Expect SmartGlass support in every Microsoft Studios game going forward

Expect SmartGlass support in every Microsoft Studios game going forward:

Microsoft's SmartGlass initiative aims to enrich the entertainment offerings on Xbox with an informative, context-sensitive "surface," spread across compatible tablets and smartphones. Phil Spencer, Corporate VP of Microsoft Studios, tells me you can expect SmartGlass support from all of the company's games after the feature becomes available this fall.

"It just makes so much sense for a developer who wants to

Unreal Engine 4 demo deconstructed

Unreal Engine 4 demo deconstructed:



Epic's Unreal Engine 4 strides into public view with a spectacular real-time demo, dubbed "Elemental" (seen above). The short film depicts an ancient knight creaking to supernatural life while a decrepit castle comes apart around him, letting in floods of light and gusts of snow. It's a concise showcase of the underlying technology, which features sophisticated dynamic illumination, light-reactive materials, rich particle effects, per-pixel lens flares, and other visual processes that don't sound quite as sexy as they appear.

According to Epic, games running on Unreal Engine 4 won't ship until sometime in 2013 at earliest. With partners already lining up to use it, and the engine running in 1080p on a PC built from off-the-shelf parts (the demonstration I saw was running on a variant of the Falcon

Skyrim adds Kinect support for 'more than 200' voice commands

Skyrim adds Kinect support for 'more than 200' voice commands:

Developing ...

Far Cry 3 multiplayer screens show death by bullets, not malaria

Far Cry 3 multiplayer screens show death by bullets, not malaria:

Do you know the definition of insanity? It is flipping through this gallery of Far Cry 3 multiplayer screens and expecting new images to show up. Also, check out our preview of the experience.
Continue reading Far Cry 3 multiplayer screens show death by bullets, not malaria

Playing Kinect on Panasonic's 103-Inch Television [Postcard]

Playing Kinect on Panasonic's 103-Inch Television [Postcard]:

Panasonic makes a 103-inch TV—it's apparently the biggest plasma in the world. It's on display at electronics shops throughout Japan. Seeing one isn't a big deal. Playing

Report: Hydrophobia studio facing closure

Report: Hydrophobia studio facing closure:

Hydrophobia developer Dark Energy Digital is allegedly preparing to shut down. GamesIndustry.biz reports layoffs have begun, with affected employees concerned about outstanding pay from the company, which is said to be deep in debt.

Hydrophobia struggled to find an audience after diving into the digital distribution pool with less-than-adequate form, despite attempts by the developer to right the ship soon after

Just how chatty is the Hulk in The Avengers? Plus Robocop casting hints! [Video]

Just how chatty is the Hulk in The Avengers? Plus Robocop casting hints! [Video]:

The Robocop reboot has been gathering momentum since Elite Squad director Jose Padilha joined, but the big question has been who's playing Robocop? We've heard rumors of Michael Fassbender and Russell Crowe, but the truth is

Star Wars Kinect includes Slave Bikini Leia dance-off competition [Video]

Star Wars Kinect includes Slave Bikini Leia dance-off competition [Video]:

There is a universe where the last Star Wars action figures came out in 1985, the Battle of Endor took place on Kashyyyk, and the prequels were actually a three-night-long PBS mockumentary — directed by Errol Morris — on the vagaries of moisture farming. Suffice

Zynga considering online gambling; puts $1 billion on Red 14

Zynga considering online gambling; puts $1 billion on Red 14:

Zynga let it all ride with its IPO late last year and its stock has fluctuated ever since, with some analysts suggesting the social-games market has capped out its user base, that it doesn't generate enough consumer spending, and that Zynga just isn't worth very much as a company. Perhaps in answer to these claims, Zynga is flirting with the idea of online gambling -- the kind with real money.

Zynga is talking with several potential partners about the foray, a spokesperson told All Things D, along with the following statement: "Zynga Poker is the world's largest online poker game with more than 7 million people

Paradox Announces A Game Of Dwarves

Paradox Announces A Game Of Dwarves:


In a one-two punch of Paradox news, our man in the field, Jim Rossignol, has sent a telegram from Sweden reporting that the publishers have announced A Game Of Dwarves. STOP. It’s a strategy-cum-management game, by Zeal Game Studios, in which you must control a dwarven settlement. It has a Theme Hospital meets Dungeon Keeper vibe about it, with a sprinkling of Settlers, as you manage your crew of dwarves to dig, build and defend themselves. It’s going to be randomly generated, meaning each time you start a new game it’ll be a completely unique dungeon, requiring new strategies. We’ll have more information just as

AOL Arrests Revenue Declines As Global Display Remains Up

AOL Arrests Revenue Declines As Global Display Remains Up:

AOL (NYSE: AOL) certainly went into Q3 with lowered expectations and it appeared to have beaten those benchmarks, as global display advertising grew for the third consecutive quarter and total revenues were down only 6 percent, the smallest decline in five years.

According to estimates from eMarketer, AOL’s share of U.S. online ad revenues will decline to 2.7 percent in 2011, down from 3.4 percent last year, as Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Facebook continue to gain in $12.33 billion display marketplace. After peaking in 2005 at 7.2%, the company’s share of online ad revenues in the US has declined each year since.
In terms of AOL’s hold on U.S. display ad dollars, eMarketer predicts it will have a 4.2 percent share this year, down from 4.8 percent in 2010 and 10.6 percent in 2007. Facebook is expected to pass Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO), once the undisputed leader in display, for the first time in 2011, as the social network’s share reaches 16.3 percent, up from 12.2 percent last year.
Overall, AOL’s relative success in slowing its total revenue decline and growing its global display revenues come as U.S. online ad spending grew 19.1 percent to $7.70 billion in Q3 2011, according to eMarketer stats. More to come

• Ex-MSLO Exec Janet Balis Returns To Chart AOL Ad Sales Strategy
• With Pressure On Display Sales, AOL Slips E-Commerce Into Devil Ads
• Macquarie: AOL's Homepage Ad Pace Appears 'Sluggish,' As YouTube Surges
• Armstrong: Shift In AOL Sales Heads Does Not Equal Change In Strategy
• Some Bright Spots For AOL, Yes, But Also More Gloom Ahea

Ready to Pre-Order Some Solid Snake? How about Cyborg Ninja? [Metal Gear Solid]:

Spotted at this year's Tokyo Game Show, there are Solid Snake and Cyborg Ninja figures incoming from Square Enix's Play Arts Kai line. Pre-orders are now underway! More »

Will the PS3 Overtake the Xbox 360? Will It Happen? [Sony]:

Nintendo rules this generation, leaving Microsoft and Sony to duke it out for numero two. So, which of those two

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 character changes, part two: Capcom characters

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 character changes, part two: Capcom characters:

Last weekend we took a look at the changes coming to Marvel's fighters in November's Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and now it's time to scrutinize the nerfs and buffs being administered to Capcom's side of the isle.
Jump past the break for the incredibly "inside baseball" list of adjustments and start planning your strategies accordingly. There's plenty of alterations being thrown around, but MvC3's tiers have been so well defined up until now, we doubt we'll see any fewer C. Vipers in tournament finals, especially now that she

Xenogears Lives On In This Awesome Painting [Fan Art]

Xenogears Lives On In This Awesome Painting [Fan Art]:

Artist Jake Murray pays tribute to classic RPG series Xenogears in the best way possible: with heroic fan art of star Elly

Get the DSi XL in blue or pink this holiday

Get the DSi XL in blue or pink this holiday:



With the 3DS not doing as well as Nintendo would like, and with a pressing need to get the device in as many hands as possible before the Vita hits, it's issuing two new holiday bundles of ... the DSi XL.



On November 6, you'll be able to get Nintendo's oversized handheld in new Midnight Blue or Metallic Rose colors, each with a copy of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem, for the normal DSi XL price

Sonic Generations will include the original Sonic The Hedgehog (if you can unlock it)

Sonic Generations will include the original Sonic The Hedgehog (if you can unlock it):

The original Sonic The Hedgehog will be available as a complete, unlockable game in Sonic Generations, Sonic Team's Takashi Iizuka said during a panel at Paris Games Week. Iizuka didn't specify how exactly to unlock Sonic The Hedgehog, but we assume it has something to do with curling into a tight ball and rolling up some loop-the-loops at breakneck speeds. You, not Sonic. This is a really special

How StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm's New Units Will Balance Multiplayer [StarCraft]

How StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm's New Units Will Balance Multiplayer [StarCraft]:

The huge multiplayer update coming to StarCraft II with the second installment, Heart of the Swarm, gives Blizzard an excellent opportunity to balance the three races and take advantage of missed opportunities. Let's see what holes the new multiplayer