MS responds

http://majornelson.com/2013/04/05/official-statement-on-what-was-said-yesterday/

I'd say you can consider always on a pretty much guaranteed feature:

http://kotaku.com/microsoft-creative-director-doesnt-get-the-drama-aro-470793216

[The LucasArts that died today is not the one you loved, and it was never going to be again.]

From Wired, bold by me:

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/04/lucasarts-disney/

I can see why Lucas, as a standalone company, would want to fix its games division. But Disney has no such need. It has a games division already, it doesn’t need to try to fix LucasArts’ problems. It’s sad when hundreds of people lose their jobs, but organizations that are no longer competitive need to die to make room for ones that are. If it’s Star Wars games you’re after, there’s no reason an external developer can’t handle them.

And if you’re nostalgic for the great old Lucas games of old, like Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, this is good news for you. First of all, the people who made those games are already working at Telltale or Double Fine making exactly what you wish Lucas was still making. If you want a new Grim Fandango, a shift to a licensing-only model makes it more likely that Disney will look to cash in on that latent demand.

Again, if you’re in that latter group, the LucasArts you’re so nostalgic for died a long, long time ago when the company cancelled its Sam & Max sequel and laid off the whole team. And then that team formed Telltale Games and eventually made The Walking Dead. The LucasArts that died today is not the one you loved, and it was never going to be again.

1313 getting mothballed is sad, but as much as I used to love LucasArts, the LucasArts I loved died long ago.

Agree.  And it's not like SW games are going to stop.  They'll just get made by better developers now.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/03/disney-closes-lucasarts/

"After evaluating our position in the games market, we've decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company's risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games," Disney informed Game Informer in a statement. "As a result of this change, we've had layoffs across the organization. We are incredibly appreciative and proud of the talented teams who have been developing our new titles."

Very excited that it's taking place off of the CA coast!

"Red band" trailer.  Looks damn good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p4pYIsaZqE0

Disappointing finale

I haven't seen this issue

Opening day is right around the corner.  After 2 WS titles in 3 years, I'm not expecting much.  Hope the Giants at least make the post season during this title defense.  Also, just inked Buster Posey to an 8 year extension!  Go Giants!

Hold the phone people

Kojima mentioned once again that Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain will be released separately. "We can't comment just yet on how these things will be distributed and sold," he said. Ground Zeroes, the prologue, will come first, Kojima said, and will introduce players to the gameplay "on a smaller scale."

He also confirmed that voice actor David Hayter was not asked to perform for MGS5. "Yes, I can say it will be a new person. I can't say who." This reflects Kojima's desire to set Metal Gear Solid 5 apart as a "new Metal Gear game."

The interview is densely packed with information, including details about the open-world gameplay and the reasoning behind the switch to Roman numerals.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/29/kojima-explains-metal-gear-solid-5s-mogren-fakeout-hayters/

15 min GDC video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSlgF96OtPY&feature=player_embedded

IN!

It's taken me quite a bit to enjoy the combat.  I have 5 vigors now and I'd say I just started really liking it.

"'Ground Zeroes' is a prologue of MGSV," Kojima said. "9 years after that event will be 'The Phantom Pain.'" Metal Gear Solid 5 comprises these two parts, much like Metal Gear Solid 2 opened with the Tanker chapter, then moved onto the Plant portion starring Raiden.

Strange that they wouldn't ask him

Not sure why this is news. It's an accident and just one seal.

Well it is a federal law that you can't harm these animals.  Should we not care when someone gets murdered because it's just one person?

The story continues!

Next gen or bust, I'm not falling for this again!

fall for what?

This was an awesome game, sp and multi.

Maybe he means a bad port of a  game for next gen consoles for current gen?

As I recall, the console versions looked nothing like the intro demos for BF3. 

[Salt seems to drain almost instantly]

I'm not trying to troll but I'm not blown away by the 360 graphics. coming from Tomb Raider type visuals this one seems a little flat.

I feel the same way on the PS3.  Tomb Raider was way better looking. 

I miss the under water setting of Rapture, too.  Salt seems to drain almost instantly and the intro was too drawn out.  I'm hoping with some more time I will begin to enjoy it more.

I agree here, but I think the issue  will be mitigated when you get Elizabeth

Ah that's good to know.  Will help make combat a lot more enjoyable.

Next gen or bust, I'm not falling for this again!

It's illegal to harass marine mammals, let alone kill one.  They should be punished accordingly.

I'm not trying to troll but I'm not blown away by the 360 graphics. coming from Tomb Raider type visuals this one seems a little flat.

I feel the same way on the PS3.  Tomb Raider was way better looking. 

I miss the under water setting of Rapture, too.  Salt seems to drain almost instantly and the intro was too drawn out.  I'm hoping with some more time I will begin to enjoy it more.

[Spoiler]

Regarding your spoiler and the choice you have to make with #77... does what happens next change at all depending on your choice? 

Spoiler for Hiden:

I chose the "good" option and later on in the game I got a decent reward for doing that (won't saw what or where so you don't get spoiled, but it's obvious when it happens).  Not sure if that would change (or the immediate results) if i went "evil".  I'm going to assume they still would have grabbed your hand and seen the AD on it but maybe they let you throw the ball first?

Regarding the #77 decision:

Spoiler for Hiden:

I went the bad option because I didn't want to get made as an infiltrator and they grabbed my hand and saw the AD before I could throw.

I rented this and it was real bad.  The combat was horrific.  I returned it pretty quickly.

The ending of that last episode actually was pretty powerful.  Even my wife commented on it.  Hoping the finale gives some good closure for this season.

Tonight can't come soon enough!

This guy is a fucking piece of shit.

Bioshock!

Saw this tonight and really enjoyed it.  Felt like the original LotR movies to me.  Looking forward to the next ones!

Not reading, but can't wait!

I like it!  Let them have their General!

Definitely play Uncharted 1 before Uncharted 2.  Just know that the second game is leaps and bounds better than the first (better than the third, too, IMO).

Also, Uncharted hasn't had guys who are bulletproof in a thin shirt since 2, and much like Tomb Raider, both games have heavily armored men that can soak up damage.

3 felt like a return to the lousy combat from 1 for me.  Not quite as bad, but not as good as 2.

I seem to remember them trying something new with the combat but after getting enough negative feedback about it patched the game so it would allow you to switch back to the old style. As an option. Or something. 

It was the aiming controls.

new international trailer.

Wow that was REALLY good

Buy a DSLR.  Also you can learn to SCUBA dive and get an underwater propulsion scooter.

some early prototype footage.

Note that this was ripped off from the "The Final Hours of Tomb Raider" which is a whopping $3 on Steam.

It's in the extras menu of my PSN digital copy (and I assumed the disc too)

The Xbox controller can't really balance standing up like that.

False advertising!

Microsoft Security Essentials

+1

I also like the DoW gameplay better, but I do love me some StarCraft story!  I'll get to this eventually.

there's a definite lack of 'OMG YOU MUST GET THIS' out there.

Too busy with Tomb Raider and God of War