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Yahoo to free up old usernames after a year of inactivity
Unless you're quick to sign up with new services, snagging a simple user ID with your name, or just about any word from the English dictionary, can be unlikely. If you're only first joining Yahoo today (for one reason or another), however, registering any account without a handful of random numbers tacked on at the end is downright impossible. That'll soon change. The internet giant has announced on Tumblr that come July 15th, IDs that have been inactive for more than a year will be released to the public, giving shoegurlmary1992@yahoo.com a chance to snag mary@yahoo.com, for example. The decision seems perfectly reasonable to us. We only hope that other sites (Twitter) follow suit.
Wolfenstein 3D returns to XBLA, PSN
Wolfenstein 3D is back on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in North America after a brief absence, and is coming to PSN in Europe soon. You can snag id's seminal shooter for $5 on Xbox Live Arcade, PSN or Steam. Activision had originally published Wolfenstein 3D on consoles just a few weeks after Bethesda acquired id Software in 2009. Bethesda's Pete Hines told Joystiq the re-rating was a necessity for both the ESRB and console manufacturers. "No changes. Was originally published through Activision, so now that it's reverted back to us we have to jump through ESRB (ratings go to the publisher, they don't "follow" the game to a new publisher) and console hoops (game has to be "re-certed" by the new publisher)." A new entry in the series, Wolfenstein: The New Order, is currently in development at MachineGames, with a tentative launch window slated for later this year.
Report: Doom 4 development still rocky, Rage 2 canned
Doom 4 is locked in development Hell – even for Doom, that's not a good thing. Since its announcement in 2007, developer id Software has completely rebooted Doom 4's development at least once and still doesn't have much to show as far as an actual game goes, Kotaku reports. The website provides the following breakdown from a series of anonymous people:Doom 4 began as a Call of Duty-inspired shooter, with cinematic, scripted sequences, but after the lukewarm launch of Rage in 2011, id took another look at the project and started from scratch. Within that process, Rage 2 was canceled and id tried to merge the Rage and Doom teams, to focus solely on Doom 4.By January 2012, id wanted Doom 4 to be as big as Skyrim, but the disparate teams had trouble finding a groove. Additionally, much of the project's "top talent" left id throughout 2012. This year, Zenimax, id's parent company, issued an ultimatum that could see id cleaned out to refocus on tech, two people tell Kotaku.For now Doom 4 is still alive, though it may not be immortal. In October 2011 and February 2012, Doom 4 had two cancelation scares, each of which Bethesda refuted. The image above was part of a series that leaked in early 2012, though id Design Director Matt Hooper said it didn't represent actual Doom 4 direction. Last we heard – back in August 2012 – Doom 4 was attached to the Oculus Rift's VR push.
NXP's silicon fingerprinting promises to annoy the heck out of ID hackers
It's 2013 and white hat hackers like Adam Laurie are still breaking into ID chips that are supposed to be secure. How come? Partly it's the way of the world, because no man-made NFC or RFID security barrier can ever be truly impervious. But in practical terms, a chip's vulnerability often stems from the fact that it can be taken apart and probed at a hacker's leisure. The secure element doesn't necessarily need to have power running through it or to be in the midst of near-field communication in order to yield up its cryptographic key to a clever intruder who has sufficient time and sufficient desire to breach the security of a smartphone, bank card or national border. Which brings us to the latest device in NXP's SmartMX2 range -- a piece of technology that is claimed to work very differently and that is expected to hit the market next year. Instead of a traditional key stored in the secure element's memory, every single copy of this chip carries a unique fingerprint within the physical structure of its transistors. This fingerprint (aka Physically Unclonable Function, or PUF) is a byproduct of tiny errors in the fabrication process -- something chip makers usually try to minimize. But NXP has found a way to amplify these flaws in a controlled way and use them for identification, and it'd take a mightily well-equipped criminal (or fare dodger, or Scrabble cheater) to reverse engineer that.
MMO Burnout: A week with id Software's Rage
So I've been dabbing in id Software's RAGE over the last little while. Actually, I'm not sure whether the late-2011 shooter is called RAGE or simply Rage, but either way, it has the worst (or perhaps least descriptive) video game name of all time. Also, yes, I know it's not an MMO. This is MMO Burnout and I thought we were past that already. Anyhow, I'm afraid I'm going to have to recommend the title to burned-out MMO gamers for several reasons. It's quite beautiful, quite fun, and it's the perfect getaway from the typical massively multiplayer grind.%Gallery-176557%
The HEX Code Wallet case is nicely built, but a little too unwieldy
A few years ago, I decided to do my best to narrow down the number of things I carry around in my pockets every single day. Instead of one giant keychain with all of the keys I've ever owned on it, I cut down to two smaller keychains, one for my house and another for my car. And instead of a giant wallet that had been stretching out my back pants pockets, I instead just grabbed the insert out and stuck my ID and a few cards in there. Other than that, my iPhone 4 is the largest thing I carry around all the time. Of course, the functionality is definitely worth it, but still, I've always wondered if there was a way I could go even lighter, and combine my iPhone and wallet into one unit. The HEX Code Wallet case for the iPhone 4 or 4S is designed to do just that: It's a very well-made leather wraparound case that has a few card slots on the inside front cover, and the goal is to simply store a credit card or two and your ID, so that you don't need to carry around both a phone and a wallet when you go out. Unfortunately, the HEX Wallet isn't what I'm looking for. While it will definitely store your cards as needed, it's just too unwieldy for the simplicity that I'm after. The case is definitely well-built -- the leather on the outside is solid, if a little too rough. Inside, however, the leather that holds your cards is quite luxurious, and the plastic that holds in the iPhone is smooth and strong. I had no problem snapping my iPhone 4 into place, and while it was a little tougher to get it out, presumably you won't be removing it much once you've purchased this one. All of the buttons are, obviously, accessible, and a nice open area near the dock connector means I had no issues hooking my iPhone up to a charging cable while in the case. The biggest issue with the HEX, however, is when you start to put your cards in it. There are three slots on the inside front cover, as well as a larger pocket behind. But if you actually do use all three slots, the case becomes quite thick, and a little too unwieldy for my taste. Plus, even with my wallet insert, I still carry around 10 or 12 cards (from various customer appreciation programs and discount stores), so the HEX wouldn't work for me all of the time anyway. The other issue I have with the case is the strap that runs from top to bottom outside, and is meant to keep the case closed and shut when you're done with the iPhone. While the strap itself is nice and strong and seems well-connected to the case, I just found it in the way while I was using the case, and it felt a little awkward snapping it back around when the case was being closed. Fans of Moleskine notebooks may love this strap, but personally, it didn't work for what I wanted. And finally, though this is probably the most personal of my feedback, I just don't like the idea of a cover flap on my iPhone. It makes what is a really beautiful and simple device into something off-center and even ugly. The flap doesn't fold around to the back at all, so when you're using the iPhone with this case on, it's basically a book where you're only reading the right side of the page. I admit that this is mostly personal taste, but that's not the case for me. If you do just have a few cards you want to make sure are always with your iPhone, and you don't mind those concerns about having a cover and a strap on your case, then the HEX Wallet might be what you're looking for. At $50, it's not cheap, but the production materials aren't cheap here, either -- this definitely feels like a case that can last a while, and the black one I tested did look quite classy, especially when closed. But this case definitely isn't the one for me. Personally, I'm more excited about the possibilities of Passbook in iOS 6, and any other future technologies that allow me to use my iPhone as a credit card, identification system or even car key. Eventually, my hope is that all I'll ever have to carry around to get whatever I need will be Apple's gorgeous smartphone, and any case it needs will accent its beauty, rather than try to cover it all up.
Current Caller ID app adds social info, weather details, suggests a good time to ring back
If staring at the incoming callers' visage just wasn't enough, Current's Caller ID might worth a try. The utility app adds a raft of extra detail to your smartphone when it rings, from recent tweets and status updates through to weather conditions and even location data. After loading up the app, you can connect to your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles, which Current Caller ID combines with your existing contact list. Based on your use history, the app will even offer up a time to return missed calls. There's the nice addition of some metrics between you and your phonebook, visualizing that precarious balance between text messages and calls with your significant other -- or a timegraph of when you call Mom. These stats are possibly more useful than the caller ID features, and while the design does jar a little with the typical Android aesthetic, it's hard to complain when the app's free. If you're willing to forgive those minor visual flaws, the download awaits at the source below.
Wolfenstein 3D celebrating its 20-year history by going free on browsers, iOS
Yesterday, Wolfenstein 3D was a measly 19 years and 364 days old. Puh-shaw, we say. Today, however, the game is a full 20 years old, and id Software is throwing the classic FPS a celebration. Rather than sending all the game's fans party hats and individual slices of cake, though, id's ported Wolf 3D to web browsers, making it totally free!But perhaps you're not around a computer at the moment, and you'd prefer to play on the go? id's got that covered too, making the iOS port of Wolfenstein 3D free for today only (the iTunes page still reflects a $1.99 price as of this writing, but Bethesda says it'll flip to free "later today").Or maybe you've already played Wolf 3D more than you'll ever need to? Creator John Carmack recorded a director commentary aimed at superfans of the series, which we've embedded just below the break. Let us know if he talks about rockets at all!
Quake 4 relaunches on June 19 for $20
The Xbox 360 is getting up there. Maybe you missed out on the Raven Software-deveolped Quake 4 during its initial launch, way back when in 2005? Bethesda is giving everyone a second chance to take on the Strogg this summer.The Bethesda Blog has announced that the Xbox 360 version of Quake 4 is being re-released at a new $19.99 price point on June 19. Currently, the only ways to pick up a copy of Quake 4 are through Steam (on Windows PC) and at the bottom of your local game retailer's bargain bin.Or maybe your cousin Carl? He told us he liked Quake once. Borrow his copy!
Id responds to alleged DOOM 4 image leak
Rumors began swirling earlier this week that Doom 4 had been canceled. Accompanying said rumors was a batch of supposed screenshots or artwork, one of which you can see above. In addition to refuting the cancellation rumors, id has now responded to the images as well.While not directly denying their relationship to Doom 4, id's Matt Hooper, design director of Rage, tweeted that the images "have nothing to do with what you're gonna see in Doom 4." Hooper added, "When we officially show things you'll see awesome." Responding to another tweet, Hooper noted that when the official reveal is made, "fans will be happy." For what it's worth, the leaked images show what appears to be a ravaged planet Earth, perhaps giving a nod to Doom 2: Hell on Earth.
Rage: Campaign Edition available on Mac for your pleasure, anger
Rage has officially launched on Mac with the Campaign Edition, which includes the complete single-player campaign, the Wasteland sewer missions and Anarchy Edition content for $40. Rage: Campaign Edition is available through the Mac App Store, publisher Aspyr's Game Agent, and other Mac retailers (excluding Steam, it seems).Obviously Rage: Campaign Edition doesn't include multiplayer, but we assume that's why it's not called Rage.
Rage HD adds melee combat, in-app purchases in 2.0 update
Shooting mutants? Psh, where's the challenge in that? Any Mutant Bash TV participant worth his weight in shotgun shells will tell you the true mark of great contestants is their ability to entertain the audience. Nothing makes for good programming like slicing and dicing some mutants!Melee combat is just one of Rage HD's newest features in update 2.0. There are also two new episodes, Kraken and Aqueduct -- which players can purchase together for $.99 from the in-app store -- to play through and full iOS 5 support. And, for the best viewing experience, the app also supports HDMI out, in case you want to host your own Mutant Bash TV murder party.Just, uh, don't tell people it's a murder party. They might get the wrong idea.
Rage walkthrough explores the murderous mysteries of Jackal Canyon
You didn't think Rage was only about the relationship between a fallen-to-Earth Ark dweller and wasteland superhero John Goodman, did you? As this latest walkthrough can attest, it's also about carefully angling rockets to murder faraway goons. Oh, and wearing totally sweet deer antlers as a warrior helmet, naturally.
Make some room for the Rage PC specs
After peeping the minimum PC specs required for id Software's mutant shoot-a-thon, Rage, we realize that our plan to duct-tape six Eee PCs together might not work out. Head past the break and see for yourself.
Doom now approved for sale in Germany, 17 years later
Doom may run on just about everything these days, but one place it hasn't been very accessible during the past 17 years -- regardless of the device -- is in Germany. That finally changed this week, however, with both Doom and Doom 2 receiving a USK-16 rating that allows them to be made available wherever video games are sold. Both games had previously been "indexed" by the country's Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons, which has effectively confined them to the underground market since their debut. According to the BBC, the ban was lifted because the agency now considers Doom to be "mainly of historical interest," although it notes that Germany is maintaining the ban on one particular version of Doom II that contains levels from Wolfenstein with Nazi imagery. As for Doom publisher Bethesda Softworks, it tells Joystiq that it's "obviously very pleased" with the decision, and that it will let folks know when it plans to actually makes the game available in Germany.
The plight of the flamethrower man, care of Rage
Will the man with the flamethrower ever learn? As seen in the latest trailer for id Software's upcoming shooter, Rage, he clearly still hasn't. What's that, flamethrower man? You didn't realize your gas tank was explosive? Incorrigible, we say!
Rage and Rage HD (iOS) free for a week
We tend to give Facebook a lot of guff for its many, many menial labor simulators, but today, the social network gets a pass. As a way of thanking the 100,000 users that "Liked" the official Rage page on the service, id has made the iOS versions of the game (both classic and HD) free for the next week. Our temporary Facebook armistice will, of course, be rescinded the moment someone invites us to join their mafia.
Buy Rage new and get free ... sewer access?
Sewer levels are frequently some of the most maligned in any action game, but in Rage they're a bonus. In an interview with Eurogamer, id creative director Tim Willits said that sewer hatches scattered across the landscape would be open for those who bought the game new, a perk those buying used will have to pay for. It's bound to irritate some fans, but Willits tried to soften the blow by downplaying the significance of the sewers, saying, "Most people never even see it. I can tell you, some people will buy Rage, download that, and still never set foot in those things. They just won't. I think that's fair. It's cool. It's outside the main path. We're not detracting from anything. But I know some consumers, when you can't avoid it, then you get a little touchy subject." Used buyers, we know your inclination is to start fuming, but just look at those guys in the above image. Do you honestly want to poke around the sewers underneath their house?
These Rage screens warn of a grizzled, bald future
id has sent along some new screens for Rage and they're quite grizzled. Meeting its quota for dirty bald dudes, this bundle of screens also packs a nice post-apocalyptic vista and a taste of future fashions. Deer horns as shoulder pads? Crazy!
Rage preview: On the road again
There are some very important things I want you to know right away about id Software's long-in-development id Tech 5 showcase, Rage. It is, unequivocally, a first-person shooter first, everything else second. The car handling is fine, as is the RPG-esque quest delivery. But it's clear that the shooting is top priority. It's absolutely gorgeous, but not in the Sherilyn Fenn kinda way. The destroyed landscape is rich with detail, strewn with settlements and towns that look appropriately lived in, full of weather-beaten characters that show more life than those found in other Bethesda-published games. The combat and RPG elements come across in an engaging mixture. I was excited to explore each "dungeon" for loot, carefully making sure not to alert any dangerous gangs while killing strays with my silent blade. In short, despite being another first-person shooter -- named "Rage," no less -- and despite the post-apocalyptic setting, I'd describe the three hours I spent venturing through this version of "The Wasteland" as a breath of fresh air.%Gallery-129768%
