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A 'Westworld' mobile game is in the works
HBO's version of Westworld seems tailor-made for a video game: it's a fully-realized robot theme park with plenty of opportunities for disaster. And sure enough, you're about to get one. In the wake of a teaser on the website of the show's fictitious Delos Incorporated, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has confirmed to Engadget that a mobile game is in development. It's not saying much about the mechanics of the game itself, but it's working with Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive and the TV series' Kilter Films. The title is "currently being tested in limited release," a spokesperson said.
'Westworld' season 2 trailer reveals a park gone horribly wrong
Westworld won't return to TV until 2018, but we're getting a peek at what that return will entail... and things have clearly gone downhill. A new trailer for the second season reveals that the robots are rebelling against the humans who've treated them so harshly (really, the core of the movie that inspired the show), and there are plenty of casualties among the guests and Delos employees. Dolores, William and other bots are clearly relishing the opportunity to get back at their tormentors. While it's going to be a frustratingly long wait for the rest of season two, HBO is at least giving us something to look forward to.
ICYMI: Sims yourself into a new VR social network
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: A new social network for virtual reality just launched, geared towards users who will decorate rooms to their taste, then have online friends over to hang out in their rooms, sharing content and chatting in real time about whatever movie they might be watching. Meanwhile, a bike path in Poland is made of material that glows for 10 hours after being charged by sunlight. It's being watched through the winter and if it handles cold temperatures well, researchers will begin work on commercializing the material in the spring. Nissan's EV mobile office video is here, and if you're interested in that GoPro contest, the mountain biking video is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
VR at comic cons isn't worth the hassle
There was plenty to see at this year's New York Comic Con, from the stars of the newest Netflix shows, to elaborate cosplay of superheroes and giant robots. However, it seemed like quite a few exhibitors would prefer that attendees spend their time in booths with virtual reality headsets strapped to their face. But instead of feeling like a pop-up arcade where fans could delve into the worlds of their favorite programs, many of the simulations felt like cheap marketing presentations. And, honestly, the technology and fans deserve so much better.
Recommended Reading: Behind the scenes of Google's Pixel phones
Behind the Pixel: Google's First Real Threat to Apple's iPhone Mark Gurman, Bloomberg Before Google's Pixel event had even started on Tuesday, Bloomberg already posted a behind-the-scenes article on how the phones were made. There's some solid perspective to complement all of the news and analysis you've likely already read, so this is certainly worth as you settle in for a relaxing weekend.
Watch HBO and Cinemax on PlayStation Vue starting today
PlayStation is beefing up the premium offerings on its PS Vue streaming TV service. As of today, HBO and Showtime will be available as part of the new Ultra ($64.99 to $74.99 per month based on location) plan. Don't feel like ponying up that much? Both HBO and Cinemax are $15 per month on their own. A post on the PlayStation Blog says that this is the first internet-based pay-TV service to offer the channels both live and streaming without a bundled package.
What's on your HDTV: 'Luke Cage,' 'Forza,' 'Westworld'
It's time: Netflix is back with the next entry in its line of Marvel-character TV series with Luke Cage, starring Mike Colter and produced by Cheo Hodari Coker. Be quick with your binge, since on Sunday night, HBO kicks off its highly-anticipated android-populated TV series Westworld. We're also ready for the wide release of Forza Horizon 3 -- I've been playing it and it's not only my favorite Forza, it could've been my favorite entry in the PGR or Midnight Club series. Tonight is the first presidential debate, and if you need another reason to watch, don't forget that you can use it to compare the HD feeds from different networks. New movie releases on Blu-ray include Ultra HD versions of Warcraft, Everest, Central Intelligence and The Shallows, and on TV don't forget about a new season of Drunk History. There's also a Final Fantasy XV side-scrolling prequel, and XCOM 2 on consoles. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).
HBO's 'Westworld' sci-fi series arrives October 2nd
JJ Abrams' and Jonathan Nolan's TV adaptation of Westworld hit its share of snags on the way to release (it was originally supposed to debut in 2015), but it's nearly here. HBO has confirmed that the robot-theme-park-gone-wrong show will debut on October 2nd at 9PM (both Eastern and Pacific). As before, the TV series isn't really a thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton's 1973 movie. Instead, it's more of a philosophical investigation into both simulated experiences and artificial intelligence. If you can do anything you want in a robotic world, what does that say about you? And how does AI grapple with questions of consciousness and self-awareness?
Barely Related: Star-Lord's dance-off, comet sounds
We'd like to take this moment to clearly and firmly state our collective opinion of actor Chris Pratt: He's adorable. Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
HBO's 'Westworld' reboot with Anthony Hopkins will air next year
HBO has just green-lighted J.J. Abrams Westworld series, a reboot of Michael Crichton's now-classic 1973 movie about robots gone bad. it announced the series launch via Twitter, with a creepy Vine (see below) confirming the 2015 date. The original plot revolves around lifelike robots that help amusement park guests fulfill their fantasies but cause havok when the park's central computer fails. Execs told the Hollywood Reporter that each robot can come back after being killed off, allowing the actors to play different parts on different episodes. That helped HBO attract a star-studded cast, reportedly including Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood. There's no exact air-date yet, but the concept and the cast look highly promising.
Robot ticketer greets amusement park visitors, offers frightening glimpse of the future
Manufactured by NEC, this new FeliCa payment terminal (seen here at iEXPO 2008 in Tokyo) is designed for amusement parks, arcades, or any place where a whimsical touch-screen device might trick you into spending more money than you normally would. And if handing control of your e-wallet to an android wasn't bad enough, in addition to selling tickets and dispensing data the device boasts integrated facial recognition for identifying and profiling park visitors -- a feature to be used for determining your demographic information and pointing you towards appropriate "amusement," such as a restaurant for Ma or a wave pool for the kiddies. What could possibly go "worng," you ask? Have you even seen Westworld?
