port
Latest
OlliOlli kicks, pushes, coasts to PS4 and PS3
OlliOlli, Roll7's endless runner-meets-skateboarding game, is now available on PS4 and PS3. The game originally launched in January for Vita, and was previously targeted for other PlayStation systems in July. While it missed the mark for Sony's platforms, it did reach Steam last month. The game is 10 percent off for its first week on PS4 and PS3, and 20 percent off for PlayStation Plus members. It is also Cross-Buy and Cross-Save compatible, so those that own the Vita version can freely download it on PS4 and PS3 starting today. Roll7 may have created OlliOlli, but BlitWorks provided the PS4 and PS3 ports for the game. The studio also brought roguelike Spelunky to Vita. Our review of the original Vita version of OlliOlli found the game a bit difficult, but that for every "ten failed attempts" at a trick, each success felt like we earned it. In June, Roll7 introduced a fix for a game-crashing bug in addition to leaderboards, which are included in the other PlayStation versions. [Image: Roll7]
Journey, The Unfinished Swan confirmed for PS4
Late last month, a Sony landing page for Gamescom 2014 indicated that games such as Journey and The Unfinished Swan were destined to arrive on PS4. Sony confirmed as much today, noting that both games will arrive later this year for the latest-generation system, and stressed that both will be in 1080p. Hustle Kings was also confirmed for PS4 this week after its appearance on the PlayStation landing page. The PS4 version of Giant Sparrow's The Unfinished Swan was leaked in mid-July by a Korean ratings board. As for Journey, it topped the list of Joystiq's favorite games of 2012 after its celebrated March 2012 launch that resulted in a handful of GDCA awards and a Grammy nomination for composer Austin Wintory. [Image: Thatgamecompany]
Hotline Miami dials up PS4's number, makes plans for August 19
Hotline Miami will make its next generation debut when it launches for PS4 on August 19. The game first arrived in October 2012 for PC before taking its first trip to PS3 and Vita in June 2013. According to a tweet from the game's official Twitter account, players will be able to "beat people to death by shaking the gamepad" with the sounds of your executions emanating from the controller's speaker, which just seems pleasant. Players will also have the option to use the DualShock 4's touch pad to look around and lock on to enemies. We rather enjoyed Hotline Miami, and found the action in the game to be gruesome and "well-executed" in our review. Other players seemed to enjoy the game as well, enough for developer Dennaton Games to craft a sequel in Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, which is due to launch in Q3 2014. Hotline Miami will feature Cross-Buy support, so those with any other PSN version of the game will receive the PS4 game for free. In addition to the release date, Devolver Digital also offered a new gameplay trailer for the game's PS4 version. [Image: Devolver Digital]
Metro Redux 'pushes three times as much, twice as fast'
This lengthy trailer for Metro Redux examines the improvements made to 4A Games' post-apocalyptic first-person shooters Metro 2033 and Metro Last Light in their transition to next-gen platforms. The remastered games will launch August 26 for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
SteamWorld Dig to pan for gold on Wii U
Mining adventure game SteamWorld Dig will receive a Wii U version, developer Image and Form announced today. The game first launched on 3DS in August 2013 before arriving on PC and Mac (seen above) in December. PS4 and Vita versions were announced in February, and are expected to launch this year. SteamWorld Dig is a 2D platform game that blends the action of Mr. Driller and Mossmouth's Spelunky, in which players dig beneath the town of Tumbleton to uncover secrets in its mines. Players search for cash to upgrade their abilities and valuable minerals such as coal to keep their lights going. Image and Form isn't sure how it will use the Wii U's Game Pad and Miiverse in SteamWorld Dig yet, but is certain the game is "perfect" for the console. [Image: Image and Form]
Terraria leaping to PS4, Xbox One sandboxes later this year
Popular 2D sandbox platformer Terraria will arrive on Xbox One and PS4 later this year, publisher 505 Games announced on the game's forums. Developed by Re-Logic, the PS4 version will feature Cross-Play and Cross-Save functionality with its Vita counterpart, which launched in December. Next-gen players will have access to Terraria's version 1.2 content, including its various improved gameplay mechanics and graphical upgrades that arrived on Xbox 360, PS3 and Vita in April. The publisher says the Xbox One and PS4 versions will also feature "some brand new functionality," though it's unclear just what that means. Terraria is currently free on Vita for PlayStation Plus members this month, which will bolster its already strong download numbers; it reached 1.3 million downloads on mobile devices and one million across PS3, Xbox 360 and Vita as of March. [Image: 505 Games]
Borderlands 2 on Vita: Mostly Handsome, Jack
It is complete. With today's launch of cross-save support for Borderlands 2 on Vita, the game is fully fleshed-out and filled with finger-flicking delight. That isn't a euphemism – since it's on Vita, there's plenty of touchscreen and rear touchpad action in this latest version of Borderlands 2. Some of it works, and some of it feels designed in the bowels of frustration hell. Borderlands 2 wasn't conceived as a Vita game, and at times that fact is obvious – when it runs into framerate issues or the graphics pop in (usually leaving my character's irises and pupils for last on the home screen), it feels like a big game ported onto a tiny device. These issues are mostly ignorable, but they contribute to a few annoying gameplay problems.
Neil Druckmann talks visuals for The Last Of Us' PS4 port
The Last of Us: Remastered isn't going to drastically overhaul Ellie and Joel's venture through clicker-infested environments. It might not even use new features like the DualShock 4's touchpad, though Naughty Dog is toying with ideas to see if any are worth pursuing. What it certainly will do is look better than its PS3 origin story, thanks to the boost in power gained from movin' on up to the PS4. Creative director Neil Druckmann recently chatted with Edge about this summer's improved port, explaining the team's approach to getting the most from a platform for any game. "We always build the best possible assets and then we can make the call when things aren't fitting onscreen or in the frame buffer or in memory," Druckmann explained. "That way we can pick and choose what we need to emphasize in a moment, and where there's a compromise on what can [be more detailed] or reduced to a lower quality." In the case of the PS3 version, the character models used in cutscenes were more detailed than in-game models, and environmental objects could be swapped out with lower-quality counterparts depending on a scene's focus. In contrast, the PS4 version should be able to sidestep most of the technical hurdles involved with dated hardware. The port still involves rebuilding assets though, given that the original version's engine and much of the project's work was tailor made for the PS3. Though the to-be-bundled "Left Behind" DLC will be unlockable after completing Remastered, new audio commentary for cutscenes will make its debut and be available from the start. Recordings will feature dialog between Druckmann and Ellie and Joel's voice actors, Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, respectively. [Image: Naughty Dog]
Swords and Soldiers carving up Wii U on May 22
Swords and Soldiers HD, Two Tribes' hi-res port of Awesomenauts developer Ronimo Games' first game, will launch on the Wii U eShop next Thursday, May 22. The game will arrive simultaneously in North America and Europe, and will cost $2.99 (2.99 euros). Two Tribes announced the HD port in March, years after the game's first arrival on Wii in North America in June 2009. Swords and Soldiers HD will retain the original game's levels while featuring both Wii Remote and Game Pad touch-screen controls, a multiplayer mode and higher-resolution visuals. The tower defense game has found a home on many platforms, including Steam in December 2010 and PSN in September 2010. [Image: Two Tribes]
How to port your Google Voice number to your iPhone
Earlier this week, I saw this post from @GrowlVoice: As of today, Google has officially shut off GrowlVoice's access to Google Voice as part of their integration of Google Voice into Hangouts. Google has also shut off 3rd-party access to Google Voice VoIP, and it seems that the writing is on the wall for Google Voice as a standalone product in any form. I have a Google Voice number that I really like and wanted to keep, so I decided I wanted to port it out of Google Voice and onto my Verizon iPhone. I wasn't even sure this was possible since Google Voice isn't really a cell phone provider like Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon, but Dan Moren of Macworld was kind enough to point me in the right direction to an encouragingly titled page at Google: Port your number out of Google Voice. In sum, on the Google side of things, there are two steps to porting your number out of Google Voice: Go to https://www.google.com/voice/unlock and follow the few steps there to say that you want to unlock your Google Voice number. Pay Google $3 as "a one time fee to port your number away from Google Voice" unless you are using a number that you ported into Google Voice. I did both of those steps and then decided to call Verizon. There may be a way to do this without having to talk to Verizon customer support, but since it was an unusual situation, I thought I'd be better off talking to another human being. Verizon has about eleventy-milion phone numbers for various technical/customer support issues. The number I called was 800–922–0204. When prompted, I pressed 3 for tech support. At the next prompt I said "Porting a number" and then "Porting to Verizon wireless" when it asked what kind of port I wanted. Lastly I was asked if I wanted to add a line to my account or replace an existing account, so I said "replace" since I was going to replace my current iPhone number. After that I was on hold for 5–10 minutes before being connected with "Jason" at Verizon Wireless. I explained what I wanted to do, making it clear that I wanted to move a number to Verizon, not the other way around. There were five pieces of information that Jason needed: The name of the account holder on the Google Voice account. The "billing address" for the Google Voice account. I wasn't sure what to use for that, so we just used the same billing address that was already associated with my Verizon account. The phone number that I wanted to port to Verizon. My "account number" with the carrier which currently held the number I wanted to port over. We used my Google Voice phone number. A password, if any. At first Jason thought this meant he was going to need my Google Account password, but it turned out there was an option for "No Password" so we used that. Once the whole thing went through, the system said that it would take 4–24 hours before it would take effect, and I would have to power cycle my iPhone for the new number to be recognized. (That turned out to be incorrect. Read on.) Jason said that in his experience it usually only takes about 2 hours, but it could take longer, and if it hadn't happened in 24 hours, give him a call back. After I hung up the phone, I realized that there were a few sites which used my current iPhone number to send me SMS login verifications for Two-Factor Authentication systems, most notably Paypal and Twitter. (Most others use the Google Authenticator, which I use with Authy.) For Twitter, I had to go to https://twitter.com/settings/security and choose "Don't verify login requests" and then to https://twitter.com/settings/devices and choose "Delete My Phone." Once the number was ported, those were the two URLs I needed to re-add my iPhone. For PayPal, I had to go to https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/customerprofileweb?cmd=%5fsecurity%2dtoken and "Deactivate" my "PayPal Security Key" and after the number was ported, I had to go to https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_register-security-key-mobile to enable my Security Key with my new iPhone number. Then it was just a matter of waiting. I went back to https://www.google.com/voice/unlock and say that my Google Voice number was now listed as "Unlocked (Approved [1])" and they added: "You have a Google Voice number that has been unlocked. You can now initiate porting with your new provider. We will notify you by email once the number has been ported away." (Spoiler Alert: I never received an email from them.) Still later, I went back to that page and it said: "Google Voice has successfully approved your request, but the carrier to whom you are porting hasn't completed their necessary action. If you are still having issues and your number doesn't successfully port in 2–3 business days, please contact your new carrier for support, as Google Voice is unable to take any additional action." Waiting Two hours passed, four hours passed, 24 hours, 36 hours, and nothing. However, this morning when I sat down at my Mac, there was an alert panel from iMessage, asking if I wanted to use my Google Voice number for iMessage. I clicked yes, and then checked my iPhone by going into the Phone app, and inside the Phone app I tapped on the "Contacts" tab, and scrolled all the way to the top. It still showed my old iPhone number, even after restarting it. I tried to send an SMS (not a blue-colored iMessage, but a green-colored SMS) and it failed to send. I tried making a phone call, and was greeted by an automated message that they could not authenticate my iPhone. I tried rebooting again, but still nothing. I thought about going to Settings » General » Reset » "Reset Network Settings" but I knew that would also remove all my saved Wi-Fi passwords, so I decided to wait a few more hours and try again. In the meantime, iMessage and FaceTime both showed my Google Voice number as associated with my iCloud account, and I could use Verizon's 3G and LTE data networks, I just couldn't make any calls or send any SMS messages. Eventually I called Verizon (#8899, as the automated message suggested). After about 20 minutes on hold I was finally connected with someone, explained what had been going on, and she said "You aren't on that phone now, are you?" Well, of course I was, because I don't think calling #8899 from my landline was going to get me to Verizon Wireless tech support. She asked if there was another number where she could call me back, and I gave her my number, but asked: "If I wasn't on my iPhone right now, what would you have me do?" "Reset your network settings," she said. She wrote down my landline phone number and promised to call me back in about 10 minutes. I reset the network settings, my iPhone rebooted, the Verizon logo showed up, the LTE logo appeared, I went into the Phone app, looked up my own number and -- my old phone number was still there. I was in the car and had my iPhone on the windshield mount, but there wasn't anywhere I could pull over, so I just left it unlocked on the screen showing my old phone number. About two minutes later, the number changed right before my eyes. One second it was the old number, and then it was the new number. Success! Finally I could make calls, send/receive regular SMS messages, and everything else. Summary of Steps If I was starting over from the beginning, here's what I would do: Go through my texts for the past month or so and look to see what (if anything) is using my iPhone number for SMS instead of my Google Voice number. Temporarily disable any two-factor authentication systems which rely on SMS. Go to https://www.google.com/voice/unlock and pay Google $3 to unlock my Google Voice number. Call Verizon (800–922–0204 worked for me) and navigate the phone options for "Tech Support" and then "Port a phone number" and then "Port to Verizon" Verizon will need your name (as it appears in Google account), your Google Voice number is the number you want to port and your "account number" and there is no password for porting a number out. Accept that you may have to wait 2–3 days, and be on the lookout for iMessage or FaceTime to tell you that your Google Voice number has been associated with your account. Don't bother just rebooting your iPhone to see if that does it, bite the bullet and choose "Reset Network Settings." Tip: Whenever I am somewhere that has a Wi-Fi password, I always save the network name [SSID] and the password in 1Password, so if I do have to reset my network settings, I will still have the Wi-Fi passwords for the various networks that I use. Once the port has been completed, be sure to reenable any two-factor authentication systems which use SMS. Although these instructions were for a Verizon iPhone, I would assume that the process is similar for AT&T or Sprint, with the obvious exception of who you'd call to initiate the port from your carrier.
Final Fantasy 3 rated for PC in Germany
Square Enix is bringing Final Fantasy 3 to PC, according to a German classification for the game. The USK, Germany's entertainment software regulation body, published a rating for the game earlier this month with the platform PC attached to it. The organization rated the game USK 6, approving it for children aged six and above. Square Enix previously ported other games in the series to PC, including both Final Fantasy 7 and Final Fantasy 8's appearances on Steam in July and December, respectively. Final Fantasy 3 originally launched on Famicom in 1990 and didn't arrive in North America until its 2006 3D remake on DS. Since then, Square Enix republished the game on WiiWare in 2009, iOS in March 2011, Android in June 2012, PSP in September 2012 and Windows Phone this past December. The North American classification board ESRB does not have a rating for the game's PC version. We've reached out to Square Enix to see whether the PC version of the game will come to North America. [Image: USK]
Titanfall runs 'above 30fps' on Xbox 360, is 'the true experience,' according to dev
Bluepoint Games had its work cut out for it when the studio agreed to port the Xbox One's flagship shooter Titanfall to the Xbox 360, but to hear senior producer Daryl Allison tell it, the jump was a success. "Titanfall on the Xbox 360 is the true experience: all the maps, modes, pilots, titans, weapons, burn cards, you name it, found in the Xbox One and PC versions," Allison recently wrote on the Titanfall website. "The game looks great, sounds great, and above all it plays great. There are of course some technical differences that are due to the technical limitations of the hardware – for example, the game runs above 30fps - but rest assured, the intense 6v6 wall-running, titan dropping action is all there." Allison then defends the decision to delay the Xbox 360 version of Titanfall by saying that the game was just not ready for release alongside its PC and Xbox One brethren. "We wanted Xbox 360 gamers playing Titanfall at the same time as everyone else, but it needed more time," Allison wrote. "EA and Respawn made the right call and the extra time has paid off. Titanfall on the Xbox 360 is definitely a game that Bluepoint Games is proud of, and we're excited for you to get your hands on it." The Xbox 360 version of Titanfall is currently slated to be released on April 8. [Image: EA]
Telltale's Walking Dead, Wolf Among Us, Game of Thrones coming to Amazon Fire TV
Telltale Games is bringing three of its story-driven adventures to Amazon Fire TV starting with the first season of The Walking Dead, which launched today with the media streaming device. The second season, in addition to The Wolf Among Us and the developer's Game of Thrones-based adventure, will arrive on Fire TV later this year, Telltale confirmed with Joystiq and Engadget. Amazon launched the $99 game and video streaming machine today, announcing it alongside a $40 game pad (though developers have the option to support other Bluetooth controllers). Telltale unveiled its own Game of Thrones adaptation in December before launching the second episode of The Wolf Among Us in February. The developer offered a new trailer for the third episode of the game today, though no release date was given for it. [Image: Telltale Games]
Play as Sackboy and Tearaway's heroes in Joe Danger 2 for Vita
Hello Games revealed plans to bring Joe Danger and Joe Danger 2: The Movie to PS Vita in August, and now it is offering more details on the games' portable versions. Namely, Joe Danger 2 will include cameos in the form of three playable characters courtesy of Media Molecule. Sometime this year, players will be able to perform tricks on Joe's motorcycle using Sackboy from the LittleBigPlanet series as well as Atoi and Iota from Media Molecule's latest game, Tearaway. Joe Danger 2 will include the 15 levels originally added to the game's PS3 version in the Undead Movie Pack DLC in October 2013. Additionally, both games will include online leaderboards and will automatically download ghost racer data for players to compete with asynchronously. Joe Danger first arrived on PSN in June 2010 and both games landed on Steam in June 2013. [Image: Hello Games]
Swords and Soldiers coming to Wii U in April
Swords and Soldiers, the tower defense game that first appeared on WiiWare in June 2009, will now see a release on the Wii U eShop in April. While the first game was created by Awesomenauts developer Ronimo Games, fellow Dutch studio and Toki Tori developer Two Tribes teamed up with Ronimo to upgrade the game and optimize it for Wii U. Swords and Soldiers will be playable using either Wii Remote on televisions or via the Wii U GamePad with a "custom touch scheme." Players can use both play styles in the game's multiplayer mode as well. Two Tribes boasted "high-res HD graphics" for the Wii U port, which will arrive at the end of April. Ronimo Games is currently developing a sequel to the game, Swords and Soldiers 2, which was announced in February. Two Tribes cut its development staff and effectively "rebooted" the studio in January. [Image: Ronimo Games]
The Last of Us coming to PS4 this summer with improved graphics (update: official announce trailer)
A PlayStation 4 port of highly acclaimed title The Last of Us will launch sometime this summer, a Sony spokesperson has let slip. Talking on CNN Turk's Multiplayer gaming show, a PlayStation exec claimed the port will have better graphics than the PS3 version, and will be available both digitally and physically. PS4 copies will apparently include the Left Behind single-player DLC, so newcomers get the whole story upfront, and diehards get to replay a prettier rendition. Additional single and multiplayer content is in the works, too, but even a straight port should keep most superfans happy while they wait for the movie. Update (4/9): Sony has officially confirmed that yes, The Last of Us Remastered is coming PS4 this summer. All of the details above still apply, with the only new information a few details on the pre-order bonuses and a pic of the box art.
Report: The Last of Us is coming to PS4, says Sony Eurasia exec [update: Sony statement]
The Last of Us is making the trek to PS4 if comments from a Sony Eurasia executive are to be believed. Sony hasn't formally announced a port of Naughty Dog's PS3 survival horror, but Software Marketing Manager Sercan Sulun appears to have let slip of the PS4 version on a recent CNN Turk video interview. According to an IGN translation, Sulun told CNN Turk, "There is no information about a new The Last of Us game but I can share this knowledge: As of this summer, The Last of Us will be on the PS4. Both on PSN and physically. The PS4 version will also include the DLC so you will be able to play Left Behind as well." To reiterate, Sony hasn't announced a PS4 version of The Last of Us; yesterday the company published a list of the games confirmed as coming to the system this year, and there was no sign of Ellie and Joel's adventure. We've contacted Sony to clarify Sulun's comments. That said, Naughty Dog has been cautious on the subject. When queried on the possibility of a PS4 port by Eurogamer, Creative Director Neil Druckman said last month, "We have such limited resources, and it's a question of where you put the resources. It's something where we can have a feel of where the demand is, and where our time is best spent. It's something that we'll figure out as we move forward." Update: When approached, a representative for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe provided Joystiq with the following statement: "'At no time have we announced that The Last of Us is coming to PS4 and therefore, have nothing to say on the subject." [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
Portal to find a companion in Android-based handheld, Nvidia Shield [Update]
Popular first-person puzzle-shooter Portal is coming to Nvidia's Android-based handheld system, Shield. Nvidia is handling the adaptation, said to be a full port of the PC version of the game, with the blessing of Valve. The Nvidia Shield launched in late July 2013 and our review of the system deemed it an "expensive novelty." Nvidia upped the system's PC streaming functions to 1080p and added button-mapping options in December. While it is unclear whether Portal will make its way to the Google Play store for use on more Android devices, all signs point to its exclusivity on the Nvidia Shield. We've contacted Nvidia to clarify that point, and will update as we learn more. Update: Nvidia informed Joystiq that Portal is a "native Android game," and will be sold on the Google Play store for use on other Android devices. [Image: Valve]
Blizzard: Diablo 3 in development for Xbox One, release not finalized
Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition is up and running on the Xbox One, though its release is not yet certain, Diablo 3 lead producer Alex Mayberry told Videogamer this morning. "I don't know where we are with Microsoft right now so I can't really comment on what that contract looks like," Mayberry said. "The point is we are developing for Xbox [One] and PS4 simultaneously. We hit those major platforms and then our goal as a development team is to make them run." Diablo 3's upgraded Ultimate Evil Edition was previously announced as a PlayStation 4 exclusive. Blizzard notes that the upcoming port will feature content from this week's forthcoming "Reaper of Souls" PC expansion, along with expanded social features and a redesigned interface suited for consoles. Mayberry explains that cross-platform development is standard practice for Blizzard's console ports. "We have that pipeline worked out," he told Videogamer. "We've already done it with the 360 and PS3, so that team knows how to develop at the same time for both of those platforms. That's just what we do. And then Blizzard and Microsoft can work out whatever they work out." [Image: Blizzard]
Weathered old HTC HD2 dresses up like a Nokia X
You may remember the HTC HD2 from posts such as "will it play Tekken 3?" and "wait, it runs Windows RT now?" Despite the handset's age, a stalwart community keeps it relevant by getting anything and everything to run on the developer favorite. It's only fitting, then, that the HD2 be one of the first to don Nokia's heavily skinned version of Android, other than the unreleased X family, of course. That's right: An XDA Developers forum member by the name of gilbert32 has apparently succeeded in porting some form of the Nokia X Android build onto a rather beat-up-looking HD2. We say succeeded, but while it looks the part and plays a booting sound when fired up, "everything else" is admittedly non-functional. Then again, if the goal was to show the HD2 still has legs after all this time, then mission accomplished, sir.
