(Some Of) The Big Stuff:
On Monday, Microsoft announced a brand-new OS, Windows 10. Who needs 9, anyway? Microsoft is shooting to launch Windows 10 in late 2015. Among the list of changes is a move away from Windows 8’s “Metro” tile design.
Bungie continues to patch Destiny, on Wednesday launching patch 1.0.2 for all platforms. This update tweaks Strikes and elements of the Crucible, but the major change has to do with how Engrams are earned and claimed.
Nearly a year after Battlefield 4’s troubled launch, a major “Fall patch” rolled out this week for all platforms. It introduced a long, long, long list of changes and tweaks, perhaps the most notable of which is improved netcode. This should result in players noticing fewer instances of “unfair” kills; i.e, when you thought you made it behind cover or when you trade kills.
Big titles were released this week, including Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Forza Horizon 2. Not interested in those? Not a problem, as the flood of new releases continues next week with Alien: Isolation, Driveclub, and NBA 2K15, among others.
The Other Stuff (Stories We Like, But Didn’t Cover With a Standalone Post):
Indie hit Thomas Was Alone is coming to Wii U and PS4 and Xbox One, all set to ship in November 2014.
For the 21st straight year, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is America’s richest person, according to Forbes. With an estimated net worth of $81 billion, he is far ahead of America’s No. 2, Warren Buffett ($67 billion).
What happened on September 29, 1996? The Nintendo 64 was released, meaning the system is now 18 years old. GoldenEye 007 and Super Mario 64 are my two favorites. What are yours?
EA Sports simulated the 2015 NHL season and guess which team claimed the Stanley Cup? No, not my Boston Bruins, but rather the Los Angeles Kings. Watch the simulation video here.
Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft continued its worldwide push this week, announcing the formation of a new office in Moscow, Russia. The office will provide community development support and aims to work closely with partners to “increase marketing and sales growth” in the growing Russian video game market.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will include an homage to 1979’s arcade game, Sheriff, with a special assist trophy. “It was quite a revolutionary game for its time,” game director Masahiro Sakurai writes on Miiverse, calling out the way it used the left stick to move around the right one to shoot.
Is Europe getting yet another PlayStation 4 bundle? It sure looks like it, as Amazon UK has posted a product page for a Little Big Planet PS4 bundle. This piles on top of previously announced PS4 bundles for games like Far Cry 4, DriveClub, and Destiny, among others.
Ever wonder what it’s like to make a video game? Nathan Vella, president of Below developer Capybara Games, talked about what it’s been like for him in a new interview with Total Xbox and he didn’t mince words. “I think one of the reasons games are successful is because making them is usually equal parts fun and soul-crushing drudgery,” he said. “And that mix is kind of what being creative is all about–that’s how you make the best music or film, it’s where full-on passion meets intense hatred of your own project.”
Rock Band creator Harmonix has released the first gameplay footage for the upcoming Amplitude game, which is coming to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. It looks…Amplitude-y? Don’t take our word for it; watch the work-in-progress gameplay video for yourself here.
NBA player Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers offered up one of the funnier quotes you’ll read this week about video games. Discussing his workout/health regimen with a local publication, he said he knows he needs to get more sleep but is finding that difficult due to video games. “I know I need to get healthy. I know my diet is going to help me a lot. I need to lose weight, but sleep is always going to be hardest because I play video games all the time.”
Like the music in Grand Theft Auto games? You may want to follow Solid Audioworks, a new sound company formed by a pair of veteran Rockstar Games audio designers. The studio plans to do work for games and movies.
A newly discovered “massive” Super Smash Bros. 3DS bug for turns Yoshi into a T-Rex. It’s hilarious, and I hope it doesn’t get fixed. Watch it here.
Confused by Destiny’s story? You’re not alone. The funny people at Mega64 took on the topic with a new video released this week and it hits the nail right on the head.
Until next week!
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