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'Assassin's Creed: Odyssey' takes the series to ancient Greece
Just hours after the leaked image of a keychain accessory revealed the game, Ubisoft has posted a quick teaser for Assassin's Creed: Odyssey. With only five seconds of video, the teaser serves as a quick callback to the movie 300 as a Spartan-looking warrior boots his enemy off of a cliff, before flashing the game's logo with a familiar helmet in the middle. Along with the leak, an insider told JeuxvideoLive that this game follows Assassin's Creed: Origins with a trip to ancient Greece, where there's plenty of heroic tales, battles and mythology to mine. Kotaku reports other sources claiming that it should arrive during Ubisoft's fiscal 2019 period, and that it will include even more RPG-style elements than the last game. We'll find out more during E3
Try Microsoft's new browser in Windows 10's latest test release
If you've been wondering when Microsoft would finally roll its brand new Project Spartan web browser into a version of Windows 10 you can try, wonder no longer. The Redmond crew has released a preview build of the operating system (10049) that includes Spartan, so you can check out Cortana voice commands, annotation features and speedier rendering for yourself. The software is still rough around the edges and won't have every feature due when Windows 10 ships this summer, but you can give it a shot today if you simply can't wait to kick Internet Explorer to the curb.
Microsoft's new browser previewed in video
It was back in January that Microsoft showed off its long-awaited replacement for Internet Explorer, currently named "Project Spartan." The new browser is designed to be light, nimble and secure, with the company stressing how deeply Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant, is baked into the software. Now, thanks to WinBeta, we've gotten the first sense of how that'll work out in the real world. For instance, visit the homepage of a restaurant and the blue circle in the address bar will bounce to advise you that more information is available. In addition, you can highlight and right-click a word to define it, and typing in keywords in the address bar -- such as weather -- will bring up relevant information. The video is short, but you can expect plenty more like that when the previews of Windows 10 (with Spartan) arrive at the end of the month.
This is how Microsoft will unite your Windows 10 devices
Microsoft's big promise with Windows 10 is its ability to run apps across the entire platform. The framework for these universal apps hasn't been described in much detail, but a post on the Windows Blog gives a bit more insight under the hood. Redmond's calling these "mobile experiences," meaning apps you can use across a variety of different devices; the software is mobile, not the gizmo you're using it on. Cortana moving from smartphone to desktop and the Xbox One's Game DVR tool being available on your gaming PC are but a few examples. The idea is to offer a set of standards across the Windows 10 platform so everything remains familiar regardless of what piece of hardware you're accessing the application from. That means everything should have, in Microsoft's words, an adaptive user experience with natural inputs; calls for cloud-based services including Cortana integration and the action center and one design language across the board.
Windows 10's browser reportedly lets you search with your voice (update: pics)
Windows 10's oft-reported Spartan web browser may not just be a leaner, fresher substitute for Internet Explorer -- it could have a few tricks up its sleeve, too. Sources for The Verge claim that Microsoft's voice-guided Cortana assistant will be present both in the OS and in Spartan -- much like Chrome's "OK Google" feature, you can reportedly open a new browser tab and ask Cortana to look something up, whether it's a website or your flight itinerary. There's also talk of pen-based annotations for websites that you can share with others through the cloud.
Windows 10 will reportedly come with a new, lighter web browser
Internet Explorer has been a cornerstone of Windows ever since 1995, but it looks like Microsoft is ready to leave its venerable (if sometimes infamous) web browser by the wayside. ZDNet understands that a previously rumored overhaul to Internet Explorer for Windows 10, nicknamed Spartan, is actually a brand new creation. It would still use the company's own web engines, but it would be far more "light-weight" and, if you believe earlier leaks, behave more like Chrome or Firefox. The break is reportedly sharp enough that the future Windows version will keep Internet Explorer 11 around in case you need it for certain apps or features.
End of Nations Liberation Front info and trailer
Trion's End of Nations MMORTS features two playable factions. One of them is the heroic Liberation Front, which is featured in the company's latest video release. The Front boasts two classes: the hard-hitting Spartan, who drives tanks and "other infantry units with high defenses and high damage output," and the Patriot, who specializes in multi-role support units. Both classes, as well as a number of selectable (and customizable) units, are highlighted in the new trailer, so take a look past the break and get a leg up on building your battle-ready company. End of Nations is a free-to-play strategy title that is currently in alpha testing. [Source: Trion press release]
A Spartan and a Stormtrooper find love
Here's the thing about being trapped inside of a suit all day: you crave connections. The tender embrace of another carbon-based life-form becomes a precious commodity -- a feeling we're far too familiar with, being the encased blogging machines that we are. But we digress. This video (available past the break) from Austin-based Adam Grumbo shows us that both Spartans and Stormtroopers should periodically take a pause from their respective Covenant and Jedi murderin' to enjoy the finer things in life -- like fist-bumping and repping the cul de sac on a bitching BMX bike or a pair of sweet rollerblades. It's one of those things that just brings a tear to your eye, you know? [Via The Escapist]
Bungie releases Halo: Reach screens, concept art and bios
Click image to Spartan-size We hope you wanted to see a bunch of screens from Halo: Reach today. Bungie has uploaded a ton of new images, showing off environments and gameplay, as well as an extensive collection of concept art (all compiled in the gallery below). You'll also find some character bios on Bungie's site, if you plan on getting to know your squad of Spartans a little better. The images are generally full of the things you'd expect at this point: Spartans; Covenant; and general Halo-y goodness, but one image in particular is very curious to us. Not only is the reticle not in the center of the screen, but there's also a HUD item scrubbed out. Whatever could it be? We know the internet has had way more experience than us in putting Halo stuff under the microscope, so we leave the guesstimating up to you. Best one wins our undying love and admiration forever! %Gallery-64713% [Thanks, Omer]
17 Spartans bust a move at the Philly Mummers Parade
[Image: Kotaku] Flash mobs are all the rage now, but the above image actually comes from the Philadelphia Mummers Parade this year. Kotaku reader Justin managed to snag video of the choreographed event which, if it were real cyborg human heroes and not a bunch of faux-Spartans, would probably end up costing taxpayers about $814 gajillion -- and that's in today's dollars, not even accounting for 500 years of inflation. To check out video of the dance routine, head on over to Kotaku.
Grab your own Grifball Spartan at San Diego Comic Con
Click to kung fu-gripisize image If you're attending the San Diego Comic Con and are a fan of all things Halo 3, then you'll likely be excited to hear that Toys R Us and McFarlane Toys are teaming up to sell the exclusive figure you see above during the show. Only 6,000 of these Grifball bad boys (or girls, because you really don't know who's under that 200 billion-dollar suit of armor) are being sold at the show, and you can grab your own for $15. We suggest making this a priority stop, as the figure features a Bomb, Gravity Hammer, Recon armor, and Sword Hilt, with the latter two being pretty big deals in the world of spinning space rings, we hear. Also, 6,000 isn't a lot when you consider 126,000 people attended the show last year.San Diego Comic-Con goes down from July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center.%Gallery-49402%
Want to kill some time? Check out Mario vs. Spartan: The Game
Joystiq's Free Game Club picked up on Mario vs. Spartan: The Game and, by golly, we're glad they did. This simple title is easy to get a grasp on, even though the premise makes no sense. But, hey, you get to beat up on a billion dollar cyborg dude thing (whatever that Chief Master guy is supposed to be) with Mario. That isn't too bad, right?So, if you find yourself stuck in front of a computer today just like us, check out the game here. It's a good way to kill some time. See also: It's a Wonderful (Super Mario) World[Via Joystiq]
Bungie considers the challenges of a Halo MMO
Bungie community and PR director Brian Jarrard recently told gamesindustry.biz that a Halo MMO has been the subject of "heated discussions" at the house that built Master Chief. Jarrard opines on the topic for a while, concluding that a lot of new lore and characters on top of the already-extensive universe that is Halo for a workable MMO.That point of view rings quite true with us here at Massively. Typically, any time a non-MMO property is tapped for entry into the genre there are mountains of conceptual alterations that need to be made -- not to mention the catch 22 Jedi concession. You can't have a compelling Star Wars MMO without Jedi, however there needs to be some serious lore considerations if a developer is to allow hundreds of players run around their game world as laser-sword swinging, neo-space faring, monk/samurai. The same rule applies to the rare and elite Spartan warriors of the Halo universe.
ILY Enterprise unveils "world's first" 6x SATA Blu-ray duplicator
ILY Enterprise is totally playing word games here with its "world's first" 6x SATA Blu-ray duplicator, but we suspect it actually is a tad quicker than Vinpower Digital's comparable unit. As the company states, this unit boasts a controller that is "specifically designed and built for a SATA connection to reduce the cost and work more reliably than IDE-converted-SATA units," though we can't say if you'll actually notice the difference in speed without a stopwatch. Whatever the case, those interested in firing up their own piracy farm movie production company can acquire one now (from 1 to 11 targets) for a presumably lofty price. Oh, and judging by those logos, we reckon these drives could be used to play back some of your old HD DVDs during off-hours -- talk about a nice perk.
Microsoft lawyer says Master Chief in Unreal is 'great'
We're sure you saw the delightful cross-platform mash-up that put everyone's favorite Spartan smack dab in the middle of PS3 shooter Unreal Tournament 3. While we got a kick of it, we couldn't help but wonder how Uncle Bill and his army of lawyers felt. According to one of those legal eagles, MS thinks that it's the bee's knees.Here it is straight from the source: "The developers aren't selling the mod, they're not monetizing Microsoft's IP, they're just creating something to share their love of the Master Chief on a new platform. It's a great thing for us and a great thing for the gaming community." Apparently, we've got the Game Content Usage Rules to thank. Now ... do those apply to G.I. Joe?
Today's one-to-one-scale video: Fan-made Halo helmet
We looked for something unrelated to Halo for our video pick, but eventually just learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. This Spike TV GameHead clip shows Halo fan, Devin White's rough process in creating Master Chief armor. (We'd call it cosplay, but that's like calling G.I. Joe a doll.) White casts molds from his clay sculptures to create plastic, glistening armor and helmets.The race is on to hollow-out the Legendary box into a small, pet-wearable helmet. Watch this fan build a human-wearable one from scratch after the break.
Halo-themed 360 arrives on Sunday
If you've been eagerly anticipating being able to ditch your white 360 in favor of a marketing tool that also plays games, you'll get your chance when the Halo 3-branded Xbox 360 arrives, which we now know will be on Sunday, thanks to a handy press release from Microsoft.That just leaves you 2 days to decide whether or not to take the plunge. The question is really more of personal one: Is it worth it to you to pay $400 for a 20GB 360 featuring a headset, a Spartan green-and-gold finish, a Play and Charge Kit and permanent guaranteed virginity? That's something you'll have to decide for yourself.%Gallery-5674%
Awww, it's a cute pink Spartan faceplate
That overly cool gaming chick bs angel purchased and just received one of he most girly Spartan faceplates we've ever seen. Really, this custom faceplate was painted by artist Pavel Dolgov and is a girly girl's dream featuring a pink Spartan, a fluffy teddy bear, a few hearts and a rainbow. We can't think of anything cooler than this and are willing to go as far as to say that it's the uber hotness. You can read about the pink faceplate's entire creation process over at bs angel's blog (part 1, part 2, part 3). Full size faceplate picture viewable after the break.
Fan Made CGI Spartan-III Art drops jaws
BlendedEcks put together a truly amazing piece of CGI work with a Spartan-III in customized armor. Wow. Just Wow. First seen on the cover of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, then popped again when customizing your online Halo 3 avatar, expanded to your armor, on top of the emblems and service tags. When passing the image around X3F Towers, a direct response was " #$%^, he ought to send that to Bungie, get himself a job!" Unanimously agreeing, we suggest he sees where it can take him. We've included a full resolution version in the gallery below.[Via HBO]%Gallery-3976%
Todd McFarlane designs wireless Halo 3 controllers
Microsoft's Xbox 360 controller is no stranger to hacks 'n mods, but unless your drawing skills are on par with Mr. Todd McFarlane, you won't soon be duplicating these on your own. Both the Spartan and Covenant wireless controllers are splashed in artwork by none other than the Spawn man himself on "high-quality, scratch and wear resistant plastic," and include a limited edition Halo 3 figurine to boot. Moreover, those who aren't down with wrapping their palms around a third-party controller shouldn't fret, as these special devices are first-party through and through. Lastly, an equally rare headset looks to also be available, but it skips the McFarlane makeover in favor of a simple Halo 3 logo. All three units are tentatively set to ship the first week in September for a stiff $59.99 apiece, but after waiting this long to finally have Halo 3 spinnin' in your console, you might as well complete the experience.[Via Joystiq, thanks Mark]
