singularity
Latest
Book Review: You Are Not a Gadget
You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier (January, 2010) Alfred A. Knopf, 209 pages, $24.95 I'm often accused of being a Luddite -- mostly based on my fervent and affectionate clinging to several physical objects that are quickly becoming cultural artifacts: the ink pen, the paper book, and the vinyl record -- but those items haven't been the only 'evidence' my accusers have historically cited. In addition to that physical evidence, there has always been my suspicion that some of the things I valued in life -- listening to a whole album, reading an entire novel in one sitting before grabbing another off the shelf -- were also going the way of Betamax, and being replaced by short attention-spanned, sound-bited fragments of conversation that didn't convey knowledge or ideas in nearly the same way. This suspicion, this "feeling" if you will -- obviously doesn't originate with me, and it's often diluted (by the internet) into some version of "the internet is making us dumber" argument. Of course, that's not really the argument at all, but who needs to be bogged down with details these days? Enter You Are Not a Gadget, which I review below.
Kmart discounts Alan Wake, Peace Walker and more
Though both parties haven't likely realized it yet, Kmart is currently embroiled in a full-on assault against your wallet. The store's offering a slew of discounts on games like Alan Wake, Peace Walker, Singularity and the Call of Duty: War Collection, as well as a few other miscellaneous SKUs.
Review: Singularity
When faced with the imminent collapse of your once idyllic and isolated society, you'll find that adhering to a few simple rules could save your too-good-to-be-true life. The difference between escaping dystopia and dying of dysentery in a locker is made plain in these important steps: Don't bother trying to keep up with the Joneses anymore. Their mutated forms have granted them incredible endurance and speed. Avoid any scientific laboratories, especially those staffed by inter-dimensional riftologists. If you must visit one, always go for the Exploding Barrel Research Center. For god's sake, don't use an antiquated audio recorder -- no matter how charming it is -- to capture your final, downtrodden play at preservation. The minute you start talking about how you got separated from the others, you're inviting ... what was that noise? Oh god, I can hear it in the vents and AAAAIIEEEEE etc.
Kmart deals: $25 credit with Singularity, $20 credit with Lords of Shadow pre-order, more
Kmart has quite a slate of deals lined up this week. You want cheap Ninety-Nine Nights 2 and Naughty Bear? You got it. $25 game credit with Singularity? Why not? $20 pre-order credit for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow? Oh, fine.
Singularity trailer unveils even more features of the T.M.D.
It slices! It dices! It reduces your enemies to unrecognizable blobs of primordial goop! And now, thanks to the latest trailer for Raven and Activision's temporally unstable shooter Singularity, another feature of the handy Time Manipulation Device has been revealed: It grants the user complete control over the forces of gravity. It's official: This is the raddest glove ever. Check out the trailer above, and see some of the practical applications this feature has on the battlefield. We wonder what other T.M.D capabilities will be revealed in future trailers before the game launches on June 29. (For the record, our money's on a built-in stainless steel panini press.)
Help EVE's developers get to the bottom of fleet lag this Saturday
The down side to EVE Online's truly massive single-server design that puts all players in the same universe is that lag has been a constant problem since the game's launch. For the most part, the game runs smoothly and lag doesn't affect the day-to-day lives of players. It's when too many players congregate in one place that the server node they're on begins to grind to a halt. Circumstances can rapidly go from bad to worse, with server nodes collapsing under the strain and database failures occurring. It's been noticed by players that lag in fleet battles has gotten considerably worse since the Dominion expansion came out. To get to the bottom of the issue, CCP Tanis has been scheduling regular test-server events in an effort to replicate the conditions experienced on the main EVE server. By logging a fleet battle in action, CCP hope to find ways to resolve fleet lag and prevent further lag-causing defects from reaching the main server unnoticed. On Saturday 29th May between 20:00 and 21:00 EVE time, CCP will be running an important hour-long testing session. They're asking players to turn up and help out, as they need at least 300 pilots to begin testing and ideally would want over 500. For information on what the testing consists of and how to access the EVE test-server, visit the official mass testing sticky thread on the EVE forums.
Singularity trailer unveils the Deadlock feature
If we had a high-tech time gauntlet thing, we'd probably just go around turning dogs back into puppies all day. The world needs more cute puppies, right? For Singularity's protagonist, however, it's a tool to aid in the destruction of his enemies. The latest trailer for the game highlights the Deadlock feature, an ability that generates a small field slowing the momentum of anything caught in it. This can stop enemies dead in their tracks or help the player navigate past a deadly electrical hazard. Perhaps its greatest ability is how it affects munitions -- bullets slow down to a crawl, making what would otherwise be a bullseye for a huge rocket result in a miss.
Video: Singularity's age-defying destruction
We've known about the ability to age and "revert" objects and people in Singularity for a while. It acts as a way to destroy cover, rebuild broken bridges and age enemy soldiers into dust. We wondered before why reverting soldiers didn't turn them into babies, and now we know why: It actually turns them into an exploding pile of goo. Okay, so you can also revert enemies into a raging, feral beast but, come on, exploding pile of goo (as seen in the video after the break). Singularity will be released next month.
Singularity trailer shows there's no use crying over spilt vodka
The latest Singularity trailer --- with no actual gameplay -- totally makes us wish we had one of these timey-wimey continuum-altery devices at parties. It'd be so handy for recovering spilled drinks. Also, we'd use it to keep our dogs in perpetual states of puppydom. Hmm, come to think of it, that device would be super convenient. Somebody should make one for real -- what could be the harm?
Xbox 360 copies of Singularity to offer free Prototype 'for a limited time'
Here's a real concern everyone should be cognizant about: Just how many times can you reduce people to decrepit, withered husks writhing in agony until it starts getting a little ... old? Wouldn't it be nice if, between face-melting blasts of temporal energy, you could resort to dismemberment, impalement and tentacular catastrophe? What if you didn't have to suffer the slightest penalty or inhibition for spending the day shooting and stabbing anonymous meatbags, just as your desires dictated? We'll likely never find out, but you can do all of that stuff in a video game if you buy Singularity on Xbox 360 and take advantage of a limited-time mail-in offer for a free copy of Infamous Prototype. Raven's time-twisting shooter is out on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on June 29th. %Gallery-45668%
Singularity falls in line for a June 29 point of delivery
Last we heard about Singularity, the game got pushed back to an amorphous "June" release date by publisher Activision. Heck, the game's developer, Raven Software, even had to lay off some folks last summer to reflect a lightened workload after the release of Wolverine and Wolfenstein. But the game popped back up on our radar last night when its latest trailer was shown on GameTrailers TV, complete with a solidified June 29 release date (as Amazon and Gamefly listings previously indicated). If you're into WWII-era alternate realities featuring god-like special abilities, the trailer that we've embedded after the break is right up your alley. If not, well, here are the Wonderpets with a very sewious message. Update: We've added the trailer above.
Help develop Tyrannis on the EVE test server
EVE Online's Tyrannis expansion is due for release in a few months and players are looking forward to the new planetary interaction mechanic. Although the core ideas for the expansion have been settled on, many of the game mechanics have not been fully fleshed out. In an effort to get players involved, CCP have begun releasing early prototypes of the planetary interaction feature on the EVE test server Singularity. It's important to keep in mind that nothing on the test server is final. As a studio that makes heavy use of agile development strategies, CCP will use feedback from players on the test server to incrementally refine the design. Dierdra Val, director of EVE University, has been on the test server to bring the EVE community details of CCP's current designs. They've released a video showing the process of installing structures on a planet and setting up factory links. So far, planetary interaction seems very similar to the moon mining and reacting industry but it's definitely a much more active process. While moon mining operations produce an endless supply of moon minerals at a steady rate, planet-based material deposits will vary in total size and yield per cycle. The materials produced on planets are also different than those produced by existing industrial operations. Skip past the cut to watch EVE University's test-server planetary interaction tutorial or set up a test server client and try it out for yourself.
Amazon and Gamefly agree: Singularity out June 29
The upcoming Singularity from Raven Software is supposed to give you the power to age objects just by gesturing at them, and it appears that ability is being tested on the game itself: Its release date has been slowly edging into the future, from early 2010 up into March and then on to June. But it seems like the timeshifting has finally come to an end, as both Amazon and Gamefly have listed the game as releasing on June 29th of this year. Activision originally cited the delay as an attempt to keep the game away from a crowded slate of "competitive titles," so perhaps the game will do better kicking off the dog days of summer. If Raven's time-bending twist on the FPS captures your interest, it'll be one more good reason to stay out of that hot, hot summer sun. [Thanks, Shagittarius]
Raven's Manveer Heir urges industry to address ethnic misrepresentation
If there's one thing that Commander Shepard, Nathan Drake, Agent 47, Marcus Fenix, and ... uhh ... Mega Man all have in common, it's not just that they're all video game characters -- they're also all white dudes. And Raven Software's Manveer Heir takes umbrage with that fact (and, more importantly, the fact that being caucasian is a rather pervasive theme across game characters), telling Develop in a recent interview that "There are a large number of hispanic and black children playing games, percentage-wise more so than white children, but these guys aren't getting into the industry because they are not seeing themselves in the games." Moreover, Heir says it's not just a question of equality, but rather a question of missed market opportunity. "It's not about being fair. It's about bringing something new to the art." The Wolverine/Singularity dev also makes a point of sending out a rally call to the rest of the industry, saying, "I'm sure many people in the game industry are starting work on new IP. If we can ask people to think about it, then they are more apt to say 'hey let's try this.' You just need one game to succeed. The first developer or publisher to do this will enjoy a lot of success." For a much more thorough discussion on the subject, we've embedded a video after the break of a panel from DICE 2010, titled "Games of Color," in which Manveer speaks in far more detail on the subject.
Activision: Transformers: War for Cybertron due in May, Singularity in June [Update]
After narrowly escaping Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's impact crater in late 2009, Raven Software's tardy, time-bending first-person shooter, Singularity, finally appears to have settled on a new ETA. Speaking in an investor conference call following the release of the company's latest financial results, Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith mentioned that both Singularity and star vehicle / vehicle star Transformers: War for Cybertron were due some time in May 2010. [Update: Activision's Dan Amrich has an updated release timeframe for Singularity, confirming a June release.] If neither of those appeal to you, Shrek Forever After: The Game is also set to release during the same month. But ... really? You don't like transforming robots or time-distorting techno-gloves? What if the robots were wearing the gloves?
Mass Testing in EVE, Wednesday, to determine source of lag in fleet battles
EVE Online's latest expansion, Dominion, brought sweeping changes to how alliances claim and hold space, and more recently revamped capital ship warfare. However, there has been a downside of late in terms of server stability and lag. Twitter is pretty much aflame with players lamenting the server issues, not to mention the forums, and it's something CCP Games needs to address right away. To that end, CCP is looking to the playerbase for help with "Mass Testing" on Wednesday, to determine the source of lag in large fleet battles. The devs will be looking into the problems widely reported with medium and large scale fleet combat and will need at least 50 pilots, though if 200 or more showed up this would be even better, says CCP Tanis. Players interested in helping out should hop on the Singularity test server on Wednesday, January 27, at 17:00 UTC. Mass Testing participants should join the "MassTesting" channel in-game on the test server as well. All EVE pilots who want to get involved should see CCP Navigator's announcement for more info about tomorrow's fleet combat tests and the discussion in a related forum thread.
Rumor: Singularity delayed beyond Activision's Q1 calendar
If a recent change to Singularity's GameStop releases listing is accurate, Activision's oft-delayed shooter will see another push down the 2010 calendar. Originally slated for release in 2009, Singularity was delayed to March 2010 to help establish the game as a "must have" and distance it from Modern Warfare 2's nuclear explosion -- mostly, the latter. While a changed retailer listing is not confirmation of a delay, another bump may be absolutely necessary for Raven Software's title to have a shot at success (and Raven could use a lift). When the original delay was announced, Activision suggested that the March release window provided "fewer competitive titles" for Singularity to go up against. While Capcom has made that statement slightly more believable, Activistion is still wrong. Like, really, really, really, really, really wrong. If Singularity's new listed date of June 1, 2010 isn't what the publisher intends, perhaps Activision should consider it. [Via BigDownload]
EVE Online Sovereignty playtest to be held on Friday, Oct 30
CCP Games is holding a play test of the new Sovereignty system in EVE Online on Friday, October 30th at 17:00 GMT/UTC on the Singularity test server. The devs are looking for players to jump in and help them fine tune Sovereignty for the Dominion expansion release, which is very much focused on this particular game mechanic. Interested parties are encouraged to show up early, as the devs want to give players a short demo of the new Sovereignty system beforehand. Also, they'll need to divide players into two teams, Red vs. Blue. EVE Quality Assurance dev CCP Tanis writes, "We will be testing several aspects of the new Sovereignty system, think of this kind of like a 'king of the hill' game in EVE." EVE players interested in helping out (and getting a feel for how the new system will work) should read through the info the devs have listed in the playtest announcement. The developers have stated the testing event will take two or three hours to complete. (As an aside, they're putting the Sovereignty game mechanics through its paces on Mischief Night... what could go wrong?)
EVE's planetary graphics kicked up yet another notch for Dominion expansion
We pointed out last month that EVE Online will get a new look to its planets this December, when the Dominion expansion launches. There's now more footage of the improved planetary graphics which is even better than what we saw in September, with a closer look at the swirling clouds, continents, and oceans, as well as light and shadows on the horizon. The footage is courtesy once again of EVE Online player Flamewave -- who may just live on the Singularity test server. We've got a video embed of Flamewave's footage of the new planetary graphics as seen on the test server, so stick with us after the jump for a stunning look at New Eden as it will appear in Dominion.
New starry backgrounds in EVE Online spotted
CCP Games has been rolling out some major graphical improvements to EVE Online since the Trinity expansion launched, bringing with it a new graphics engine and an updated look to the game's setting through the premium client. The first iteration of graphics enhancements added a shiny new veneer to EVE's ships, but those changes weren't skin deep. The models themselves were recreated through months of effort by the game's art team, and the look of the ships is now much improved. Later space stations (both inside and out) and stargates were given a facelift with much greater detail and shadows. The Apocrypha expansion brought new effects for electronic warfare modules and weapons, but it also introduced something else to the aesthetics of EVE -- those gorgeous backdrops found in the uncharted expanses of wormhole space.By comparison, some players feel that the nebula-laced appearance of mapped solar systems is starting to look dated. While EVE's nebulas aren't likely to change anytime soon, players on the Singularity test server are posting screenshots of starry backgrounds which have made an appearance this week. You can check out the shots taken by various players at Scrapheap Challenge and in these threads on the official EVE forums. Whether these new starry backdrops will make their way into the Dominion expansion release in December isn't certain, but combining this look with the swirling clouds on New Eden's planets would certainly kick EVE's aesthetics up another notch or two.
