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SOE announces Esamir, PlanetSide 2's new, cold continent [Updated]
PlanetSide 2, currently in development over at Sony Online Entertainment, is an MMO like no other. The game is a first-person shooter that boasts a persistent online world, strategy-focused gameplay and a skill-based reward system. There are experience points, unlocks, class specializations and customization options, along with piles of guns, numerous vehicles and twitch-heavy skill-based rapid-fire combat. In short, it's everything you might expect to find in a game bearing the MMOFPS moniker. The combat in PlanetSide 2 takes place on enormous continents packed with defensible structures and environmental hazards. And while SOE plans to launch the game with three continents total, current beta participants have so far only had access to the canyon/forest/desert terrain of Indar. Lucky for those testers ready for a change of scenery, SOE has just announced the addition of Esamir, a second playable continent that promises to bring a host of new challenges along with new visuals and new hidden secrets. We sat down with SOE's Leonard Gullo and Tramell Isaac to get an up-close look Esamir and find out what lies in store for those willing to brave its harsh climates.
Samsung teasing Galaxy S III Mini for October 11?
Samsung has issued an invitation for a press event to launch something, and it's hard not to connect the dots with the tantalizing clues it's given -- though skepticism always reigns in the absence of fact. The large 'S' logo in the middle of the page is the first hint that it's likely to be some kind Galaxy S-class smartphone. The tagline offers the next clue: "Prepare for something small to make a big entrance," and elsewhere, "Ready for a little sensation?" Considering that the rumor mill has already churned out the idea of a Galaxy S III Mini -- as some don't cotton to the pocket-unfriendly 4.8-inch screen of the current model -- it's tempting to conclude a smaller version will be launched. However, we could also be looking at the Galaxy Ace 3, so don't forget to keep your expectations in check. [Image credit: Mobi Flip]
CCP unveils EVE Online: Retribution, coming this winter
Earlier this evening at the VETO EVE fan gathering in London, CCP announced EVE Online's 18th expansion: EVE Online: Retribution. Due in December, this latest content overhaul promises to bring some of the biggest changes yet to the space-themed sandbox MMO, which is steadily ramping up for its 10th anniversary next May. We sat down with Jon Lander and Kristoffer Touborg, EVE's executive producer and lead designer respectively, to get a first-hand look at some of Retribution's key features as well as the enormous pile of tweaks, updates, and adjustments players might expect with any CCP-helmed update. One thing is certain: After Retribution, the world of internet spaceships will never again be the same.
PES 2013 takes the pitch on September 25
Konami has announced an official release date for its upcoming PES 2013 soccer sim. Players will be able to pick up the game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows on September 25. The game features "PES Full Control," which promises to let players manually control every single pass. The new Pro Active AI should keep your opponents competitive, too.If you're not sure whether you want PES 2013 yet or not, you're in luck: There are two different demos for the game available right now. Give one or both a play, and you'll know for sure whether you want to start corner kicking later on this month.
Samsung teasing Series 5 Hybrid PC announcement at IFA
While we fritter away our hours sharing cat pictures on Facebook, Samsung prefers to issue forth teasers for its forthcoming products. The latest is the above snap, raising hopes that its Series 5 Hybrid PC will be formally announced a teutonic trade show IFA this week. The 11-inch Transformer-esque device features a tablet that's magnetically-attached to a keyboard dock, running "full" Windows 8 on Intel's Clover Trail x86 architecture. In addition to Redmond's newest OS, it'll use native versions of the S-Pen apps we've used on the Galaxy Note 10.1, although it's probably too much to hope that it'll be able to make calls like its cousin.
Archos readying 9.7- and 8-inch versions of its 101 XS tablet
Archos' new Coverboard-decked 101 XS tablet isn't the end of its Android efforts for 2012. During our briefing, the manufacturer revealed that it has both a 9.7- and 8-inch model incoming. The duo are set to arrive before the end of the year, and will, aside from dimensions, pack the same list of features we saw on the bigger model. Each will come with its own, perfectly-sized keyboard cover and what's likely to be the same raft of connectivity options seen on Archos' first XS tablet. The 8-inch model (80 XS) will pack a 1,024 x 768 resolution screen, while the larger 9.7-inch slab (97 XS) will house a 1,280 x 800 16:10 screen, a ratio that differentiates it, if only a little, from the slightly bigger model unveiled today. Archos is keeping some vital points -- like pricing -- a secret for now, but we'll update with more details as soon as we hear them.
Archos announces 101 XS tablet with built-in keyboard dock, arriving in November for $400
Archos recently dropped a few hints about a Gen 10 tablet, and, just as promised, three weeks later the device is getting its official unveiling. Meet the Archos 101 XS, a 10-inch slate running Ice Cream Sandwich and a dual-core TI OMAP-4470 processor. Staying true to the company's budget-friendly rep, the 101 XS will go for $400 when it drops in November, and that includes the tablet's main attraction: a keyboard dock that also acts as a cover to protect the 1,280 x 800 display. The so-called Coverboard attaches to the tablet's body magnetically, and there's a dock for securing the device when you want to type. The Coverboard sports a full QWERTY layout along with home, back and recently open buttons for navigating the Android OS. Speaking of which, Archos says the XS will be upgradeable to Jelly Bean in October. Other key specs include 16GB of internal storage, a 1.3-megapixel, 720p webcam and a 1.3-pound, 0.31-inch-thick design. To complement its new slab, Archos has also announced several new docks and covers. The Boombox speaker dock will charge your 101 XS while you soak up 32 watts of music playback. If you'd prefer to hook it up to your existing system, the Cradle dock has audio-out ports alongside a pair of USB sockets that can be connected to portable hard drives -- and more music. A selection of pouches and sleeves will also be up for grabs for anyone who's willing to leave that Coverboard behind. Pricing info for these accessories is yet to come. For more info, head past the break for the press release (and photos). We also have a full review of the 101 XS -- check it out here. Jamie Rigg contributed to this report.
Plants vs Zombies 2 coming next year
PopCap has made an announcement that will be music to the ears of flower-planting undead fighters everywhere: Plants vs. Zombies is getting a sequel, due in spring 2013. Unfortunately, no details have been announced yet; PopCap says that the game will have "new features, settings, and situations" but that's about it. That's probably not a problem, however, as fans will probably be happy with any new PvZ content they can play. Another thing that hasn't been announced yet is platforms. Traditionally, PopCap has launched its titles on PC first then, as it did with Plants vs Zombies, release them on other platforms such as iOS and gaming consoles. But Plants vs. Zombies has been a huge hit on mobile. PopCap, as part of EA, has also been increasingly focusing on mobile as a way to sell its mass-market casual games. So hopefully it won't be long before we see this title on iOS -- with luck it might be on release day.
Nokia and Microsoft announce September 5th Windows Phone event
We just received an invite from Nokia and Microsoft to attend a Windows Phone-centric event on September 5th. This is the same day as Nokia World's opener, and we have a feeling this isn't a coincidence. Rumors have been rampant that the Finnish company would choose this particular week to announce its lineup of Windows Phone 8 devices, and we're hoping this is indeed the case. Granted, the invite comes with a large reference to Nokia Maps, so it's certainly possible the navigation service could be a primary focus of the event, but we're hedging our bets on new handsets. Either way, we'll be there to share the excitement with you.
Motorola teases mystery LTE phone, announces Friday reveal (update: no new device)
Taking to its Facebook page, Motorola has rewarded its loyal Likers with a tease: an LTE phone will be revealed on Friday, and the company will offer up a new clue about it every day leading up to the announcement. Our guess? We'd say we're ripe for a Droid RAZR HD debut on Verizon right about now. Regardless, it seems that Moto's pretty eager for this mysterious device -- we just hope it's worth the anticipation. Update: It turns out that Motorola is not actually revealing a new device on Friday. Rather, it appears the company's simply playing a game of "guess the smartphone" (the phone is already available in the US, apparently) and the answer will be unveiled on Friday.
The Engadget Podcast is live today at 1:45PM ET!
Why are we going even earlier this week? Scheduling issues? The element of surprise? Broken clocks? Only Tim, Brian and Terrence know for sure -- and perhaps you will as well, if you tune in at 1:45PM ET. Update: Annddddd we're done! Catch the recording tomorrow! August 2, 2012 1:45 PM EDT
Both US presidential candidates pushing iPhone apps
It's an election year, iOS devices are almost everywhere, and that's why both US Presidential candidates this year are already pushing iPhone apps. Governor Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, has released an app called Mitt's VP -- he plans to announce his choice for Vice President from that app first, and there's other sharing and notification features coming in the app as well. President Barack Obama has made a lot of waves for using digital media in his campaigns, and so of course there's an official Obama for America app. That app also shares news and allows for social sharing about the Obama campaign, and allows users to sign up to volunteer at campaign events, or help get out the vote in other ways. Apple's platform consists of a huge audience of well-connected people, so it's no surprise that the presidential election is reflected in the App Store. As we get closer and closer to November's election here in America, it'll be interesting to see how the candidates use these apps to reach out to their voter base. #next_pages_container { width: 5px; hight: 5px; position: absolute; top: -100px; left: -100px; z-index: 2147483647 !important; }
Microsoft plans 'major announcement' for Monday, June 18th
It's not offering much in the way of hints, but Microsoft has just invited the press to an event in Los Angeles on Monday, June 18th for what it promises will be a "major Microsoft announcement." While it didn't have any more to say than that, the company's Windows Phone summit does follow later that week, and there's been no shortage of Microsoft-related rumors as of late, including a possible acquisition of Yammer (reported today by Bloomberg), and long-running talk of Office for iPad, which was again revived earlier this month. Whatever it is, we'll be there to bring you the news as it happens. Update: Citing "sources outside the company," AllThingsD is reporting that the event will focus on Windows RT for ARM-based tablets, and that Microsoft will be showing off devices running the OS as well as some of the programs and services that will be available for them.
Nokia 808 PureView arrives fashionably late in India, 41MP in tow
After initially announcing it would come in May, and then dropping a countdown red herring, the PureView is finally opening its big 808-eye in India today. The 41MP camera (and phone!) lands with a 33,899 Rupee ($600) MSRP, depending on your barter skills. The PureView might not be a spec heavyweight, with its single-core 1.3GHz chip, 512MB RAM and 360 x 640 display, but we still found it hummed along smartly with its nimble Symbian Belle OS. For those of you who've already set the cash aside, might be time to call that Indian friend.
NintendoLand is a virtual theme park on your Wii U
Nintendo has announced a set of minigames called NintendoLand for the Wii U, which uses various Nintendo characters to show off the capabilities of the new systems. There will be 12 different "attractions" in the game, with five them being shown off at E3 this year. From the demo being shown on stage, NintendoLand seemingly collects last year's Wii U demo minigames and expands on them.The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest, Animal Crossing: Sweet Day, DK's Crash Course, and Takamaru's Ninja Castle were the attractions mentioned in the presentation, all of which highlight a certain feature of Nintendo's newest console. Sounds an awful lot like the PlayStation Vita's "Welcome Park" application if you ask us!Nintendo compared the mini-game collection to Wii Sports, the pack-in title for the original Wii. NintendoLand launches alongside the Wii U this holiday.
Acer introduces Windows 8 all-in-one U Series at Computex 2012 (update: hands-on video)
Acer just introduced two Windows 8-equipped U Series all-in-one desktops here at Computer 2012 in Taipei -- the 27-inch Aspire 7600U and 23-inch Aspire 5600U. The 7600U features a 64-point capacitive multitouch tilt and swivel display and is only 3.5cm (1.38 inches) thick, while the 5600U is billed as "the thinnest AIO available" (no numbers specified). Both system feature HD visuals and Dolby Home Theater Surround sound, but the company isn't ready to share any other details on specs. We spent a brief minute with the larger 7600U and witnessed its ability to tilt 90 degrees from vertical to horizontal and then swivel from landscape to portrait mode -- turning it into the world's biggest e-book reader. There are two USB ports and a DC power connector in the back, two USB ports, audio in / out and an SD-card slot on the left side plus a slot-load Blu-Ray drive on the right edge. Check out the gallery below, then hit the break for our hands-on video and the obligatory PR.%Gallery-156789% Zach Honig contributed to this report.
Agility 4 SSD from OCZ announced, already in stock at $150
SSD makers often try to wow us with raw MB/S, but OCZ is talking up "enterprise-level" reliability, ops per second, and throughput equally with its new SATA III 6Gbps Agility 4. The 64GB / 128GB / 256GB / 512GB drives -- with Marvell-built Indilinx Everest 2 controllers -- have middling max read/write throughput of 400 MB/s and 48,000 IOPS / 85,000 IOPS, respectively. But with Indilinx Ndurance 2.0 technology and no data compression, they claim that the NAND memory will last "well beyond" the manufacturer's specs -- without backing that up with actual figures. Prices seem steep at Amazon next to the competition, but could drop when they hit the streets in volume. So, if you're after an all-rounder instead of a sprinter, check the PR after the break.
Gigabyte makes 975g X11 official, claims 'world's lightest' 11.6-inch notebook (update: hands-on video)
Well hello there again, Gigabyte X11. Hot on the heels of yesterday's leak, Gigabyte's just made its 11.6-inch X11 laptop (or is that an Ultrabook?) official. At 975g (2.15 pounds) it claims the title of "lightest notebook on earth" -- and weighs even less on Mars. Design-wise, you're looking at a 16.5mm (0.65 inches) to 3mm (0.19 inches) thin Macbook Air-like body made of real carbon fiber (!) with an aluminum hinge. Under the hood you'll find unspecified third generation Intel Core processors (read Ivy Bridge), 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Mobile Intel HM77 Express chipset with Intel HD Graphics 4000, a 128GB SSD, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. Ports include power, USB 2.0 and mini DisplayPort on the left side plus microSD, combo audio and USB 3.0 on the right. While the specs also mention gigabit Ethernet, there's no sign of it anywhere in the press shots. The display is a 1366x768-pixel LED-backlit affair dotted with a 1.3 megapixel webcam. A chiclet keyboard, buttonless trackpad and 4730mAh 7.4V Li-ion polymer battery (likely sealed) complete the package. There's no word on availability, but prices will range from $999 to $1299 with Windows 7 Home Premium and Professional in tow. Expect more information when we get our hands on this sexy beast at Computex next week. Update: Our colleagues over at Engadget Chinese just got to spend some time with this svelte black slab. Take a look at the gallery below and hit the break for the hands-on video.%Gallery-156515% %Gallery-156511% In addition, Gigabyte's announcing two 14-inch laptops -- the U2442 and U2440 -- which feature third generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce graphics. Unfortunately, we're still busy drooling all over the X11 gallery, so we'll direct you to the full PR after the break for the complete details. Andy Yang contributed to this report.
Divinity: Original Sin is a prequel to Divine Divinity, due 2013
Belgium-based Larian Studios has announced that it will release a new title in the popular Divinity RPG series, called Divinity: Original Sin. Due out in the first quarter of 2013, Original Sin will serve as a prequel to Divine Divinity, feature two main playable characters in turn-based combat, and come with co-op multiplayer and an adventure building kit that players can use to create and share content online. The game will arrive on PC and Mac. You can see more about the title on the official site, or browse through the gallery of screenshots below. Larian will be showing off Original Sin and Dragon Commander (another upcoming Divinity-based title) at E3 this year, so we'll see them up close in about a week.%Gallery-156396%
Marvel Heroes unveils its first official trailer [Updated]
After months and months of teasing us, Gazillion Entertainment has finally officially released new details about its upcoming new title, the free-to-play Marvel Heroes. The press release claims that the game will take "the MMO category to a completely new level of excitement and engagement" by combining "the energy of action role-playing games with the breadth and immersion of the MMO genre." Players can now get their first look at Marvel Heroes with the title's first teaser trailer, which features gameplay footage interwoven with some rather menacing shots of a certain Victor Von Doom, who seems to have gotten his titanium-plated hands on what appears to be the Cosmic Cube, an artifact that gives its bearer the power to bend reality to his will. We're not sure what Doc Doom plans to do with the Cube, but we know that it can't possibly be anything good. Presumably it will be up to the players to put a stop to Doom's nefarious plans and return the Cube to its rightful place, but until we find out more, head on past the cut and enjoy the trailer in all of its super-goodness. [Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release] [Update: IGN has a preview of the game that discusses in detail its Diablo roots.]
