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Takara Tomy imagines PlayStation as Optimus Prime in disguise
Have you ever looked at the original 1994 PlayStation and wondered if there's more than meets the eye? Clearly Takara Tomy Arts has. The Japanese toymaker is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Transformers and the 20th anniversary of PlayStation by combining the two brands, quite literally. Yes, it's making a PlayStation toy that transforms into Autobot hero Optimus Prime, because why the hell not. It's not the only system-to-transformer toy the company has in the pipeline, by the way. In September it's releasing a Sega Genesis model that converts into the villanous Megatron - Mega Drive and Megatron, it had to be done. You can check out that transformation on Takara Tomy's site. Sadly for now there's just art of the PlayStation Prime robot, so you'll have to channel your imagination until the toy hits Japanese store shelves early next year.
Transformers Universe launches open beta for the 4th of July
The Transformers Universe MOBA, whose first beta event kicked off last March, will formally enter open beta this weekend because nothing says Independence Day like battle robots, am I right? The open beta weekend will be marked by a double experience event, a 24-hour livestream starting at 11 a.m. EDT on July 5th, and "$75,000 in prizes to be won." In a press release issued today, Jagex CEO/CTO Mark Gerhard said the game had seen almost two million battle victories during the span of the closed beta. [Source: Jagex press release]
You can preload all your new PS4 games starting next week
One of the roadblocks to really enjoying an all-digital game collection is that it's a lot faster to drive to the store and buy a new PlayStation 4 release at midnight than it is to snag it off of the PSN Store. Sony's been prepping a fix for this for awhile now, but we thought it wouldn't be starting until this fall. That changes today, with a post on the PlayStation Blog stating that any purchases made on or after May 20th this year will take advantage of the games automatically downloading and installing in advance, and the first big title to do so is next week's Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark. Next up after that is the DLC pack for Infamous: Second Son, dubbed First Light, and then holiday season heavy hitters like LittleBigPlanet 3 and Dragon Age: Inquisition. Curiously missing, however, is the remastered version of The Last of Us due out next month. This feature is coming to digital preorders made on the PS3 too, in case you haven't upgraded just yet, too. Pretty handy, right?
IMAX shows why its 4K camera could get you watching 3D movies again
Is 3D video on the decline, destined to return to the realm of novelty? Not if you ask IMAX. The company has just detailed a large-format 4K camera that could give 3D movies a (frankly needed) visual boost. The trick, the company says, is that the camera is fully integrated; since it doesn't need a beam splitter and separate lenses, it can stay compact while maintaining IMAX's dramatic 1.9:1 aspect ratio. That portability (less than half the weight of rivals) allows for fast-action shots that would otherwise be off-limits. The camera also saves video from just before the operator hits the record button, so documentary makers shouldn't miss unexpected moments.
Transformers Universe offers a peek under the hood
It's taken a long time for it to approach launch, but Transformers Universe is closer to being ready for public consumption than ever before. It's got pre-launch bonus sales in effect, it's revealing Autobots and Decepticons alike, and it's showing off its gameplay. If you're excited to see more of what's going on behind the scenes, you'll be happy to learn that the development team has offered a peek into the development with a new series dubbed "Under the Hood." So what's in the first episode? Aside from a text-only Q&A with vice president David Nicholson, the episode looks at the Founders program, a peek at voices, and a detailed discussion of what the game will play like and where it's going in the future. That includes plenty of footage of robots turning into cars and beating the tar out of one another, for the record. Check out the video and the Q&A just past the break.
Transformers Universe adds Showdown and Mismatch to its roster
A pair of new bots joins the Transformers Universe roster today: Showdown and Mismatch. Showdown is a "crowd-pleasing, hard-scrapping Autobot" who "built his celebrity hammering 'Cons in the Kaon fight pits back in the dark days on Cybertron." He specializes in defending himself and his squad with shields. Mismatch, on the other hand, has thrown together his look from mismatched spare parts. "His minigun has been known to overheat and blow up in his face, but he'll roll with that because his enemies will taste the shrapnel too. When the dust settles, you'll find him scavenging for vital components." Rock out to the two new trailers, one for each character, embedded below. [Soure: Jagex press release]
Transformers Universe demos its MOTA gameplay
I have high hopes for what Transformers Universe could be. The game has changed a great deal from its original inception, going from an MMO tying into the then-current Prime series to a MOTA under the Generations banner. And you know that things have gotten at least a little odd when a game makes up an entirely new term to identify itself. What is a MOTA, anyway? From a look at the recent press preview event, I'd say it's World of Warcraft battlegrounds with League of Legends champions and some World of Tanks elements. Sort of. There might be more. As the above implies, we recently had the opportunity to take a look at some preview footage explaining how the game worked and what the actual play would be like. The game is certainly looking nice, especially when you consider that it's a free-to-play browser game built in Unity. But the proof is always going to be in the gameplay, and while it's hard to say for certain how well it delivers from mere preview videos, it's certainly intriguing.
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark planned for June 24
Eager to pre-order Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, a game we've seen a few scraps of gameplay from? Well then! GameStop would like to have your money and is rewarding pre-orders with the Weathered Warrior Pack, which includes two characters and two weapons. Considering the related press release states Dark Spark is "expected" to launch on June 24, you've got plenty of time to decide whether you're interested. Decepticon pals Thundercracker and Skywarp serve as the Weathered Warrior's bonus characters. If you're in it for the extra firepower, the included Glass Gas Cannon generates distortion fields, while the Electro Bolter is a distance-focused, kinetic projectile launcher. Dark Spark will arrive on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U and 3DS and is reportedly being developed by Loadout creator Edge of Reality. [Image: GameStop]
Transformers Universe founder's program includes $450 bundle
Transformers Universe may have just won "Most Expensive Founder's Pack Ever" award, as Jagex rolled out a $450 pre-launch bundle today and began taking orders. The founder's packs for Transformers Universe begin at a saner $45 for a bronze pack and go up to $60 for a silver pack, $120 for a gold pack, and $450 for the aforementioned Cybernite pack. All of the founder's packs contain titles, an in-game honor roll mention, and varying levels of season pass access and relics. From the silver pack on up, players will also get early access Transformers and other goodies. So what do you get if you blow $450 on a video game that has yet to be released? The Cybernite pack comes with $250 worth of relics, a year combo season pass, six early access robots, tons of in-game consumables, a limited-edition figurine, and 18 characters when launch hits.
Transformers Universe shows off Catapult and Shellshock
Two new warriors are being shown off by Transformers Universe today. First on the list is Catapult, an Autobot sniper with a penchant for long-ranged abilities. Catapult's core arsenal depends upon her long-range sniper rifle and electro-cloud launcher, but she also carries a shotgun for backup in close-range combat. She also heals nearby Autobots slightly each time she manages to take a Decepticon off-line, making her ranged support that much more helpful to her allies in the fray. On the other side of the coin is Shellshock, a massive Decepticon warrior covered in heavy armor and wielding a pair of cannons and an axe. His two cannons focus on dealing shield damage or spark damage, while his axe allows him to carve up and knock down nearby enemies. Shellshock also heals nearby allies when he downs an opponent, making this behemoth a force to be reckoned with in closer engagements. To see a glimpse of both characters in action, check out the videos past the break. [Source: Jagex press release]
Transformers Universe opens up first-come, first-served beta signups
Do you want to be in the first wave of Transformers Universe testing? Then go sign up right now. No, don't finish reading the rest of this article, sign up right this moment. The first beta event is apparently taking place this weekend, March 15th and 16th, and invitations are being handed out according to the highly advanced metric of "the first people who ask for it get it." So go sign up, we'll be here when you get back. If you don't get in, you can still entertain yourself with two new character reveals past the cut. Front-Line is a big old hulk of an Autobot warrior with twin axes, a chaingun, and a massive hammer for use against the Decepticons. Conduit, meanwhile, takes care of the Deception medical needs while also providing fire support with his ranged rifle. You can take a look at both videos embedded just past the break. [Source: Jagex press release]
Transformers Universe won't be RuneScape with robots
Jagex Chief Creative Officer Alex Horton recently spoke to PC Gamer about the transformation of Transformers Universe and how the "MOTA" title will differ from the MMORPG sandbox Jagex is most famous for. "Whilst staying true to what Jagex is best at (pushing forward the free-to-play, browser-based gaming arena), we moved away from delivering 'RuneScape: The Cybertron Edition' and focused on upping the emphasis on action and the different skills of a collection of Transformers Warriors," he explained. "We've created a collaborative and competitive combat experience with deep MMO heritage. A game for today. The Transformers are the center of the game, rather than the original notion of building your own Transformers warrior that is your avatar." He also addresses balancing the game to appeal to casuals, core gamers, and genre fans.
Transformers Universe promises that beta is approaching
It's been a long wait for Transformers Universe hopefuls. The game has gone from MMO to MOBA to MOTA (which is still sort of a MOBA), its release date has been pushed back, and hopeful players could be forgiven for increasingly not expecting the game to ever come out. A new post on the official site confirms, however, that the game is approaching its next beta test in the very near future. Players who hope to be taking part in the beta are asked to fill in their computer specifications, giving the development team valuable information about the game's performance on various machines. They should also keep a close eye on their email inboxes; beta invitations will be sent out based in part upon the specifications filled in on the official site. So keep the faith, and before long you too could be swapping forms and blowing up other Transformers all over the place.
Meltdown and Duststorm roll out into Transformers Universe
The first two soldiers in Transformers Universe have been revealed, along with a glimpse of how the game will actually play. Meltdown and Duststorm are the new entrants, with Meltdown representing the Autobots and Duststorm arriving with the Decepticons. Meltdown is a medical sort of 'bot, not dissimilar from Ratchet, sporting heavy weaponry along with a specialized repair beam for team support. He can repel enemies, fortify himself while attacking, and boost allies after a quick shot of repairs. By contrast, Duststorm is something of a vampiric sniper. She sports long-range weapons that can leave bombs, stun targets, or tear through shields, absorbing the energy of enemies that she demolishes. In desperate situations, she can also accelerate projectiles in close-range engagements to take out approaching foes. Check out the videos for both robots just past the break, showing off their skills in action as well as a glimpse of the game's battlefields. [Source: Jagex press release]
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark revealed at NYC Toy Fair [update]
After an early listing popped up on Amazon UK, as reported by Polygon, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark was revealed today during Hasbro's presentation at the NYC Toy Fair. IGN has posted the above trailer, which was reportedly shown during the presentation. The ending title screen notes that Dark Spark will reach PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, 3DS and PC. Update: According to a report from Examiner, Dark Spark will be handled by Loadout developer Edge of Reality rather than High Moon Studios, which worked on Transformers: War for Cybertron, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. The report also states that Ducktales: Remastered developer WayForward will handle a "strategy RPG" version of Dark Spark for the 3DS. Examiner's report notes that Dark Spark will merge the "[Transformers] Cybertron universe and the Michael Bay Transformers universe." It also states that the single-player campaign will let players side with the Autobots or Decepticons, while the multiplayer Extinction mode will feature combat built around hordes. Experience earned in either mode is said to transfer over to the other, allowing a player's progression to follow them throughout the game. [Image: IGN] [Thanks, CJMErl!]
Transformers Universe delivers trailer
Yesterday we learned that Transformers Universe is no longer going to be an MMO, but a "MOTA" (massively online, tactical action game) instead. And delivering on CEO Mark Gerhard's promise that fans would see more about the game from here on out, Jagex has released a new trailer. Check out the action of Autobots and Decepticons battling it out in the clip below. The game, slated for release this summer, is accepting beta sign ups now. [Source: Jagex press release]
Transformers Universe now a 'MOTA,' set for summer release
The last we heard about Jagex's development of Transformers Universe was in July of 2013 when it was announced that 13 employees had been laid off from the game's development team. Today, however, Jagex CEO and CTO Mark Gerhard announced some big news regarding the would-be Transformers MMO. Specifically, he announced that... it's not exactly an MMO anymore. Transformers Universe is now being called a "massively online, tactical action game, or MOTA," and Gerhard states that it offers "fast-paced, battle centric, tactical action with a selection of game modes for core gamers, casual gamers, and Transformers enthusiasts alike." All the nitty-gritty gameplay details can be found in the official post, but Gerhard specifically addresses the studio's long radio silence, stating that "from today onwards [fans] can expect regular updates, and soon all start participating first-hand" in the game's ongoing development. He mentions that the studio is "100% set to launch Transformers Universe this summer" and that they will be progressively inviting registered players into the game's beta testing. To get all the full details on this new "MOTA" or to sign up for beta, head over to the Transformers Universe official site.
Transformers' Starscream takes flight in Kerbal Space Program
We've all seen Transformers do their titular thing with ease but, when slowed down, it's quite the complicated and laborious process. There are a lot of hinges and gaskets and pistons that have to move around in different stages in order to turn a gigantic bipedal robot into an airplane. That's exactly what's so interesting about this Kerbal Space Program video, which shows how user Hooptiej built a fully-transforming Starscream model into the game. It's not the exact Starscream we remember from the TV show when we were growing up, but it's impressive nonetheless. Unfortunately, this version of Starscream isn't the most adept at flying. A few seconds after a clumsy take-off, Starscream came careening back to Earth – at least, that's what HooptieJ says. In the interest of saving face, the video cuts away before we can see Starscream crash. [Image: HooptieJ]
Super Bowl 2014 ad roundup: '80s stars raid a RadioShack, bears dance with Ellen and more
If you were one of those 110 million who tuned into this year's Super Bowl, you probably have some thoughts on those ads -- ads that cost a whole load of cash. This year, we had the predictable heart-tug from a soda brand, a shirtless Brooklyn Nine-Nine star singing along with the Muppets and a reunion with the boys of Full House over a cup of Greek yogurt. But since this is Engadget, let's start with what we know best: tech.
Transformers Universe developer Jagex lays off 13
British development studio Jagex has let 13 workers go today, "confident" that the loss would not negatively impact its upcoming MMO, Transformers Universe. "Having reviewed the remaining work required for the upcoming Transformers Universe launch we have made the decision to scale the development team back slightly," Jagex told Eurogamer in a statement today."We have always been committed to developing the highest quality games and services and are confident that this reduction will not adversely impact the game." Transformers Universe is a free-to-play, browser-based MMO for Hasbro. It was unveiled by Jagex at Blizzcon 2011 and currently seeks beta applicants before a launch this fall.
