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SpaceX secures five more NASA astronaut missions as part of a $1.4 billion contract
NASA has ordered five more astronaut missions from SpaceX in a new $1.44 billion contract, raising the total number of Crew Dragon launches to 14.
China's next-generation crew spacecraft sticks its test mission landing
After it launched on Tuesday and nailed a series of maneuvers, China’s future crewed spacecraft has made a successful desert touchdown. Built by China’s main space contractor, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), the uncrewed prototype will soon ferry astronauts to China’s future space station and, eventually, the moon.
Soyuz 61 leaves a ghostly trail as it tracks toward the ISS
Yesterday, NASA's Expedition 61 mission launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on a Soyuz MS-15 rocket and docked to the International Space Station (ISS) some six hours later. From the ground, it was a spectacular liftoff as usual, but this time, the best view might have been from the space station itself. With her best friend Jessica Meir onboard, astronaut Christina Koch captured an eerie, magnificent photo of the Soyuz craft as its second stage rockets propelled it toward the ISS.
Getting NASA astronauts safely out of Orion
As Project Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom learned, NASA spaceflights are not over after splashdown. During his 1961 mission, he barely escaped when the hatch blew too soon and took the "Liberty Bell" capsule to the bottom of the sea. Ever since, NASA has taken splashdown exit procedures very seriously, and it's no exception for the manned Orion capsule that's intended to go to Mars on the tip of the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.
The Crew gets some new DLC
The Crew -- you know, that online racing thing that Ubisoft launched late last year -- has just published something called an "extreme live update." I've spared you the capital letters in the press release, but rest assured that the devs think highly of this new drop that features four additional missions and unlockable tuning specs. Ubi has also announced a DLC consisting of three new cars: the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, an SRT Viper GTS, and the Abarth 500. Don't forget the teaser video embedded after the break. [Source: Ubisoft press release]
Here's a teaser of The Crew's cinematic story
Ubisoft has been hyping The Crew as an MMO for a while now, and, like many modern MMOs, the game incorporates some sort of single-player story. An outfit called Puppetworks Animation Studio created 13 minutes worth of CG cutscenes to flesh this story out and has released a teaser drawing from those cutscenes. There's not a lot here in terms of The Crew's action driving gameplay, but there are plenty of sketchy characters and revving engine noises. See for yourself after the break.
Ubisoft's action-driving MMO The Crew launches today
Ubisoft's "action-driving MMO" The Crew launches worldwide on PC and multiple consoles today, but before you can drive your roadster across a virtual map of the USA, you'll first have to download the time-honored day-one patch. The patch flips on drivehub challenges and the faction war as well as fixes a slew of UI, PvP, and stability bugs. Ubisoft's Serkan Hasan assured reporters last week that game would be free of the turmoil that usually accompanies MMO launches. The studio had taken criticism from refusing to grant launch previews to media because MMOs are just too hard to review without all the players in place. The standard version of the game is available for around 60 bucks, depending on your platform and retailer of choice. The launch trailer is below.
Ubisoft dismisses doubts about The Crew's launch, releases launch trailer
Are you worried about the launch of The Crew being plagued by server issues, instability, and other issues? Don't be! None of that's going to happen at launch! Who said that? Ubisoft, of course! It seems trustworthy. In the wake of Ubisoft's launch issues this year (Assassin's Creed: Unity), not to mention other high-profile online titles that have been plagued by server issues, lead designer Serkan Hasan has stated that The Crew's beta testing has adequately prepared the game for launch. He also promises that the game's console versions will perform well on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Crew launches tomorrow, December 2nd. The studio has not shown any advanced previews to media on the basis that playing the game before launch would involve sub-optimal play conditions. [Update: We've included the launch trailer below.]
The Crew gets an everything-you-need-to-know trailer
Ready for another trailer featuring Ubisoft's The Crew? This one is a bit meatier than previous clips, as it runs for nearly eight minutes and serves as a sort of everything-you-need-to-know visual guide to the upcoming open world racer. You'll learn about the world and its 12 major cities as well as everything from skills to missions to factions to customization and the game's "CarPG" progression mechanics. Hop in and go for a spin just past the cut. Don't forget about the game's console open beta which starts on November 25th!
The Crew's season pass hyped in new trailer
If you're undecided about purchasing a season pass for The Crew's DLC, a quick look at Ubisoft's latest trailer may help you out. Perks include one week of early access to new content, a Ferrari 458 Speciale, a McLaren 12C, and four themed car packs (speed, vintage, extreme, and raid). The Crew launches on December 2nd.
The Crew hints at 'new PvP mode,' season pass info
The Crew hasn't launched yet, but Ubisoft is already marketing a season pass for its racing MMO that will include everything from new missions to themed car packs to a "new PvP mode." The announcement doesn't say much regarding the new mode other than that it exists, but there is a lot of info regarding the rest of the obtainables on the game's official website.
Here are The Crew's PC system requirements
Ubisoft has released the system specs you'll need to play The Crew on your PC. Let's skip right over the quote-unquote minimums and go right to what's recommended, shall we? You should have a Core i5-750 2.66 GHz or a Phenom II X4 940 3.0 GHz (or better), Ubisoft says. Eight gigs of RAM are recommended, as is a GeForce GTX580 or a Radeon 6870 (or better) for your graphics processing. You'll also need a 64-bit version of Windows. Ubisoft's dev blog lists the full requirements including minimums and an optimal setup.
The Crew preps second console beta test for November
Gentlemen and ladies, start your virtual engines! The Crew is preparing to roll out its second closed beta test, starting on November 6th and ending on the 10th. PC players will have to wait in the wings, as this beta test is for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players only. The test will cover two regions of the game, the Midwest and East Coast, and include PvP competitions and both Street and Dirt car specs. The Crew is currently aiming at a December 2nd launch date. [Source: Ubisoft press release]
The Daily Grind: Are you looking forward to The Crew?
I can't wait for Ubisoft's upcoming open world racer called The Crew. I'm not convinced that it's an MMO, but it looks like a nifty combination of online action RPG mechanics and arcade-style driving. And hey, I liked Test Drive Unlimited as well as its sequel, so it's not like I'm hard to please when it comes to car games! What about you, Massively readers? Are you interested in The Crew, or is it outside your gaming wheelhouse? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Crew's latest vid talks mobile mechanics, customization
Ubisoft has released a new video for The Crew, this time focusing on the racing title's customization elements. Much of the video's four-and-a-half-minute running time is devoted to car specs, and you'll recognize the Street, Performance, Raid, Dirt and Circuit nomenclature if you've been following the game. Interestingly, the video mentions that you can swap specs without returning to a garage. You can also make use of a handy mobile mechanic in case you're better at trading paint than you are at clean racing. Click past the cut to watch the new vid.
Ubisoft is bringing The Crew to a college football game near you
Do pseudo-MMOs and college football mix? We'll soon find out since Ubisoft is taking The Crew on a roadtrip to various rivalry games across the country starting this month."Two trucks outfitted with gaming stations will simultaneously tour the country allowing fans from each school to play The Crew and go head to head with their rival school's fans before the big game on Saturday," according to the racing MMO's website. Highlights include the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (otherwise known as Georgia vs. Florida) on November 1st, Florida State vs. Miami on November 15th, and USC vs. UCLA on November 22nd. The Crew launches on December 2nd.
The Crew pushed back to December 2
Ubisoft has pushed The Crew's launch date from November 11th to December 2nd. "The extra time will allow for a second closed console beta to be held, giving even more players the opportunity to experience the game, which is something the community has been requesting," Ubisoft's statement read. The open world racer's Xbox One and PlayStation 4 beta is currently ongoing. Gamespot reports that a second closed beta will happen some time in November.
The Crew fires up a new gameplay trailer
The latest trailer for The Crew might blow your mind. It turns out the game will feature cars. And driving. And... all right, maybe it's all stuff that you've known about if you've followed the game with any sort of enthusiasm up to this point. But it's still a glimpse into how the game will play beyond its cross-country driving. The trailer shows off a great deal of both driving mechanics and interface pieces, giving potential players a clearer picture of what the game will look like in play as well as how the game is meant to be played. If you like the idea of hooking up with other drivers and hitting the road to explore, race, and take out targets, catch a glimpse of the gameplay just past the break.
Here are some tips for The Crew's closed beta
The Crew's second closed beta starts today for PC players, and Ubisoft has published a list of helpful tips designed to ease you into its open-world racing MMO. You'll find everything from keyboard and controller layouts to detailed instructions for equipping your cars and building a crew of friends on the title's website. You might also want to check out Ubisoft's closed beta walkthrough video. It was originally published in July, but it still applies to the current test. You can view it after the break.
Explore The Crew's gameplay options in new vid
Ubisoft has released a new promotional video for The Crew which highlights the racing MMO's 1900 square mile open world, its highly detailed cities, and its vast swathes of drivable/explorable terrain. "If you can see it, you can drive there," the vid explains. Driving off the beaten path can be profitable, too, as you'll occasionally find car wrecks and junk yards from which you can scavenge rare parts to help further customize your ride. See all that and more in the clip just past the cut.
