Unreal Engine 4 will be shown this year, you will be “shocked”

Later this year, the video game industry will take a large step forward towards photo-realistic visuals, or at least we hope so, and if this is anything to go by.

Epic Games’ Mark Rein confirmed the studio will be showing its brand spanking new Unreal Engine 4 this year. It promises to shock.

“People are going to be shocked later this year when they see Unreal Engine 4 and how much more profound an effect it will have,” Rein told G4TV at the DICE 2012 summit.

Rein also said the new visual engine is already running on systems he “can’t name yet”, then quickly tried to hide his grin as everyone in the DICE summit raised their eyebrows in unison.

So, when will this “later this year” going to happen? The most immediate major gaming event is Game Developers Conference next month, but will they reveal it so soon? It could be in E3, most likely.

Mass Effect 3′s FemShep in action

BioWare goes all out with Mass Effect 3 gameplay videos

There is nothing more greater than the hype machine for a video game you like. BioWare has kickstarted theirs and it just so happens that we like some Mass Effect 3.

The developer has released, let me count – yes, five gameplay videos showcasing the game in its various parts and forms. One shows the efforts behind the “integrated storytelling” while another shows the co-op multiplayer, the refined AI system, the updated weapon customization, and finally, some adrenaline pumping gameplay to leave that mouth water-smacked.

Let it flow.

Integrated Storytelling

Integrated co-op multiplayer

Build a Customizable Arsenal

Ruthless and Intelligent Enemies

Adrenaline-Pumping Gameplay

Mass Effect 3 is set to cross the retail-galaxy on March 6th. There will be a single player and multiplayer demo on Valentine’s, which is just four days away if your better half hasn’t reminded you already (in which case, you lucky man/woman, you).

Rumor: Next Xbox will have a tablet like controller

Sources close to XboxWorld has speculated that Microsoft will be shipping a tablet-like controller with the next Xbox.

It will be closer to PS Vita or Apple’s iPad, the source claims, with an HD screen to double as a remote control, a browser, an information pad for games, and even as a portable device to “take your game with you.”

The report also speculates a £399 price figure for the next Xbox, a brazen patch of uncertainty between just-about-right and down-right-expensive. The Xbox is expected to be revealed at this year’s E3.

Rumors of Microsoft’s and Sony’s new consoles are rife. This is despite both company’s French men denying any reveal or release for this year.

Blizzard sues Valve over DotA name

Here’s the backlog of history before we dive into this story: Blizzard made Warcraft III. The ever-awesome mod community made a mod for it called Defense of the Ancients (or DotA). The mod became extremely popular, prompting Blizzard to pour in resources to develop and prompt the mod, as their own, for seven years. In 2010, the mod-loving Valve thought to develop a sequel for DotA and actively set forth in that direction, promoting it via tournaments, inviting professional players and what not. Blizzard didn’t quite like that.

The World of Warcraft makers has now decided to sue over the registration of the name, claiming that “Valve has no right” over it as “the DotA mark has become firmly associated in the mind of consumers with Blizzard.

This is their official statement:
“In contrast to Blizzard, Applicant Valve Corporation (“Valve”) has never used the mark DOTA in connection with any product or service that currently is available to the public. By attempting to register the mark DOTA, Valve seeks to appropriate the more than seven years of goodwill that Blizzard has developed in the mark DOTA and in its Warcraft III computer game and take for itself a name that has come to signify the product of years of time and energy expended by Blizzard and by fans of Warcraft III. Valve has no right to the registration it seeks. If such registration is issued, it not only will damage Blizzard, but also the legions of Blizzard fans that have worked for years with Blizzard and its products, including by causing consumers to falsely believe that Valve’s products are affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by Blizzard and are related or connected to Warcraft III.”

The case file was submitted on November 16, 2011. You can read it here.

Aliens: Colonial Marines box art features an alien and marines

SEGA has put out on the internet a rather elegant cover art of Aliens: Colonial Marines, the upcoming Gearbox Software-developed sci-fi FPS.

As the game’s title suggests, the box art of the game is somewhat predictable – albeit it looks delicious. It features an Alien and a team of Marines. Voila!

The often-delayed Aliens shooter is bound for an official disclosure sometime in fall 2012. The game is being developed for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

BioShock Infinite to feature 3D support on PS3

According to a tweet by Canadian retailer FutureShop.ca, Irrational’s BioShock Infinite will feature stereoscopic 3D compatibility.

The feature revelation was spotted among a torrent of updates from the PlayStation Destination event, which took place in Arizona. In addition, the retailer made mention of Move support, although it’s been confirmed before that motion control will be implemented in BioShock Infinite.

“Live from #Playstation Destination,” tweeted the retailer. “Bioshock Infinite will be Move & 3D compatible!!”

BioShock Infinite is planned for release sometime this year on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Wipeout 2048 Trophy list revealed

If you’re looking into purchasing PlayStation Vita launch title Wipeout 2048, then expect to chase down a total of 31 trophies. If you don’t care about spoilers, we have them all here outlined for you; there’s 1 Platinum, 6 Gold, 9 Silver and 15 Bronze trophies.

The futuristic racer will be the first game to release on Sony’s new handheld that allows for cross-play against users on PlayStation 3 – and of course PlayStation Vita players.

Platinum

This is Wipeout – Obtain every Trophy in Wipeout 2048

Bronze

2048 Champion – Complete 2048 Season
2049 Champion – Complete 2049 Season
2050 Champion – Complete 2050 Season
2048 Elite 1 – Get an Elite Pass on the C Class Time Trial on Capital Reach in 2048
2048 Elite 2 – Get an Eilte Pass on Empire Climb Zone Mode in 2048
2048 Elite 3 – Get an Elite Pass on the C Class Combat Event on Metro Park 2048
2049 Elite 1 – Get an Elite Pass on B Class Race on Unity Square in 2049
2049 Elite 2 – Get an Elite Pass on the A Class Time Trial on Metro Park in 2049
2049 Elite 3 – Get an Elite Pass on Downtown Zone Mode in 2049
2050 Elite 1 – Get an Elite Pass on Queens Mall Zone in 2050
2050 Elite 2 – Get an Elite Pass on the A Class Race on Empire Climb in 2050
2050 Elite 3 – Get an Elite Pass on the A class Race in Sol in 2050
Multiplayer Begins – Finish an Online Multiplayer Event
1 Down, 19 to Go – Complete your first Online Multiplayer Level
50 Kills – Destroy 50 Ships in Online Multiplayer

Silver

Completist – Complete all events in the Single Player Campaign
Prototype – Elite Pass all Prototype Ship Challenges
Speed Thrills – Elite Pass any A+ Class Challenge
50 MP Events – Finish 50 Online Multiplayer events
Halfway There – Complete 10 Online Multiplayer Levels
Rank 25 – Reach Rank 25
The Unlock 7 – Destroy 7 opposition ships in any Race in the Single Player campaign
2048 Speed Pads – Hit a total of 2048 Speed Pads
Perfect Pi-hana – Get a perfect lap in the Pir-hana Prototype, in the A class, Unity Square, Speed Lap

Gold

Elite Completist – Elite Pass every event in the Single Player Campaign
Multiplayer Completist – Complete all nodes in the Online Multiplayer Campaign
Rank 50 – Reach Rank 50
Beat Zico – Beat Altima, C Class, Speed Lap, Pir-hana Speed – beat 52.00 seconds
Mach 1.5 – Reach Zone 65 in any Zone Even