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Sunset Overdrive free this Saturday
Xbox Live Gold members with an Xbox One will be able to play Sunset Overdrive for free all day Saturday, according to Microsoft's Major Nelson. Access to the free trial will begin at 12:01AM Eastern Time tonight. It is the "full game" and those who decide to purchase the game later can pick up right where they left off. We've confirmed this will also occur in Europe, but don't have clarification on timing as of posting. This is a pretty swanky deal to try out Sunset Overdrive, which we gave five stars in our review, saying it "sets out to create a world where the apocalypse is fun instead of depressing." There's no option to preload the demo, so if you're interested in the demo, make sure to set an alarm so it'll be waiting for you come morning.
Destiny's free trial transfers your characters to the full game
A trial version of Destiny is now available for players to freely check out, Bungie revealed. Unlike Destiny's July beta program, the trial version offers players a taste of the first-person shooter as well as the ability to transfer their character's progress to the full version of the game. Players will only be able to transfer their characters between consoles of the same family, however (PS4 and PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360). Bungie noted that the trial takes up roughly the same amount of space on each system's internal hard drive as the full game does; 20 GB for the PS4 and Xbox One trial and 6 GB for the PS3 and Xbox 360 demo. Conveniently, Activision's servers handle the character transferring functions automatically, no action is required on the part of players. Destiny's Reforged Iron Banner event started this week and runs until Monday. [Image: Activision]
Demo for GaymerX game Read Only Memories now available
A demo for Read Only Memories, a cyberpunk noir adventure game developed by MidBoss Games - a studio comprised of the same people who organized and ran the GaymerX conventions in 2012 and 2013 - is now available to download. According to a blog post from MidBoss, the demo contains a "final(ish)" version of the game's opening prologue and first chapter. Kickstarted in December of 2013, the game prominently features characters of varying sexual orientations and gender identities, and also allows the player to determine whether they would like to be addressed as "he," "she," "they," or none of the above. A final version of the game is due in summer 2015 for PC, Mac, Linux and Ouya. [Image: MidBoss Games]
Test your machine's, brain's aptitude at The Talos Principle
The Talos Principle, next month's cryptic puzzler from Serious Sam series creator Croteam, can now be sampled on PC, Mac and Linux via Steam. The sort-of beta includes "four increasingly difficult complete puzzle levels" as well as a benchmarking bot to test your build's capability of running the game. We suppose that in a way, the puzzles are also a benchmarking tool to see whether your brain can run The Talos Principle, or if its attempt will simply result in a melted, confused pile of goop. An additional taste of The Talos Principle can be had by downloading Sigils of Elohim on iOS, Android, or on PC, Mac or Linux through Steam. Sigils of Elohim offers sets of one puzzle type that's found throughout The Talos Principle, which tests organizational skills that were likely earned by any Tetris player. Senior Reporter Jess Conditt conquered a few of The Talos Principle's obstacles on video during her tour of publisher Devolver Digital's booth at Gamescom 2014. Those punishing bosses in Titan Souls though ... not so much. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Get your first look at Star Citizen's FPS gameplay
Star Citizen's first-person shooter gameplay has often gone overlooked in its large (and mostly space-bound) features package, but this weekend it's been the star of the show at PAX Australia. In a 10-minute demo, the devteam ran a four-player co-op mission through a dilapidated space station. Eurogamer notes that animations are synced between viewpoints and players, and that players can move their heads independent of their guns. The FPS module is currently scheduled to be released (among other things) in 2015. You can get your first look at this combat in the screenshots and video below.
NBA Live 15 six-hour trial now available via EA Access
Sports fans can check out the Xbox One version of EA's NBA Live 15 a week before it hits retail via the EA Access subscription service, which serves up a time-limited version of the upcoming basketball sim starting today. EA Access subscribers can spend up to six hours with NBA Live 15, and are granted access to all of its included gameplay modes. All player progress made during the trial will carry over to the full version of NBA Live 15, and members can unlock the upcoming digital release at a 10 percent discount. EA Access is currently exclusive to the Xbox One console. NBA Live 15 premieres digitally and at retail on October 28 in North America, October 31 in Europe. [Image: Electronic Arts]
Ghost ship mystery Return of the Obra Dinn waves in a demo
Return of the Obra Dinn is the first-person ghost ship mystery game with 1-bit rendering from Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope. Whatever else it is, you can find out right now with an early demo, downloadable for PC and Mac. The demo covers the first 15 minutes of the game. "It's still very rough and very untested," Pope says. "For such a low-res game, performance is not great on a 2011 Macbook Air running BootCamp. Hopefully it runs OK on most machines. The core mechanic is only lightly touched on, but you should be able to mentally extrapolate out what's here to a full game." Papers, Please, Pope's breakout game, swept the IGF awards this year, and Pope had planned to submit Return of the Obra Dinn to the IGF for 2015, but he says the game isn't quite ready: "That deadline was pretty useful in getting me through these past few weeks of crunch, but in the end I've decided not to submit the game as it is. Maybe next year." In Return of the Obra Dinn, a ship declared missing in 1802 suddenly returns to a London port six years later, badly damaged and with no visible crew. Players are the insurance adjuster for the East India Company's London Office, and must board the ship and recover the Crew Muster Roll book. It wouldn't be a game from Pope if it didn't involve official documents, after all. [Image: Lucas Pope]
Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire demo due next week on 3DS
A trial version of Game Freak's re-remade monster-battling RPG pair Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire will hit the 3DS eShop next week, Nintendo announced today. Nintendo also teases new Mega Evolutions for Latios and Latias in the video above, giving players an early look at the advanced forms that await its classic Pokemon characters. Other recent Mega Evolution reveals include Audino, Pidgeot, and (unquestionably best of all) MEGA SLOWBRO. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire hit retail and the 3DS eShop on November 21. The demo version launches on October 21. [Video: Nintendo]
Totes download the Disney Fantasia demo on Xbox today
Fantasia: Music Evolved, the music experience game from the studio behind Rock Band and Dance Central, has a demo out today on both Xbox One and Xbox 360 platforms. You'll be able to conduct the full game on October 21. Unlike the film series' focus on classical pieces, Fantasia: Music Evolved features a mix of full orchestra pieces and those pop beats all the kids are boppin' and groovin' to these days. Music Evolved's modern songs include a selection featuring Bruno Mars, Drake and the ever wholesome Nicki Minaj.
New Nintendo eShop releases: Bayonetta 2 demo (you want more?)
Bayonetta 2 doesn't hit Western shelves for another couple of weeks - check out the launch trailer below the break - but the demo is available right now on both the North American and European eShops. There's a brief tutorial introducing the basic hack-and-slash moves, but fans of the first game won't be surprised to see the demo drop you straight into the madness after that. In the 15 minutes or so it lasts you do battle with all manner of beasties, regular-sized and generally massive, all while riding on top of a jet plane, being chased down on a moving train, and winging your way around a huge dragon thing that's made its way up a tower, King Kong-style. Expect similar insanity when the Wii U game launches on October 24. While we know the Bayo demo is big news - by the by, it's just over two years since Nintendo wowed us by announcing Bayonetta 2 as a Wii U exclusive - there are other games, full games, out on the eShop this week. WiiWare favorite Art of Balance comes to Wii U in a new, bigger iteration, tasking players with 200 levels to stack up oddly shaped objects in while keeping things steady. For even more nostalgic types, Game Boy Advance entry Castlevania: Circle of the Moon whips up a Virtual Console debut this week too, again on Wii U. So, you know the drill: You'll find the list of new releases below the break, with prices, details and dates of availability (PS: as ever, if there's no date that means it's out today or is already out). As for sales, check Nintendo's press release for the complete list of offers - our pick this week is loco Latin-styled platformer Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, which is roughly a third off at $9.75 until October 16.
The 1920s are roaring in A Golden Wake next week
A Golden Wake, the 1920s-themed adventure game published by Blackwell series studio Wadjet Eye Games, will launch next Thursday, October 9. The publisher wants to give players a chance to check the game out in advance, so it is offering a demo, which players can download for PC, Mac or Linux through the game's website or via Steam. Developed by Grundislav Games, the studio behind the episodic Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator, A Golden Wake was first announced in late June. It stars real estate agent Alfie Banks, whose financial goals in the pre-Depression era land him in a compromising position with the mob. Those that purchase the point-and-click adventure game prior to its October 9 launch will receive a free digital version of its jazzy official soundtrack. [Image: Wadjet Eye Games]
Lexus creates an Oculus Rift-powered virtual test drive
Lexus wants to put you in the seat of its 2015 RC F, even if it means you're sitting in a virtual version of its latest performance vehicles. The car manufacturer recently launched a beta version of the RC F Rift, a virtual reality representation of the car's interior using the Oculus Rift Development Kit 2 at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, California. The motion-controlled driving simulator includes "genuine RC F elements," such as the car's steering wheel and foot pedals, and has players driving around a virtual racetrack. Lexus said it took less than eight weeks to build the 360-degree virtual environment. The company provided a demo video as well as a schedule of events for fans to take the Oculus demo for the spin in person in the coming months, both found after the break.
2DS to go see-through in EU with new designs, out in Nov.
Two new transparent 2DS skins are coming to Europe in November, letting continentals take a peek at the innards of the 3DS variants. The red and blue models first launch in the region on November 7, with Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby bundles arriving alongside the Poke-remakes on November 28. Nintendo of Europe didn't disclose prices in its press release (2DS standalones are regularly priced £110 on Nintendo UK's online store) The transparent bundles clearly come with the games pre-installed on a 4GB memory card, with the red system including Omega Ruby and the blue system Alpha Sapphire.
Nomura no longer directing Final Fantasy 15, new TGS trailer [update]
Square Enix announced designer Tetsuya Nomura is stepping away from Final Fantasy 15 to focus on other projects, with Final Fantasy Type-0 and Before Crisis: Final Fantasy 7 director Hajime Tabata appointed as the game's new director. In a statement released today, Square Enix CEO Yosuke Matsuda said Nomura will shift efforts to "production of titles that can only be made possibly by Nomura himself," and that includes the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3. The news comes as Square Enix confirmed reports of the Episode Duscae demo for Final Fantasy 15, which players can access via vouchers included with copies of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. The PS4 and Xbox One versions of the 2011 PSP game are due in North America on March 17, 2015, Japan on March 19 and Europe on March 20, with a US price-tag of $60. As for the Duscae demo, Square Enix said the it's based on the game's opening sections "but alters story progression and more to create a unique first-play experience." [Update: On the PlayStation Europe Blog, Square Enix's Daniel Seto says the demo will be available for PS4 on March 20, which suggests it'll likely also be available on the same day Type-0 releases stateside] Square Enix marked the news with a two-minute Tokyo Game Show trailer for Final Fantasy 15 featuring some of the combat, and you can check it out below the break. The trailer closes with main protagonist Noctis saying, "It's been a long time coming. Almost there." That said, the PS4 and Xbox One JRPG remains without a release window.
Grimoire asks for funding to put FPS wizard multiplayer in your hands
You've played pretty much every first-person shooter that there is, but have you done a multiplayer FPS where there are no soldiers but wizards and no guns but fast-flung magic spells? This unusual bent on the formula is the basis for Grimoire, which has just begun a crowdfunding campaign. According to the Kickstarter description, "Grimoire is a multiplayer mage FPS with MOBA-style abilities that puts the player in control of devastating magic." Players can fight from first- or third-person views and take on the role of one of 10 wizard classes. Grimoire's been in development for a year, is currently being voted for on Steam Greenlight, and even has a combat preview demo that you can download and try right now. The makers said that the game's had "practically no budget" up this point, which is why they're looking to raise $42,000 to improve what's already been made. The soundtrack is being composed by Pirates of the Caribbean Online vet Marcus Zuhr. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Earn Pokemon Alpha, Omega rewards in upcoming demo
Nintendo will offer a demo version of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire prior to the games' launches, according to its official site. The "early visit" to the games' Hoenn region will include "gameplay that you won't experience anywhere else," as well as a familiar Pokemon that is capable of Mega Evolving. Those that play the demo will be able to transfer said creature in addition to reward items to the full version of the game. Nintendo did not specify when the demo would be made available, but did mention that fans will be able to play it as many times as they like (some 3DS demos are limited in the number of times they can be accessed). The demo will also feature "special scenarios that occur if you play every day." Nintendo will reveal instructions on how players can obtain a code in the near future. The Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire remakes will launch November 21 for 3DS. [Image: Nintendo]
Tekken team's Project Morpheus demo is voyeuristic
Bandai Namco Director Katsuhiro Harada and the team behind the Tekken series put together a demo for Sony's VR hardware, Project Morpheus, though it's just about the furthest from a fighting game you can get. The demo is called Summer Lesson and it's an interactive tour through a Japanese schoolgirl's bedroom, schoolgirl included. In the introductory video, we see players look around the sunny room, nod yes or no to the girl's questions, and make her pull back in discomfort when the viewing angle gets too invasive. Yes, really. See a video of the demo (from the Sony Computer Entertainment Japan & Asia event) below (skip to the 55:40 mark). Summer Lesson will be playable at Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off on September 18. [Image: SCEJ]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call demo waiting in the wings
Europeans can conduct a trial of Theatrhythm Final Final Curtain Call when a demo hits their eShop on Thursday, September 4. We've reached out to Square Enix for word on the same for North America, but given the rhythm game releases in both regions on the same week, it seems likely the demo will hit stateside this week too. The Japanese demo that was available just ahead of release featured two songs: "Edgar and Sabin's Theme" from Final Fantasy 6 and the piano version of "Those Who Fight" from Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children. Battle, Event and Field categories were playable for both songs, but the new two-player versus mode wasn't.
Take Forza Horizon 2 out for a test drive next month
The demo for Forza Horizon 2 will be available for players to download on September 16. Playground Games' open-world racer will launch in full on September 30 for Xbox One, and will feature over 200 cars at launch. Microsoft also disclosed the game's achievements list, which can be found at Xbox Wire. The developer did not reveal which vehicles will be available to drive in the demo, just that the selection is limited to a "handful" of cars that have been picked to "give you a brief taste of what to expect" when the full version of the racing game rolls to retail. Forza Horizon 2 will debut without microtransactions and will feature a Kinect-enabled assistant known as "ANNA." [Image: Microsoft]
Sims 4 'Create a Sim' demo is live now [Update]
The Sims 4's Create a Sim demo is available right now, this very second, currently and immediately via TheSims.com. EA showed off the Create a Sim feature during its Gamescom press conference this morning. Be on the lookout for our own hands-on preview of The Sims 4 later today. Update: Here's our Sims 4 preview, and check out the trailer for Create a Sim below.
