XBox One Distributor Reports Losses as Sales Fail to Pick Up in China

Foreign Companies were Banned from Selling their Consoles in China for Nearly 14 Years but, the Country Finally Allowed Microsoft to do so Last Year. The Company was Given Clearance to Sell 5 Million uUnits of the XBox One in China which were Made Available towards the End of 2014. However it Seems that, the XBox One Isn't Doing Very Well in China: The Company that Microsoft Partnered with, to Sell the Console has Reported Losses Due to the Deal. In October, Microsoft Announced that, it had Sold 100,000 Units at Launch, which Remain the Only Sales Numbers Coming Out from the Company for the China Market.


Now, BesTV, the Chinese Company that was Responsible for Distributing the XBox One Console, has Reported a Loss of Nearly $2.75 Million with its XBox One Division. Without any Real Numbers it's Not Possible to Judge How Bad the Sales Have been but, it was Always Going to be a Tough Task to Sell a Console in the Highly Regulated Chinese Market, Where Games Cannot Contain Violence, Offensive Language and Other Mature Content. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 4 is still Waiting to Get an Approval to be Sold in the Country but, will Definitely Suffer the Same Problems on the Games Availability Front if, Ever it Gets Clearance.




Info Sources:

http://www.techweb.com.cn/it/2015-02-27/2126942.shtml

https://www.techinasia.com/company-selling-chinas-xbox-lost-3m-2014

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VIDEO: 8 Manufacturers Will Supply Formula-E with Custom Parts Next Season **UPDATE**

The Inaugural Formula-E Season is Well Underway but, already Organizers are Preparing for the Next Championship. At the Moment, All 10 Teams are Using Identical Electric Vehicles (EVs) but, the Plan is to Let them Tinker with the Design from the 2015 / 16 Season. Now, Thanks to the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), we Know the 8 Manufacturers that'll be Contributing Custom Parts Later 2015: ABT Sportsline, Andretti, Mahindra, Motomatica, NEXTEV TCR, Renault Sport, Venturi Automobilesa and Virgin Racing Engineering. Once the 2014 / 15 Championship Wraps Up in London, Manufacturers will be Able to Experiment with the Car's Powertrain, which includes the e-Motor, Inverter, Gearbox and Cooling System.


The Crews are being Restricted to a Specific Portion of the Vehicle but, that's Intentional: the FIA Wants them to Focus on Technologies that will Benefit the Larger EV Industry, rather than Car Aerodynamics. In the 3rd Season, those Freedoms will be Extended to the Batteries, in the Hope that, Drivers will be Able to Use a Single Car for an Entire Race from Year 5. Notably, All Manufacturers Must also be Willing to Sell their Components to any Competing Team. The FIA will Set a Maximum Price so, the Latest Parts are Affordable; it Could Lead to Short-Lived Advantages on the Track but, the FIA Hopes it will Accelerate New EV Breakthroughs that Can be Passed on to Consumer Vehicles.




Here's a Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yosSrAuczYs






Info Source:

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2015/february/eight-manufacturers-to-enter-fia-formula-e-from-second-season.aspx




**UPDATE**


The FIA has Provided Clarification as to How the Manufacturers will be Involved in the Next Championship. They Won't be the Only Groups Fielding Drivers; it's Now been Confirmed that 10 Teams will be Competing, Much Like the Current Season. The Piece has been Edited to Reflect this New Information.

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VIDEO: Look Directly at the 'Sunshine' with Oculus VR

Oculus Rift Offers Some Pretty Out of this World Experiences (Punching Sharks and Becoming a Bird Immediately Come to Mind) but, Getting an Up-Close and Personal with the Sun Aren't Among Them. Until Now, of course. That, my Friends, is What Sunshine Observation Deck is for. If it Looks Familiar, that's because it's Based Off of a Set from the 2007 Danny Boyle Flick, 'Sunshine' -- you Know, the One that Heavily Influenced the Original Dead Space and that's by Far One of the Best Sci-Fi Flicks from the Past 10 Years.


Anyhow, the Walkthrough lets you Explore the Movie's Solar Observation Deck and Adjoining Science Lab, Witnessing Sol in its Fiery Majesty. You Can't Adjust the Intensity of the Filter Brightness but, Given that, you Don't Need to Worry about Catching a Nasty Sunburn, either. Creator Julian Butler Aspires for it to be "One of the More Calm" Experiences Available for the Rift, which Means, you Won't Likely be Running from a Zombie Hellbent on Stopping your Mission to Drop a Bomb Inside the Sun at the End. Or will you ?




Check Out the Video below for a Hint:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP3S-0hU2ZU






Info Source:

https://share.oculus.com/app/sunshine-observation-deck

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VIDEO: "The Grey Matter" Short Film Will Get in Your Head

»XoZeN« Readers and Filmmakers, Peter and Luke McCoubrey, (a.k.a. the McCoubrey Brothers), Hve Released his Short Film, "The Grey Matter", Online. The Dark Horror / Sci-Fi Comedy Short Played at the Nitehawk Shorts Festival, the Show Me Shorts Film Fest, the Sidewalk Film Festival, San Antonio Film Festival, the Brooklyn Film Festival and was Awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick this Previous Month.


"The Film Stars, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Girls, John Adams) as an office stiff who, after suffering a mysterious injury, finds himself stumbling through a courtship with a coworker played by Lucy Walters (Shame, Power)… but, something strange is afoot. With the romantic guidance of a creature unearthed from his head wound, he finds himself stumbling through an absurd, increasingly unorthodox and potentially fatal attraction."




Watch "The Grey Matter" Short Film, Embedded below:

https://vimeo.com/112527960




The McCoubrey Brothers Have been Making Music Videos and TV Commercials but, Peter Tells the Short “arose from our desire to delve a bit deeper into character and story than the parameters of music video or commercial ever could allow”.


"Having a soft spot for the genre movies of the 80s, we’ve always loved way they often bounced around from horror — to comedy — to enigmatic — to just flat out weird… as well as their inventive use of practical FX. Films like An American Werewolf in London, Return of the Living Dead, Big Trouble in Little China,The Fly, Brain Damage and Brazil all had a level of influence over the film’s initial conception. We wanted to honor the wild, inventive, and playful spirit of those films but at the same time create a film that felt modern, cinematic and hopefully leave the audience wanting more."




You Can Learn More about "The Grey Matter" on the Film’s Official Website, After the Break:

http://www.thegreymattermovie.com

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Samsung Wants to Put 128GB of Fast Storage in Your Next Phone

It's No Longer Hard to Get a Hefty 128GB of Storage in a Smartphone but, that Doesn't Mean you'll Enjoy it. What's the Point of All that Extra Space, if your Phone Chugs Handling Huge Games and 4K Videos ? Samsung has Clearly Anticipated this Problem, though -- it just Outed the 1st 128GB Flash Memory Chip Based on the Speedy Universal Flash Storage Standard. The Part Uses Tricks like Command Queuing and a Serial Interface, to Give you the Kind of Breakneck Performance you'd Expect from a SSD in a PC, Not a Device that Fits in your Pocket. It's about 2.7 Times Faster at Random Data Reads than the Flash you See in Many High-End Phones, while its Sequential Speeds are "Up to SSD Levels".


And that's while Using 50% Less Power -- you Won't Have to Take a Hit to Battery Life. Samsung Hasn't Named Customers for the UFS Chip, which is also Available in 32GB and 64GB Forms. With that Said, it Doesn't Take a Genius to See Where it Might Go. It Won't be at All Shocking if this Storage Ends Up in High-End Samsung Phones (Whether it's the Galaxy S6 or Something Else) and it Wouldn't be a Stretch to See Interest from Other Top-Tier Companies that Use Samsung's Flash, like Apple. Whoever's on Deck, you're Likely to See More (and Better) 128GB Options, the Next Time you Go Phone Shopping.




Info Source:

http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/ufs-press-release

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Mind-Controlled Drones Promise a Future of Hands-Free Flying

There Have been Tentative Steps into Thought-Controlled Drones in the Past but, Tekever and a Team of European Researchers just Kicked Things Up a Notch. They've Successfully Tested 'Brainflight', a Project that Uses your Mental Activity (Detected through a Cap) to Pilot an Unmanned Aircraft. You Have to Learn How to Fly on your Own but, it Doesn't Take Long before you're Merely Thinking about Where you Want to Go. And Don't Worry about Crashing because of Distractions or Mental Trauma, like Seizures -- there are "Algorithms" to Prevent the Worst from Happening. You probably Won't be Using 'Brainflight' to Fly Anything Larger than a Small Drone, at least Not in the Near Future.


There's No Regulatory Framework that would Cover Mind-Controlled Aircraft, after all. Tekever is Hopeful that, its Technology will Change How we Approach Transportation, though. It Sees Brain Power Reducing Complex Activities like Flying or Driving to Something you Can do Instinctively, like Walking -- you'd Have Freedom to Focus on Higher-Level Tasks like Navigation. The Underlying Technology would also Let People with Injuries and Physical Handicaps Steer Vehicles and their Own Prosthetic Limbs. Don't be Surprised if you eventually Need Little More than Some Headgear to Take to the Skies.




Info Sources:

http://tekevernews.blogspot.com/2015/02/using-just-your-brain-to-control-drone.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31584547

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2015 Razzie Awards Winners

With All the Attention currently Being Lavished on the Best Films of 2014, you Might almost Forget that, 2014 had Some Real Stinkers, too. But, as always, the Razzies are here to Remind you. The Winners for the 35th annual Golden Raspberry Awards Have been Announced.

Here is a Full List of the 2015 Razzie Winners (or Should we Say Losers ?) which was Announced on February 21, the Night before the Oscars:

Worst Picture

Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Left Behind
The Legend of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers: Age of Extinction

Worst Actor
Nicolas Cage – Left Behind

Kirk Cameron – Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Kellan Lutz – The Legend of Hercules
Seth MacFarlane – A Million Ways To Die in the West
Adam Sandler – Blended

Worst Actress
Drew Barrymore – Blended

Cameron Diaz – The Other Woman and Sex Tape

Melissa McCarthy – Tammy
Charlize Theron – A Million Ways to Die in the West
Gaia Weiss – The Legend of Hercules

The Razzie Redeemer Award

Ben Affleck (From RAZZIE “Winner” for Gigli to Oscar Darling for Argo and Gone Girl)

Jennifer Aniston (From 4-Time RAZZIE Nominee to SAG Award Nominee for Cake)
Mike Myers (From RAZZIE “Winner” for Love Guru to Docu Director of Supermensch)
Keanu Reeves (From 6-Time RAZZIE Nominee to Critically Acclaimed John Wick)
Kristen Stewart (From RAZZIE “Winner” for Twilight to the Art House Hit Camp X-Ray)

Worst Supporting Actress

Cameron Diaz – Annie

Megan Fox – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Nicola Peltz – Transformers: Age of Extinction
Brigitte Ridenour (Kirk’s Sister) – Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Susan Sarandon – Tammy

Worst Supporting Actor
Mel Gibson – Expendables 3

Kelsey Grammer – Expendables 3, Legends of Oz, Think Like a Man Too andTransformers: Age of Extinction

Shaquille O’Neal – Blended
Arnold Schwarzenegger – Expendables 3
Kiefer Sutherland – Pompeii

Worst Director

Michael Bay – Transformers: Age of Extinction

Darren Doane – Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas
Renny Harlin – The Legend of Hercules
Jonathan Liebesman – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Seth MacFarlane – A Million Ways To Die in the West

Worst Screen Combo
Any Two Robots, Actors (or Robotic Actors) – Transformers: Age of Extinction

Kirk Cameron & His Ego – Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas

Cameron Diaz & Jason Segel – Sex Tape
Kellan Lutz & Either His Abs, His Pecs or His Glutes – The Legend of Hercules
Seth MacFarlane & Charlize Theron – A Million Ways To Die in the West

Worst Screenplay

Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas, Written by Darren Doane and Cheston Hervey

Left Behind, Screenplay by Paul LaLonde and John Patus, based on the Novel by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Sex Tape, Screenplay by Kate Angelo and Jason Segel & Nicholas Stoller
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Written by Evan Daugherty and Andre Nemec & Josh Applebaum, based on Characters Created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman
Transformers: Age of Extinction, Written by Ehren Kruger, based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures

Worst Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel

Annie 

Atlas Shrugged #3: Who Is John Galt?
The Legend of Hercules
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Transformers: Age of Extinction

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QuakeCon: Quake Live Tri-Master Tournament Announced

For the 1st Time in QuakeCon History, Quake Live Players from Around the Globe will be Tested in One Single Tournament Comprised of All 3 Modes that Have Come to Define Competitive Quake.




Quote:


"The Quake Live Tri-Master Tournament will feature competitions for up to 16 four-player teams, where each team will be put to the test in a triathlon comprised of Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, and Duel – with only one team standing at the end as the true Tri-Master Champion. Teams who come out on top will share prizes of $32,000. At the conclusion of the Tri-Master Tournament, the top two individual duelers selected by their team will then face off to claim an additional $8,000 and the title of Grand Master Champion. As part of QuakeCon’s 20th year, The Quake Live Tri-Master Tournament will be held July 23-26, 2015 in Dallas, TX, USA in the Wedgwood Ballroom at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Teams with professional or extensive Quake Live experience are encouraged to rally around a strong dueler and sharpen their CTF and TDM skills."




Sign-Ups are Now Open by Emailing tournaments@quakelive.com


Please See the Official Tournament Rules for More Details:

http://cdnstatic.bethsoft.com/quakecon.org/2011/07/QuakeCon-2015-Quake-Live-Tri-Master-Tournament-Rules.pdf

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Snoopy Takes Flight in New "The Peanuts Movie" Trailer

Star Wars and Jurassic Park Aren’t the Only Classic Franchises Up for a Revival this Year. This November Brings "The Peanuts Movie", the 1st-Ever Full-Length Feature Film based on Charles M. Schulz‘s Beloved Characters. Though the New Film Gives the Old Property a 21st Century Makeover — Complete with CG and 3D — it Retains the Same Timeless Quality of the Source Material. Or it Tries to, Anyway. We’ll See How that Turns Out When the Movie actually Premieres.




Watch the New "The Peanuts Movie" Trailer, After the Jump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsSjtzBhnIU




This One is All about Woodstock, Snoopy and Snoopy’s WWI Alter Ego the Flying Ace. Plot Details for "The Peanut Movie" Have been Kept Vague. We do Know it’ll Follow Charlie Brown “on a quest to get something he’s sure he needs, even though he discovers he’s pretty OK just as he is”. As for the Tone, Director Steve Martino, has Talked Up Charlie Brown’s enduring Optimism. “I wake up every day and it’s like, ‘Today’s the day we’re going to win that game ! I’m going to kick that football !’”, he Said. “As you have more life experience, those things have more meaning.” Meanwhile, Charlie Brown’s Best Friend, Snoopy, is Going on his Own Parallel Journey to Battle his Nemesis Red Baron in World War I Paris. To Get those Scenes just right, Martino and Producer / Writer, Craig Schulz, (Son of Charles M.) actually Went Up in a Biplane. “We really get to go into his mind and see what this crazy dog is imagining every day of his life”, Said Schulz.




"The Peanuts Movie" Opens November 6, 2015.

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Microsoft Opens Up OneDrive Storage for Developers to Integrate into Apps

Microsoft is Opening Up its Cloud Storage Service, OneDrive, to Developers Today so, they Can Start Integrating it, Directly into Applications. A New OneDrive API will include Support for Windows, iOS, Android and the Web, with the Full Features of OneDrive Available Directly within Apps. “The OneDrive API is a major step toward making the platform more accessible and powerful, but this is only the beginning”, Says OneDrive Program Manager, Ryan Gregg. “We are working on a lot of other improvements and features that we will release throughout the year.”


The Introduction of a OneDrive API Means Microsoft’s Cloud Storage Moves Even Closer to Dropbox Functionality and it will likely Mean, More Developers Start to Use OneDrive in their Apps. Dropbox’s API is a Big Selling Point for the Cloud Storage Service and Lots of 3rd-Party Apps, Have Made Use of it. Microsoft has been Trying to Convince Consumers to Try OneDrive with Lots of Free Storage Promotions Recently and the Company has Even Offered Up 100GB of Space to Dropbox Users. Developers will be Able to Access the API Today so, Expect to See Apps Using OneDrive Storage in the Coming Months.




Info Source:

https://blog.onedrive.com/the-new-onedrive-api

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The PC Version of "Grand Theft Auto 5" is Delayed...Again

Bad News, Highway High-Jackers: "Grand Theft Auto 5" on PC has been Delayed for a 2nd Time. It's Now Due Out on April 14, Pushed Back from a Previous Release Date of March 24th. The PC Version's Original Release Date was January 27, Nearly a Month Ago. RockStar, the Developer of the Grand Theft Auto Series, Says it's Sorry for the (Extra) Delay:


"Our apologies to PC gamers worldwide who have been counting down the days until the launch of the game but, a bit more time is needed to ensure that the game is as polished as possible and to make certain that both Heists and the GTA Online experience are ready to roll out on day one for PC."




As Compensation, RockStar Offers $200,000 In-Game Cash to Anyone Who Pre-Ordered the Game on PC. That Amount of Dough Can Score Players a Medium-Sized House or 2,000 Stun Guns in Grand Theft Auto Online. Your Choice. At least Grand Theft Auto Online PC Players Won't Have to Wait to Jump into "Heists", the Game's Highly Anticipated 4-Player Cooperative Mission Mode. "Heists" will Launch Same-Day with the Game's PC Release, RockStar Promises. Otherwise, "Heists" Mode is Due Out on March 10 for XBox 360, PlayStation 3, XBox One and PlayStation 4 Versions of "Grand Theft Auto 5".




Info Source:

http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/52394/gtav-updates-online-heists-coming-march-10-gtav-for-pc

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Google's Banning Sexually Explicit Content from its Blogging Platform

Many X-Rated Blogger Accounts Might Cease to Exist in the Near Future, as Google will No Longer Allow Anyone to Post Sexually Explicit or Nude Videos and Images Starting on March 23, 2015. It Doesn't End there, though: Mountain View also Wants Old Account Owners to Delete any Content that Violates that Rule, or Else, it will Forcibly Make those Blogs Private (All Posts will Only be Visible to Owners) after the Aforementioned Date. Blogger's Current Content Policy, Allows Visuals that Show Nudity and Sexual Activities (Barring Illegal Ones like Bestiality) so Long as the Blog is Marked "Adult". Censoring those Types of Entries, according to the Policy, "is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression". Google has Yet to Reveal Why it had a Sudden Change of Heart. Despite the Impending Censorship, the Service will still Allow Nudity "if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts".


Whether your Content Falls under any of those Categories, however, depends on Google. If you're Severely Unhappy about the Change, you Can Export your Blog as an .xml File and Back it Up via Google Takeout to Make the Switch to WordPress or Tumblr (which Both Allow Explicit Posts within Reason) Easier. Those Old Accounts with Adult Content, Might Not be Completely Lost to the Internet, though. Internet Archive's, Jason Scott, has Announced that, his Team will be Backing Up Blogger Accounts but, it will be Tough, because they Don't Know What Google will be Making Private until it's Already Gone.




Info Sources:

https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/6170671?p=policy_update&rd=1

http://globalnews.ca/news/1846110/google-banning-explicit-sexuality-graphic-nudity-on-blogger

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VIDEOS: A Quake Tournament Where Nobody Knew How to Play Quake

The Longer a Competitive Game's Around, the Less its High-Level Matches Resemble Matches between Typical Players. Pros Begin Whipping Out Plays that Blur the Line between Technique and Exploit. So, What Happens if you Press the Reset Button on All of that ? Some People Consider Quake ]I[ Arena and its Spin-Offs to be the Forgotten Rulers of eSports. Once Upon a Time — before eSports were as Big as they are Now in the US and Europe — Quake was a Bonafide Star-Maker. At least, if you Consider People like Johnathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendel Stars. But, as the Years Have Worn on, the Arena FPS Classic's Competitive Scene, has Become More and More Niche. Big Tournaments do Happen at Events like QuakeCon but, they're Increasingly Rare. Some Blame Skill Discrepancies between Truly Top-Level Players and Up-and-Comers for a Lack of New Blood.


They Claim Youngsters Who Might be Interested Only See a Big Learning Curve and a Bunch of Old Gatekeepers at the Top of the Mountain. Where's the Fun in that ? As a Result, it was Something of a Surprise that, this Year's Thousand-Seat Frag-O-Matic 17.0 Event in Wieze, Belgium — still a Relatively Small LAN Event — Added Quake Live Back into its Rotation. Johan 'Greth' Martens Hosted a Tournament with €800 (or a Bit over $900) on the Line as an Experiment to See How a Bunch of Gamers Skilled in Non-Quake Games (Think League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, etc) would Fare in 1-on-1 Quake Matches. The Result was Absolutely Fascinating, akin to Watching Fish Fresh Out of Water, Quickly Figure Out How to Walk and Breathe and Order a Decent Drink at Starbucks.




Of the 1st Game in the Tournament, Martens Said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI6YXCN4Kgw

"These players were playing Quake as it would have been in 1996. The advanced exploitation of an engine was not known to them. To an experienced Quake player this display might be hilarious, and maybe you'd even want to reach out and teach them. Yet the game I was watching didn't show player crying for help. They were both well matched, the game was a close one and went to three maps."






It was Quake Sans Time-Honored "Hidden" Skills like Strafe Jumping or Timing Item Pick-Ups. These People were Great at FPS Fundamentals but, they Didn't Know Quake's Ins and Outs, its Characteristic Dimples and Curves. Not All Matches were so Close. Some Players Picked the Game Up (on a High Level) Faster than Others and there was, admittedly, One Shark Swimming with the Guppies: a Top-4,000 Duel Player, Someone with Actual Competitive Experience in Quake. But Even then, Watching these Players Evolve their Play Styles on a Match-by-Match Basis, was Utterly Entrancing for Martens.




He Wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD-9NbUssYA

"Quake is a game of hard skill thresholds. Once a player has reached certain 'checkpoints' in development it becomes very hard, if not impossible, for a player of lower skill to beat this person. Progressing in Quake is a game of losses. Learning how to lose is key. This is of course difficult in a tournament setting, although certain thresholds will be quicker to be overcome as there is a tremendous amount of competitive pressure to do so. The low skilled devour the lower skilled. Sometimes a glimmer of hope but, it is not to be."






And so, After the One Truly Experienced Player Took Home Gold, Martens Turned Everyone's Attention to the Losers' Bracket. And that's When All the Quake Neophytes really Began to Shine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpMHkVuOL5c

"After being shocked into reality by an active competitive player the veteran newbies are competing again with their own kind. There has been a change however. Notice the flow developing in their playstyle. Notice that beyond the obvious flaws there is grace and skill where there was none before."

"The true final was a game that wasn't supposed to be played. It was the game for third and fourth place. I forced it to be played, simply so, we could see how far these players had come. And I was impressed. If you are to view any of these games, finish this one. The one true game of Quake played in this haggard little tourney."






Martens Declared his Experiment a Success, Albeit a Bittersweet One. During his Tournament, he Witnessed a Small Sample of Competitive Gaming's New, Most Numerous Generation Yet. Moreover, he Saw them Begin to Really Dig Quake as they Picked Up its Nuances almost Instinctively. And Yet, the Grandpappy of Arena Shooting Continues to Fly (and Strafe Jump) under the Radar. Martens Conjectured that Quake has Fallen Out of Modern Competitive Vogue, not because it's Outdated, Graphically Inferior, or Full of Hard-to-Learn Techniques but, because there's Not Much of a Push for Awareness from the Community or Developer, id Software. His Plan, then, is to Hold Another Tournament like this, Only Bigger, with More Modes and More Money on the Line. He'll Provide the Spark and hopefully the Fire will do the Rest.




Or, as he Put it:


"That's all that needs to happen to get people back into Quake, a sign of life. A sighting in the wild. An introduction to this strange and forgotten beast."

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VIDEO: "Tomorrowland" Concept Art Looks Like Xandar in "Guardians of the Galaxy"

The Past Weekend’s Super Bowl Spot, was the Beginning of the Marketing Lead Up to the Release of Brad Bird‘s, "Tomorrowland". The Disney Flick, which Stars George Clooney and Britt Robertson, Opens May 22. It Centers on a Girl (Robertson) Who Discovers an Alternate Universe, Where Anything is Possible. It’s a World Well-Known by an Older Scientist (Clooney) Who Helps her Discover its Secrets. The Super Bowl Spot Began to Pull the Curtain Back More on the Look of "Tomorrowland" itself and on a Newly Launched Viral Website, a Few More Images Have been Revealed. If they Feel a Bit Familiar, it’s because it Looks a Little Bit Like the City of Xandar in Last Year’s Hit Film, Guardians of the Galaxy.

From Disney comes two-time Oscar winner Brad Bird’s “Tomorrowland”, a riveting mystery adventure starring Academy Award winner George Clooney. Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland”. What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.

Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.

The film also stars Hugh Laurie as brilliant scientist David Nix, Raffey Cassidy, Tim McGraw, Judy Greer, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Robinson.

“Tomorrowland” is produced by Damon Lindelof, Brad Bird and Jeffrey Chernov and directed by Brad Bird, with John Walker, Brigham Taylor, Jeff Jensen and Bernard Bellew serving as executive producers. “Tomorrowland” opens in U.S. theaters on May 22, 2015.

Check Out Some New "Tomorrowland" Concept Art, below. The "Tomorrowland" Concept Art Comes from the Newly Launched Website, TakeMeToTomorrowland.com. Here it is:

https://takemetotomorrowland.com

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Emails Sent with Malware - Amazon

Amazon Hitting the Inbox of Unsuspecting Users All Over the World Using Email.This Email has been Masqueraded as an Order Notification Message from the Famed Marketplace Amazon.com. In this Email, the Users are Thanked for Placing Order at Amazon and are Informed that, their Order Details Can be Viewed by Opening the Attached File. The Attached .zip File also Doesn’t Contain the Details of the Order, as the Email Claims. Once Opened, the .zip File Displays a .exe File and When or if, the User Runs this File, a Trojan is Instantly Installed on the Computer System. It is a Scam Email Sent by Attackers with Malicious Intentions and Not by Amazon Services. Trojans Can Steal Personal and Financial Data such as Login Details of the User from the Compromised Device. The Virus Instantly Transmits the Data to Hackers Waiting Online. When Someone Downloads and Views it, then Hackers Can Easy Hack into the Users System and Take Control of the System Fully. This Isn’t the First Time Amazon’s Name has been Used by Hackers in Implementing Malware Attacks.

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Atari Pioneer, Steve Bristow, Passes Away

Steve Bristow, Who Nolan Bushnell Called One of the World's Most Powerful Gaming Pioneers, has Died, according to Atari Historian, Marty Goldberg. Bristow was an Early Atari Employee Who Helped Birth the Atari 2600 (Originally Called the Atari Video Computer System, or VCS) Back in 1977. The Pioneering Home Console was One of the 1st to Use a Microprocessor and Game Cartridges and Sold over 10 Million Copies by 1982. Bristow also Headed Atari's Coin-Op Arcade Division during its Heyday and Helped Develop Classic Games like Tank and Breakout. If you Enjoyed the Original Games or Remakes, Why Not Hoist a Drink to the Man Who Built them (and his Magnificent Muttonchops) ?




Info Sources:

http://kotaku.com/atari-engineer-steve-bristow-passes-away-1687628442

https://www.facebook.com/groups/105586892805903/permalink/897231230308128

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VALVe is Making a VR Headset and its Own Steam Machine

VALVe -- the Company behind Portal, Team Fortress 2 and the Widely-Used Game Distribution Hub, Steam -- will Show Off its Own Virtual Reality Hardware, "SteamVR", at Next Week's Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. This Comes despite VALVe's Previous Insistence that, it had No Plans to Release any such Hardware (we Had our Doubts about that Anyway, after VALVe Held Virtual Reality Demos at Steam Dev Days in January 2014). Developers Who Got their Hands on the Company's Early VR Experiments were Impressed by their Holodeck-Levels of Immersion but, the Technlogy was Reportedly Very Rough and Required a Full-Room Setup to Completely Function. Additionally, it Looks like VALVe is Making its Own Version of a "Steam Machine" -- the PC Gaming Initiative Aimed at Bringing PC Gaming into the Living Room. VALVe will Offer Demonstrations of SteamVR at GDC 2015, along with a Look at the New, Improved Steam Controller and New Living Room Devices. The Company specifically Said it will Show the "Final" Steam Controller, "new living room devices" and "a previously unannounced Steam VR hardware system".


Interestingly, "new living room devices" Sounds like VALVe's Prepping its Own Version of the "Steam Machines" Living Room PC Gaming Initiative. VALVe Made its Own Versions of the Steam Machine Concept and Even Distributed Some to Hardware Testers but always Said, it Wouldn't Make its Own Hardware. Yesterday's Announcement Contradicts What VALVe has Said about Producing its Own Hardware All Along, from Virtual Reality Headsets to the Steam Machines Initiative. Well, Kind of -- the Company "never ruled out" Making its Own Steam Machine but also, Never Announced any Intentions to do so Either. VALVe's Original Plan, 1st Announced Back in September 2013, was to Compete with Gaming Consoles by Licensing its Own Linux-Based Operating System, SteamOS, to PC Manufacturers. Those Consoles were Meant to be Sold in a Package with the Steam Controller; that May still be the Case, despite a Handful of the Original Hardware Partners Pushing to Retail without VALVe. The Company Expects Steam Machines to Launch this Year.




Info Sources:

http://store.steampowered.com/universe

https://twitter.com/SteamVR/status/569999047005589505

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Check Out the Awesome Art Based on "Chappie"

One of the Biggest Films of the Spring, May be the Latest Sci-Fi Creator from Neill Blomkamp, "Chappie". Starring Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman, Dev Patel and Sigourney Weaver, the Film Tells the Story of an Artificially Intelligent Robot which Finds a Place in Human Society. Buzz has been Pretty Solid on the Film, which Promises to Combine Action, Drama and Intelligence in a Way that Could Only Come from the mMind of the Director of District 9. When a Movie features Robots, Explosions, Rap Stars and Giant Mechs, you Can be Sure the Poster Posse is Going to Take Notice. The Online Art Collective has been Making Cool Representations for Several Recent Blockbusters: Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar, Big Hero 6, etc. and Now, they’re Tackling "Chappie".




Check Out the New "Chappie" Posters below. Here’s the 1st Batch of Poster Posse "Chappie" Posters. There are More Coming Soon, which we’ll Add, Later:

http://posterposse.com/poster-posse-project-14-neill-blomkamps-sci-fi-film-chappie




Directed by Neill Blomkamp, "Chappie" Stars, Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Sigourney Weaver and Hugh Jackman. It Opens March 6th.

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VIDEO: "Titanic: Honor and Glory" Game, Will Allow You to Explore the Ship as it Sinks in Real Time

If I were an Investor in Neat Game Ideas, I'd Take a Good, Long Look at his Terrific Notion for a Game. "Titanic: Honor and Glory" is Basically an Interactive Recreation of the Entire Ship and its 5-Day Voyage across the Atlantic. Currently Seeking $250,000 in Crowdfunding, the Game Allows Players to Explore the Titanic in All its Edwardian Glory. There is also a Real-Time Segment of the Ship Sinking, which includes the Placement of Key Characters from the Actual Event, according to Memoirs Published Later. I Love the Idea of Games Being Used to Recreate Historic Events as Accurately as Possible, Allowing the Player Freedom to Explore Worlds that Fire our Imaginations. This Game is Being Made by Developers and Writers Who are Clearly Gaga about the Titanic and the World of 1912. In the Indiegogo Pitch, they Talk about the Amount of Research that is Going into Recreating the Great Ship and the City of Southampton, Where it Began its Doomed Voyage.


"Titanic: Honor and Glory" is a First-Person Role-Playing Game, in which the Player Seeks to Solve a Murder-Mystery. But, it's also a Virtual Recreation of a World that Holds Deep Fascination for Millions of People. Looking at this Fundraising Video, it's Lovely to See the Corridors, Dining Rooms and Sleeping Quarters if the Titanic and, Frankly, to See those Places in the Throes of Disaster. If they Get it Right, I Can Imagine Spending a Lot of Time Poking around the Ship and Trying Out its Last Hours from Different Starting Points. "We are creating an experience that allows the player to feel what it is like to be on the Titanic, during the voyage and the sinking", Said Writer and Producer, Tom Lynskey. He Added that, Players will be Able to "free roam the ship as it sinks in real time" and Said the Team is Seeking to Tell the Story of the Disaster, in which More than 1,500 People Lost their Lives, as Sensitively as Possible.




Info Source:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/titanic-honor-and-glory-phase-3


Check Out a Video Preview of the Game Project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlzQVkCoUSA

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Says He’ll be Back for Terminator Genisys Sequel

Though the Film Doesn’t Open in Theaters for a Few More Months, Paramount Pictures Have already Set Release Dates for 2 Sequels to Terminator Genisys and Star, Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells, The Arnold Fans that, he’ll be Back. The Sequel is Set for Release on May 19, 2017 and Arnold Revealed Production will Begin Next Year. A Planned 3rd Film is Set for Release the Following Year on June 29, 2018. Terminator Genisys is Poised to Play with the Continuity of the Entire “Terminator” Franchise by Recreating Scenes from the 1st 2 Films in the Series and also Revealing Sarah Connor was Raised by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator, Whom she Calls, 'Pops'. The Film will also Feature a Man-Machine Hybrid as its Primary Antagonist which the Filmmakers Describe as a “Visual Game Changer”.  Also Starring, Jason Clarke, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, J.K. Simmons, Dayo Okeniyi, Byung Hun Lee and Matt Smith, Terminator Genisys is Directed by Thor: The Dark World‘s, Alan Taylor from a Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. It will Hit Cinemas on July 1, 2015.




Info Source:

http://www.thearnoldfans.com/news/2015/2/24/exclusive-arnold-tells-us-hell-be-back-in-t6-for-2016-filmin.html

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VIDEOS: Unreal Engine 4 Video Details Just How Gorgeous the Engine Can Be

If you Thought CryEngine Looked Good, or that a Modified Skyrim Could Look Even Better, Well you Ain't Seen Nothing Yet. Unreal Engine 4 has been Detailed Beautifully in Some Fan-Made Videos that we've Linked below. You Can Pick your Jaw Off the Ground at any Moment Now. When I 1st Saw the Very Top Video, the One with the Snow and Trees, I Showed it to my Nephew and Said "check out this video of snow using a GoPro" and he Said it Looked Great. When I Said it was Powered by Unreal Engine 4, he was just Completely Blown Away, as was I.




Check Out the Gorgeous Videos, below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFPOsnC_ETQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsniFiDS1lk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AphIofwFnUU

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Battery Power Alone Used to Track Android Phones

The Phone you Carry Around All Day has a Myriad of Different Sensors that Measure Everything from Location to Barometric Pressure. Apps usually Have to Adhere to the Permission Control System Built into Platforms like iOS and Android to Get that Information but, a Team of Researchers at Stanford University has Devised a Way to Collect Location Information without Talking to the GPS Hardware. All they Need to Figure Out Where you’ve been is Access to the Battery Levels. Android (Specifically a Nexus 4) was Used to Test this Location Tracking Scheme but, it would Work Equally Well on any Mobile Device that Offered Network Access and Battery Stats. Tracking Location Based on Battery Activity is Predicated on the Assumption that, the Farther a Device is from the a Cell Tower, the More Power it Uses to Maintain a Connection.


The Same is True When it’s Inside a Building or Otherwise Obscured by Structures. The Researchers Call their Proof-of-Concept Application, PowerSpy. Before this App Can be Useful, it Must 1st Know What the Battery Power Map of an a Route is. In the Same Way GPS Systems Use Satellites as a Point of Reference, PowerSpy Needs to Know What Battery Performance to Expect at Different Points in a Journey and Pre-Associate that, with a GPS Location. So, as you Take the Bugged Phone around Town, the PowerSpy App could Watch the Amount of Juice being Drawn and Fit that to the Map. So, What about All the Other Things that Cause a Phone to Draw Power ? Using Apps, Placing Calls and Simply Having the Screen on will Drain a Lot of Battery. Indeed, this does Increase Noise in the Data. According to the Researchers, the Algorithm Used to Track Location is Not Attuned to these Short-Term Fluctuations but rather, to a Measurement Period of Several Minutes. This Allows the System to Filter Most of the Battery Usage that Isn’t Related to Location and the Cellular Radio. To Test PowerSpy, the Team Mapped Out a Number of Different Routes between 2 Points.


The Goal was to Determine which Route the Phone (and the Human Carrying it) Took, Based Entirely on the Battery Drain. With Few Apps Running, PowerSpy could Identify the Exact Route 2/3rds of the Time and its Overall Distance Error was 150m on Average. That’s Not Much Worse than the Course Location Permission on Android. With a Larger Suite of Apps Running in the Background including Facebook, Twitter and Waze, the Effectiveness Dropped to 20% for Exact Route Fits but, the Average Distance was still only 400m. It’s Far from Perfect but, Rather Impressive for Using only Battery Drain. The Study Says, PowerSpy could be Improved further if it Accounted for the Battery Usage of Individual Apps and Services, as well as, Wakelock State. This Data is All Exposed by Android to Some Degree without Root Access. An App like PowerSpy could be Used with Malicious Purposes in Mind but, the Requirement that you Have a Map of Battery Usage for Various Routes currently Limits its Real World Utility. If that Data is Acquired and Associated with GPS Coordinates, this Technology could be More Useful and also Potentially Worrisome.

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VIDEO: Hack Puts iPhone Notifications on an Android Wear Watch

Android Wear Isn't Going to Officially Support iOS Devices Anytime Soon but, that Doesn't Mean that, the 2 Platforms Can Never See Eye-to-Eye. Developer Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh has Tweaked Android Wear to Make it Display an iPhone's Notifications Using the Same ANCS Technology as Pebble's Smartwatches. While the Creator Hasn't Revealed Every Nuance of How this Modification Works, he Claims that, you Don't Need to Jailbreak iOS or Get Root Access on Android Wear in Order to Pull this Off -- Apart from the Notification Hack, your Devices could Behave Normally. Not that, you'd Necessarily Want to Snag a Moto 360 or LG Watch Urbane just to Try this Project, at least Not in its Current Form. Even if the Code were Readily Available (it Isn't), you still Wouldn't Get Google Now or App Support. This is More to Show What's Possible, Not What Makes Sense.




Info Sources:

http://9to5google.com/2015/02/22/android-wear-iphone-hack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIIYmVSc9Yw

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Exclusive Trailer from "Frankenstein vs The Mummy", Will Rip Your Heart Out

Seeing How Valentine's Day is Frequently a Special Day, we Thought we'd Bring you the Official Trailer with Some Heart in it ! Said Trailer is from "FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE MUMMY" and as you'll See below, the Mummy in Question May be Crusty but, he's No Slouch in the Strength Department. Enjoy and Share it with Someone you Love. The Damien Leone Film Stars, Ashton Leigh, Brandon DeSpain, Constantin Tripes, Max Rhyser, Robert MacNaughton.


"Dr. Victor Frankenstein and Egyptologist Naihla Khalil are both professors at a leading medical university. Victor’s latest grisly “experiment” is the re-animated corpse of a sadistic madman and Naihla’s most recent find is the cursed mummy of an evil pharaoh. When the two monsters face-off in an epic showdown, no one is safe from the slaughter. Can the murderous rampage be stopped and the carnage contained before it’s too late ?"




"FRANKENSTEIN VS. THE MUMMY" Have Hit DVD on February 10; Pre-Order it right here:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00P8LS5PI/arrowinthehea-20


Check Out the Official Trailer for the Movie, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvxBPVJ7Qv0

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VIDEO: "Assassin's Creed Rogue" Eye Tracking

Word on How Eye Tracking Support will Work in "Assassin's Creed Rogue", Can be Found in Tobii's Announcement of the Game's Support of the Tobii EyeX Dev Kit and SteelSeries Sentry, which "showcases the next evolution of human interfaces in gaming". They Describe How this Creates an "infinite screen effect" as the Scene on the Monitor will Scroll with the Players Eyes. On the "chicken and the egg" Problem that so Many Alternate Controllers Face (Enough Customers Need to Buy the $200 Device to Inspire Developer Support, while More Game Support May be Required to Inspire Purchases of the Controller), Ars Technica Notes, the Tobii Arcade Page Lists Other Games with Current or Future Support for the Technology.




Here's a Trailer (5) Showing this in Action and More on the Process:


"With traditional keyboard and mouse inputs intact, players using the Sentry with Assassin’s Creed® Rogue will experience true gaming immersion when their gaze and that of Shay Patrick Cormac, the game’s protagonist, are one and the same. For example, as the player looks to the left of screen, Shay Patrick Cormac will look to the left of his environment and the scene camera will pan to accommodate the exploration of this new visual territory creating an “Infinite Screen” experience. No longer will PC players be restricted to the size of their screen to orient Shay Patrick Cormac’s field of view and further explore the environment; the game auto-pans intuitively and in harmony with the player.

Players can revert to their traditional mouse control by simply grabbing it. Assassin’s Creed® Rogue will also pause and resume automatically if the player looks away from the screen and back again, preventing disruptions in gameplay. “Assassin’s Creed® Rogue with eye tracking aligns the gamer’s and a character’s senses so naturally, creating a truly immersive gaming experience. We’ve added an intuitive and natural modality without inhibiting the player’s ability, taking anything away or having to make a trade-off that lessens Assassin’s Creed® Rogue’s enjoyment for the gamer”, said Werner."




Info Sources:

http://www.tobii.com/en/news-and-media/press-room/#/pressreleases/assassin-s-creed-r-rogue-benchmarks-new-era-in-gaming-with-tobii-eye-tracking-integration-1114032

http://www.tobii.com/buy-eyex

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/02/look-into-my-eyes-tracking-your-gaze-could-be-the-next-big-gaming-input

http://www.tobii.com/en/eye-experience/tobii-arcade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwfc03vm97o

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