Earlier this year, Deep Silver had teased a sequel to Dead Island, titled Dead Island: Riptide, with a teaser trailer. According to a press release, the company has now announced the release date for the game. The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game will be released on April 23 2012 in North America and April 26 2012 in Europe.
The company has also announced the pre-order bonuses for the game. Those who pre-order will get a version of Dead Island Riptide that will include an exclusive pack of weapon mods that allows manifold ways to dispose of the ghastly zombie hordes on Palanai island. Riptide will be set right after the events of the original Dead Island, with the four heroes having their escape put to a halt by a tropical storm. The heroes find themselves grounded on the island of Palanai facing the same zombie horde as they did in the first game. The new zombies have also been affected by some unknown mutations. The game is also getting a mysterious fifth playable character. 
Dead Island: Riptide now has a release date
According to the announcement, the game will also have a game mode similar to the Horde mode from the Gears of War series and Mann vs Machine mode from Team Fortress 2, where the heroes will be put in arenas and will have to survive against waves and waves of zombies. To survive, players will have to build defences and traps. There is no indication of whether these defences will require raw materials like the weapons do in the first game. The first Dead Island is a zombie survival game set on a tropical island. The game has the player pick one out of four characters and then go running around the island saving people, killing zombies and all sorts of other stuff heroes in zombie apocalypse stories are supposed to do. You can either play the game solo via the single player campaign or team on with four of your friends to take on the undead co-operatively. Dead Island combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customisation of a vast array of weapons. All of these gameplay features are presented in a dark story inspired by classic zombie movies with a gritty and engrossing campaign that can be played with up to four players in co-op mode. The game also features a crafting system where you can make crazy weapons to use against the undead horde, provided you have the materials and the blueprints required for the weapon. Dead Island had received two major DLCs (downloadable content), titled the Ryder White DLC and the Bloodbath Arena DLC. In the Ryder White DLC, players take the role of the villain of the story – Ryder White. The game mostly focuses on showing the motivations behind the actions of Ryder White. In the Bloodbath Arena DLC, four different arenas offer new challenges that can be played alone or in coop mode. It’s a desperate fight for survival where waves after waves of unrelenting zombies attack, each one more gruesome than the previous one! In this DLC, characters can loot experience points and items and bring them over to the campaign mode. Players can also show off their skills in zombie fighting with the newly implemented leaderboards. There is a Game of the Year edition of Dead Island available, which bundles the game and both the DLCs together. |
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Dead Island: Riptide gets release date
HTC takes a swipe at ‘that other’ Windows Phone
At the recent Microsoft Windows Phone 8 launch event, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer took to the stage, and praised all the latest Windows 8 devices. But with the event done, it's time for the brands to market their devices more aggressively. It appears that the gloves are now off, and the punches have begun flying albeit subtly. On its official Facebook page, HTC has posted an image of the HTC 8X with a caption stating, “Don't get weighed down. The HTC 8X is more than 20 pennies lighter than that "other" Windows Phone.”
The caption is befuddling, but a second glance at the image of 20 pennies reveals that the '‘other phone'’ referring to as a 'heavy' handset is the Nokia Lumia 920. The weight of 20 pennies is exactly 50 grams. The Nokia Lumia 920 weighing 185 grams is approximately 52 grams heavier than the HTC 8X. 
The phone is indeed quite light
It will be interesting to see how this marketing strategy pans out for the brand. Steve Ballmer announcing that Nokia is the leading Windows Phone manufacturer yet works in favour of Nokia. From the looks of it, competition is scaling up. Nokia, HTC, and Samsung have great offerings running on the Windows Phone 8 operating system. Microsoft launched the mobile operating system at an event on Monday. As a part of the announcement, Microsoft revealed new features, including Kid’s Corner and Rooms. Details and pricing for a range of new smartphones from Nokia, Samsung and HTC were revealed. Each smartphone in the range has its own differentiated design, colour, and features. Windows Phone 8 devices go on sale in November through carriers and retailers around the world. However, it is still too soon to tell when these devices would be launched in India. “We can’t wait for the world to meet Windows Phone 8, the most personal smartphone there is,”said Terry Myerson, corporate vice president of the Windows Phone Division at Microsoft.“Windows Phone 8 comes on a range of phones that are stunning, colorful and unique.” Microsoft states that Live Tiles are the core of Windows Phone. Users can arrange the iconic Start screen whichever way they like by pinning people, apps, music, games, photos, and other tiles. One has the option of customising the Live Tiles, and there are three different sizes and 20 different colours of tiles to choose from. Here is a quick look at some of the new Windows Phone 8 handsets: Nokia: The Nokia Lumia 920 offers great photography that fits in your pocket and it is the world’s only smartphone to include Optical Image Stabilization. The Nokia Lumia 822, 820 and 810 offer a ClearBlack display and removable back exchangeable shells in a range of colours. Both the Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 offer wireless charging. HTC: Microsoft states that the Windows Phone 8X by HTC was designed with lines and colours to match Windows Phone’s new Live Tiles. This phone also features great optics with 1080p video recording, an f/2.0 aperture and a dedicated HTC ImageChip on the main 8-megapixel camera and an ultra wide-angle lens on the front camera that lets you fit up to four people in the frame for a good Skype experience. The 8X and the recently announced 8S, both boast of a great music experience with Beats Audio and exclusive built-in amps that pair perfectly with Xbox Music. |
Need for Speed: Most Wanted now available for iOS and Android
While gamers on the PlayStation 3 will have to wait for a few more days before they can get their hands on a copy of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, those who prefer iOS and Android devices for their gaming needs can get the latest game in Electronic Arts’ popular racing franchise.
EA has officially released the iOS and Android versions of Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The game, costing Rs 350 on both the platforms, brings most of the Most Wanted experience to the handheld devices. According to the official description of the game: “Evade a relentless police force while you clash with street racers. Race and chase hot cars like the SRT Viper GTS, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Hummer H1 Alpha, and many more. Feel the intensity of no-brakes-allowed street racing with realistic full-car damage for the first time on mobile.” 
Most Wanted for iOS and Android is out now
Here are some of the features of the game:
When the iOS and Android versions were announced, EA had released a trailer for the game. The trailer shows that the game features good graphics, along with the same gameplay that will be there in the other versions of Most Wanted, including the Takedown mechanic, which was originally featured in the Burnout series. According to the company, “Need For Speed Most Wanted features stunning dynamic physics-based collisions, exciting cop takedowns, and realistic visual damage.” The physics-based collisions would probably help a great deal with the gameplay thanks to the ability to execute Takedowns. Recently, it was revealed that the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Most Wanted will be delayed till November 5, and the PC version will be released on November 9. EA had also recently released a trailer for Need for Speed: Most Wanted that explained the multiplayer of the game, including what game modes it’ll feature. To kick off multiplayer events, players have to drive to Race Lists strewn across the city that have a variety of different game modes, from simple races to all out takedown battles to jumping competitions. The game also features a progression system where you can level up to unlock mods for your car, as well as complete challenges such as finishing a race with no tyres to unlock License Plates that will display when you take down an opponent.
Besides being one of the most successful video game franchises, the Need for Speed series has been one of the most successful racing game series. The games in the series have been published by Electronic Arts (EA) and developed by several studios including Canada-based company EA Black Box and Britain-based Criterion Games. NFS was originally developed by Canadian company Distinctive Software, which later became known as EA Canada. As of October 2009, the game series has sold over 100 million copies.
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4 million Windows 8 upgrades since launch: Steve Ballmer
The Windows 8 operating system was launched last week, with Microsoft offering Windows 7 users a discount to uprade to the new OS. A report by Reuters states that Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, says that 4 million upgrades to Windows 8 have been sold since Friday.
As per the report, the author Bill Rigby states, “Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer said on Tuesday the company has sold 4 million upgrades to Windows 8, signaling a strong start for its new operating system which launched on Friday. Ballmer, speaking at a meeting for software developers at Microsoft's headquarters near Seattle, said hundreds of millions of Windows systems would be sold over the next year, and the company was seeing strong interest from business users. Ballmer already said on Monday that Windows 8 was outselling the previous version, Windows 7, at the same stage after launch three years ago.” On October 26, Windows 8 hit the shelves worldwide. The new OS includes a new user interface (UI), and a range of applications. In collaboration with hardware partners, Microsoft made more than a 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, available for the launch of Windows 8 — making it the best line-up of PCs ever across the Windows 8 and Windows RT ecosystem. “We have reimagined Windows and the result is a stunning lineup of new PCs,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “Windows 8 brings together the best of the PC and the tablet. It works perfect for work and play and it is alive with your world. Every one of our customers will find a PC that they will absolutely love.” 
4 million upgrades already
At retail stores, Windows 8 will be available in two primary versions — Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro, as well as Windows 8 Enterprise for large organisations. Launched at the same time was a new member of the Windows family, Windows RT, which is designed for ARM-based tablets and is pre-installed on new devices. In addition to Microsoft Office 2013, Windows RT is designed exclusively for apps in the new Windows Store. Windows 8 features the new Start screen that gives people quick access to the apps and content they use the most. It also features an entirely new Internet Explorer 10 designed for touch and built-in cloud capabilities with SkyDrive. In addition to the range of new Windows-based devices available, customers can also upgrade their existing PCs. Till the end of January, customers currently running PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 are qualified to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of Rs 1,999 And eligible Windows 7 PCs purchased between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013, in more than 140 markets can download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of Rs 800 with the Windows Upgrade Offer, available here. |
Samsung announces Galaxy Premier, launch in November
Just days after the device was teased in its entirety through leaked images, Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Premier. With the announcement of this handset, Samsung states that the Galaxy Premier will be launched first in Russia by November and thereafter be rolled out across the world.
At first sight, the Samsung Galaxy Premier looks identical to the Galaxy Nexus, the previous flagship from Google and Samsung. Samsung has loaded the handset with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and TouchWiz Nature user interface. 
Designed like the Galaxy Nexus
When the leaks first started pouring in, it was believed that the Samsung Galaxy Premier would be positioned between the Galaxy S III and the recently announced Galaxy S III mini. Judging from the size of the display and the features, Samsung has done just that. As of now, there is no pricing available for the handset to justify the claim, but the specifications indicate that it is. The Samsung Galaxy Premier is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4470 processor and features 1GB RAM. Here is a quick look at some of the highlighted attributes of the handset:
Apart from this, the Samsung Galaxy Premier will also be loaded with features that we saw on the Galaxy S III, such as S Beam, Best Photo, Smart Stay, Direct Call, Pop-Up Play and S Voice. The sensors found on this model include an accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor, digital compass and gyroscope. There is a 2100mAh battery to power the smartphone. The graphics on the device will be handled by a PowerVR SGX 544, which is much like the SGX543 that power the graphics on Apple’s latest chipset. A report by Sammy Hub has recently stated that the handset will be available in the Ukraine startingNovember at a price of 5555UAH (approx. Rs 36,810). However, we feel that Samsung may not use the same price in India for the model and possibly price it lower. Samsung has also recently announced the Galaxy S III mini. The size of the display has been much talked about. The display size of four inches is not small, but ias compared to the Samsung Galaxy S III, this handset could be much easier to handle. The handset is based on the Galaxy S III, and this feature translates to the design of this latest model as well. As far as the technical specifications of the handset go, the Galaxy S III mini is powered by a dual-core 1GHz NovaThor U8420 processor and comes equipped with 1GB RAM. If there was any doubt about what operating system would be used in this handset since it is not exactly a high-end model, then Samsung has not held back on this front, and has stated that the phone will ship with Google’s latest Android operating system v4.1 (Jelly Bean). Here is a quick look at the highlighted features of the Samsung Galaxy S III mini:
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Take that linear algebra to go: Intel's 48-core chip targeting smartphones and tablets
Intel's taking its 48-core processor and applying it to a field beyond academia: the world of mobile electronics. The company this morning announced intentions to slip the 48-core bad boy into future tablets and smartphones (emphasis on future), with CTO Justin Rattner saying the mobile implementation could arrive "much sooner" than the 10-year window predicted by researchers.
Aside from the thrilling world of linear algebra and fluid dynamics that the chipset is currently used for, Intel says it could offload processor-intensive functions across several cores, effectively speeding up various functions (say, video streaming). The availability of so many cores also means faster multitasking possibilities than the current dual- or quad-core offerings in modern smartphones and tablets -- just imagine a world where two Angry Birds games can run simultaneously in the background without affecting the paradoxical game of Tiny Wings you decided to play instead. Hey, we understand -- it's just a better bird game. No big. Sadly, few software developers are crafting their wares (warez?) to take advantage of multi-core processing as is, so it's gonna take more than just the existence of Intel's 48-core chip to make its vision a reality.
iTunes refresh delayed till 'end of November'
We were all a little shocked when Apple failed to deliver a redesigned iTunes at its last keynote. The company promised a major revamp of the service would land in October yet, here we are with one day left in the month, and no iTunes overhaul in sight. Today Tom Neumayr, a spokesperson for the Cupertino firm, confirmed to AllThingsD that the software release had indeed been pushed back by a month. Only a few short days ago CFO Peter Oppenheimer was touting the refresh during the company's earnings call saying, "We look forward to looking to launching a redesigned iTunes. The new iTunes has a dramatically simpler and cleaner interface." But he made no mention of a delay. Neumayr says the goal now is to release the update before the end of November stating that development is "taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right." While the issue primarily cited in Neumayr's statement is "seamless integration with iCloud" we wouldn't be shocked if it's rumoredinternet radio service also is playing a role in the delay. Read the complete statement below.
"The new iTunes is taking longer than expected and we wanted to take a little extra time to get it right. We look forward to releasing this new version of iTunes with its dramatically simpler and cleaner interface, and seamless integration with iCloud before the end of November."
Huawei Honor 2 announced with 1.4GHz quad-core processor
Last year, Huawei had announced the Honor, and it featured some very good specifications for the time. This year Huawei has announced the Honor 2. It features some major hardware improvements over the previous generation's model.
With a 4-inch display being considered small these days, Huawei has launched the Honor 2 with a 4.5-inch display that boasts a resolution of 1280 x 720. The display can be categorised as one of the highlighted features. It packs a pixel density of 326ppi. However, the processor can also vie for the crown as being the handset’s main characteristic as the Honor 2 comes loaded with K3V2 1.4GHz quad-core processor which makes the single core processor found on the predecessor rather inadequate. The handset also comes loaded with 8GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM. 
Features a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM
According to a report by Engadget, “Around the back, there's the BSI 8-megapixel camera sensor, capable of burst shots and full 1080p video capture, while Huawei has also included a microSD slot for storage expansion. With a 4.5-inch 1,280 x 720 display, there's hefty pixel bump up from the 245 pixels per inch found on the first Honor -- in fact we have a Retina display-matching 326ppi. The Chinese phone maker is also talking up its claims of 72 hours of standby time.” There is no word on the global availability of the Huawei Honor 2 yet, but pre-orders for the device begin this week in China at a price of roughly $300 (approximately Rs 16,224). Earlier this year, the Honor was available in India through online retailer Flipkart at a price of for Rs 19,990. The handset’s price has since dropped to Rs 18,500. The phone runs on Google’s Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread operating system. The Huawei Honor has 1.4GHz processor with 512MB of RAM and a 4.0-inch FWVGA capacitive touch screen. It features an 8-megapixel auto focus camera with support for HDR, along with a 2-megapixel front camera for video calling. It is available only in black. The Huwei Honor is equipped with a G-sensor, a proximity sensor, and a light sensor. The battery capacity is 1900mAh battery, bringing the total weight of the handset to around 140 grams. Although the phone has most of the specs one would require from a smartphone, Huawei is currently a level lower than the front-running brands. Hence, pricing will be a key factor for Huawei. However, there are handsets that feature much better specifications but with a slightly smaller display, priced similarly, such as the Sony neo L, HTC One V and even the Xperia go. Following are the specifications of the Huawei Honor:
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Nexus 4 boasts SlimPort support for tethered display sharing
A lot of the hubbub yesterday was around the Nexus 4's support of Miracast, courtesy of Android 4.2. If you don't want to spring for a dedicated TV box or invest in a whole new set of gadgets to supersize your mobile experience, then you may be excited to hear that the handset also supports SlimPort. We haven't heard much from the DisplayPort-based standard since January, but we're happy to report it finally appears to be ready for primetime. Analogix, the company behind the tech, already has its first adapter up for sale on Amazon (at the more coverage link), which takes the Nexus 4's micro-USB port and allows you to connect an HDMI cable to it -- so long as that proposition is worth $30 to you. Eventually DVI, VGA and DisplayPort will also be added to list of output options, potentially making the this handset's charging port the most versatile micro-USB jack in the smartphone market. For more, check out the PR after the break.
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