Wow! 2015 is already off to any amazing start in terms of gaming! We’ve seen great stuff for iOS, Android, consoles, Mac and PC in just these normally quiet first few weeks. Now we are seeing another Steam Early access launch. This time it is for a competitive online shooter, Ratz Instagib which is just out and already popular!
More than two years ago I posted a review of PC action-RPG sequel Torchlight II. I called it “pretty much the realization of the Bop-It Extreme mantra ‘do it the same … but BETTER’.” I also noted the Mac version ‘coming soon’. Apparently ‘soon’ means 28 months, as Runic games announced a February 2nd release in a funny video.
Developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix, Life is Strange releases the first episode (“Chrysalis”) in an interactive adventure drama video game series that will release at least four more episodes, which will be continuously released in six-week periods.
Last week I reviewed ‘Satellina’, the puzzle in motion game I called a rare ‘simple to learn but constantly challenging’ experience that is well worth the $1.99 cost. This week as promised Moon Kid has released the game for Android on the Google Play store, and has also unleashed a free download from the game’s unique soundtrack! Check it out!
One of the great things about the recent rise of indie gaming is the sustained support for games over a long period. Successful online tactical RPG strategy game Pox Nora was purchased from Sony by the original developers who had founded a new studio called Desert Owl Games. Now they have released their first expansion called Ronin.
The quest for a truly ‘universal’ inbox for iOS is something many of us have been on since the beginning – we already had accounts on iCloud, Hotmail, Yahoo and of course Gmail … but there have always been limitations around notifications, account handling and more. Based on Accompli, the new Outlook app seeks to become your truly universal Inbox.
Last summer GRIN Studios had a Kickstarter for their unconventional un-fairy tale Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries. Woolfe looks at the adventures of an adult Red Riding Hood as she seeks to avenge her parents deaths. The game was successfully funded, and is progressing towards release. Now GRIN announces that the game is available for Early Access on Steam.
I’m on the fence about constantly rebooting classic movies, but the more I hear about the new Ghostbusters reboot the more excited I get. The latest news from the AV Club is pointing to a dream cast; Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, and Kate McKinnon!
Sony Music is one of the biggest music industry publishers, but their online service ‘Music Unlimited’ hasn’t lived up to the ‘Spotify Killer’ origins. So they are making the smart move of partnering with Spotify to bring music streaming to Playstation 3 and 4 and Xperia phone and tablet owners on the Playstation Network.
We all know that Apple is doomed… it must be, people have been saying so since the Mac vs. PC days of the late 1980s. In spite of their inevitable demise, Apple chose yesterday to announce that it had exceeded profit and revenue estimates while selling 74.5 million iPhones and 21.4 million iPads last quarter.
When my kids were young, it was the early days of educational computer games, and we were fortunate to have some awesome experiences with software that was interactive and educational. Times have rapidly advanced, and now a new game called Dino Tales presents an interactive world for kids to create and explore using methods including SIRI technology ‘word wheels’.
If you use the Internet even sparingly, you’re bound to know that smart wallets are the next big change in the way that we make purchases. Swyp is the latest product that wants to combine all of your credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, and loyalty cards into one credit card-sized package. Swyp is now up for preorder for $49.
If you don’t hunt, fish, or camp, if you rarely tail-gate, and if the idea of spending more than $150 on a cooler makes you raise your eyebrows in a “why?” configuration, then this post about the Pelican ProGear 80QT Elite Cooler won’t be for you.
Two of the biggest trends for indie games recently are so-called ‘roguelikes’ and space-based simulations. Add real-time shooters and you have the recipe for a fun and addictive game that will appeal to a broad cross-section of players. That is what Stellar, a roguelike space shooter, is offering in a game with a planned 2016 release date. Check it out!
Don’t let “Deflategate” take the wind out of your Super Bowl XLIX (49) fun! Fans can get great experiences from various media, apps and more to celebrate the National Football League’s deciding game. Take a look at more “super” options and ways to get authentic gear.
One of the fun things in first-person shooter games is all of the weapons you can play around with … but it also gets pretty silly in terms of what you are able to carry by the end of the game. Pistols, machine guns, shotguns, grenade launchers, missiles, etc! Now Mythbusters is going to try to carry it all!
One thing I love about using IK Multimedia gear is how it enhances my ability to make music anywhere by drawing power from the 30-pin or Lightning port of my iPhone or iPad. The obvious problem is the power used by an accessory such as iRig Keys Pro comes from your phone, lowering already precious battery life. Enter iRig PowerBridge.
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Peavey, a company known for high quality amplifiers at affordable prices. They also make much-loved basses and guitars (the T40 and T60 were popular when I was in high school, and I still a T20 fretless bass), as well as sound reinforcement equipment and other products, but amplifiers have always been their focus.
Nearly four years ago, Adobe introduced Forms Central, an online service that let you easily distribute, collect and analyze data using web or PDF forms and surveys. Last week they announced they were killing off the product, and final retirement was July 28, 2015. For users of the service this means finding a new home, such as FormStack.
Late in 2013 Zivix announced PUC, wireless MIDI interface that allowed use of traditional music gear with iOS devices. The original PUC created a local WiFi network to handle the MIDI interface, now they’re back with PUC+ using Bluetooth Low Energy to more efficiently communicate while allowing simultaneous WiFi connections. They also announced jamstik+, bringing BTLE to their smart guitar!
After not subscribing for a while, my family has been thoroughly enjoying a renewed Spotify subscription these last few months. The constant stream of improvements since they first launched has made the service more valuable than ever. Now they have introduced a new feature – Touch Preview – that lets you quickly check out new songs without leaving your playlist.