Online Gaming to returning to PSN imminently?

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 13th, 2011 at 11:12 am
Reports are emerging that the developer's version of the Playstation Network came back online this morning.

Eurogamer reports that this could indicate an imminent return for the online gaming component.

A NeoGAF user reported:

"The internal PSN developer network is online again, at least it seems for some, although things are still a bit shaky at the moment such as lack of new account sign up,"

Excellent news for PSN users, having missed previous deadlines for reactivation Sony are under a lot of pressure to deliver a solution to the down time and it sounds like they're finally getting down to it.

PSN was shut down on April 20th after it became clear that the service, along with user information, had been compromised.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is "no rush job"

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 12th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Alexandre Amancio has told GameInformer in a video interview that Assassin's Creed: Revelations is "no rush job".  Click here to watch the full interview.

He told GameInformer:

"Production itself takes about a year, but keep in mind we've planned it far in advance, It's not like a hundred people crunching it for a year. It's a huge team across many studios with different types of expertise and we fit them all together."

"We always aim for a 90-plus game."

Amancio's job is to co-ordinate the six Ubisoft studios that are working on AC: Revelations.  Development is being handled by most of Ubisoft Montreal's 2000-person workforce alongside Ubisoft Québec, Ubisoft Annecy, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Singapore and Massive.

"We decided to give players a lot of the answers they've been waiting for since AC II, things with Minerva, Juno, a lot of details of the end of the world plotline in 2012. As we get closer and closer to the actual 2012 marker, the franchise is concluding its major opus."

Minerva and Juno are members of a race that lived on earth before humanity (and possibly created humanity) that were seen at the ends of AC2 and AC: Brotherhood respectively.

"We're going to reveal a lot of stuff about the first civilisation storyline, the Ezio and Altair storylines and explain why Ezio is so important to the franchise... What role Altair plays in that destiny, and how Desmond fits in,"

Revelations is to set the scene for Assassins Creed III, as Ezio goes from master assassin to mentor.

Assassin's Creed: Revelations will introduce gameplay elements such as Templar Dens, a hookshot and bomb-creation also feature.

Dark Souls delayed by PSN downtime

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 12th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Dark Souls developer 'From Software' has admitted that game development has been slowed by PSN down time which has now reached three weeks.

The game's producer Kei Horono told MCV "It has impacted us and held the team back a bit," in an interview at Namco Bandai's Level Up event in Dubai.

"But we will be out in early October. We won't miss that."

Dark Souls isn't the only game to be suffering at the hands of PSN downtime however.  Online heavy games like the recently released Brink have become all but impossible to play to their full potential and Portal 2 owners are unable to play with their friends over their PS3 or even activate their free Steam copy until PSN comes back on line.

Sony have announced that they plan to have the service fully rolled out by 31st May with online gaming being the first feature to return.

Dark Souls is the spiritual successor to Demon Souls and will be available on Xbox 360 and PS3 in, you guessed it, October 2011.

Official L.A. Noire Launch Trailer

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 11th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Rockstar have outed the official launch trailer for their upcoming third person policeman-simulator, L.A. Noire, in which we're teased mercilessly with hints at the over-arching story of greed, lies and corruption.



The game hits stores on all formats on May 17th US and May 20th for the rest of the world.

Skype coming to your Xbox 360 with Kinect

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 10th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
It was announced this morning that Microsoft has bought the VOIP chat service Skype in an $8.5m deal.

According to the press release Skype will be supported by both Xbox and  Kinect, Windows Phone and other Windows devices although it will continue to invest in "non-Microsoft platforms".

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said:

“Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world, together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world.”

Egon Durban, managing director of Silver Lake, speaking on behalf of the investor group that sold Skype to Microsoft said:

“We are thrilled with Skype’s transformation during the period of our ownership and grateful for the extraordinary commitment of its management team and employees. We are excited about Skype’s long-term future with Microsoft, as it is poised to become one of the world’s most dynamic and comprehensive communications platforms.”

The full press release can be read here.

Xbox 360 System update coming next week?

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 10th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Microsoft have claimed they have "nothing to announce" in response to rumours concerning an Xbox 360 system update next week.

Joystiq claim to have accessed leaked documents containing information pertaining to an Xbox 360 system update that will start rolling out next week beginning May 19th.  The update is to roll out in stages between May 19th and May 30th.

The update will usher in compatibility for the new Xbox 360 disk format that allows for 1GB extra storage on Xbox 360 disks.  It will also bring PayPal compatibility to Xbox Live as a payment option.

Microsoft told Joystiq they had "nothing to announce" with regards to the rumours.

PSN Online Gaming to return "within the next couple of days"?

Original NXTGamer.com article
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May 10th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
A "trusted Eurogamer source" has stated that Sony plans to have online matchmaking recommence "within the next couple of days", as the first part of the PSN service to roll back out.

Upon questioning SCE Corporate Communications Director Patrick Seybold commented "We're working to get the network back on as soon as we can" neither denying nor confirming the imminent reappearance of online play.  Bloomberg reported yesterday that Sony spokesman Shigenori Yoshida said that Sony was planning to have the PSN service fully rolled out by May 31st.

PlayStation Europe community manager also stated via Twitter that Sony is working towards restoring all PlayStation Network services by May 31, adding that online gaming will return a little earlier.