the suddenly inescapable 4K, it appears Google TV will be a buzzword for multiple new devices at CES like this Netgear NeoTV Prime (model # GTV100) which GTV Hacker discovered via a pair of curious FCC testing documents. It actually snuck through the FCC before the just-leaked ASUS Qube (more on that in a moment), revealed via a documents for both its Bluetooth-connected remote control and a wireless component, although the box itself remains under wraps. The remote packs a QWERTY keyboard, while up front there's a touchpad plus the usual assortment of control buttons augmented with several app shortcuts for Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, HBO Go and Crackle. It may be wishful thinking, but here's hoping the inclusion of Amazon and HBO Go buttons mean dedicated apps are on the way, instead of the current website shortcuts. The wireless module is less revealing, only confirming the name, 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and a lack of ad-hoc wireless network support. Check after the break for a couple of more pics, and info on where Google TV may be headed. Update: We've heard a bit more about the box which is apparently in beta testing. At least at the moment, those button shortcuts are still tied to the webapps and some testers are complaining about overheating. We also have pictures of the box itself next to its remote, although it's possible the design could change before launch. [Thanks, anonymous]
ASUS Qube with Google TV pops up at the FCC (update: one piece of the puzzle)
Despite its crucial role in the Android ecosystem, ASUS hasn't taken the plunge on Google TV so far. An FCC approval for a new adapter, the Qube, suggests that reticence is coming to a quick halt -- and in an uncommon way. Rather than build a full media hub, ASUS appears to be crafting a possibly Roku-like dongle that would graft Google TV on to a host device through USB. The Qube's components aren't outlined in earnest, but it would pair up with an RF-based keyboard and touchpad for its main input. Some details may have been given away through Google Play listings for O!Mobile Control Center and Remote apps linked to the Qube -- they hint that ASUS could use the same Marvell Armada processors that power modern Google TV boxes, as well as extend smartphone control beyond what Google's official remote app can offer (we tried it with an existing Google TV unit and it wouldn't connect.) At this moment, we're less curious about when and where the Qube releases than how it will sell; its dependence could see it destined for an equipment bundle instead of sitting on shelves by its lonesome. We're asking around for possible details and will let you know if we hear more. Update: As we learned alongside the FCC's revelation of the Netgear NeoTV Prime, what we're seeing here may just be a peripheral dongle for a separate Qube box, according to GTV Hacker -- although there's not yet any visual evidence of the set-top in question.
Steam Summer Sale, Day 7: Super Meat Boy, LA Noire, Total War, Indie Bundle 7 and more
We're gonna let the "Ouch, my wallet!" jokes simmer for a couple days (or until we can think of a good one, whichever comes first) and instead we'll just give you all the straight poop on today's Steam Summer Sale offerings.Amongst today's Most Discounted Things™ is the Carpe Fulgur series, which includes Chantelise - A Tale of Two Sisters, Fortune Summoners and Recettear: An Item Shop's Tale. Today's offering also boasts a heavily discounted Total War mega pack, Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion and Super Meat Boy. In addition, there's a new Indie Bundle that features Q.U.B.E. and Dungeons of Dredmor, among other titles.Oh! Here's one: What's the difference between a second mortgage and the Steam Summer Sale? With a second mortgage, at least you get to keep the house!... No? Okay, maybe next time.
Q.U.B.E. soundtrack, collector's edition dated and dubbed
The Q.U.B.E. soundtrack is set to drop May 4 on iTunes, Amazon and Steam for $5.99, and it includes 30 of the game's original songs and 10 bonus tracks from mixologists Ben Chandler, Felix Zirwes, Steve Dunne and Project Static.A collector's edition of Q.U.B.E. is hitting Germany, Austria and Switzerland this summer, published by Headup Games and featuring "special extras," including the soundtrack. The above trailer shows off a wubby version of Q.U.B.E.'s otherwise ambient, electronic soundtrack, perhaps in an attempt to capture the more terrifying, frustrating or seizure-inducing moments of the game.
Q.U.B.E. being prototyped for iOS, Mac and OnLive versions on the way
Not a PC owner? Take heart, because the folks behind the Indie Fund's first release, Q.U.B.E., are already hard at work on bringing the game to a platform more accessible to you. "We're currently prototyping an iOS version, and a Mac version has been in the works for two months now," Toxic Games managing director and co-founder Daniel Da Rocha told Joystiq by email earlier today. The game is also planned for an OnLive release in the not so distant future. "Hard to say right now, hopefully Q1 2012," Da Rocha said. As for an Xbox Live Arcade or PlayStation Network port of the already profitable game, that concept is a bit more nebulous. "We would love to go in that direction," Da Rocha told us. "It's all dependent on how well the PC version does." You heard him, folks! Get crackin'!
