Eurogamer


Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on 30th March, publisher EA has announced.


This year's iteration of the long-running sports franchise offers 22 golfers and 16 championship courses as well as a number of new features, chief among them Kinect controls for Xbox 360 owners and Move controls on PS3.


The game's standard swing mechanic has also been revamped, with EA promising a more finely-tuned swing place, shot set-up and power control.


Another new feature is Tiger's Golf Legacy which lets you relive key moments from the cover star's career. Could be spicy.


Players will also be able to invite friends to join their own exclusive country club to gain quicker access to downloadable golf courses and compete against each other for the Club Championship title.


"Our fans asked us to deliver a new level of fidelity and authenticity to Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 and our team delivered with the ability to literally choose millions of shot combinations through our new swing mechanic," commented EA's Mike Taramykin.


"Fans will now be able to experience unparalleled control on the virtual golf course."


Additionally, EA announced details of The Masters Collector's Edition, which adds exclusive access to Augusta National Golf Club's Tournament practice facility, Augusta National's famous Par 3 Course, a Green Jacket presentation sequence and five additional courses.

Eurogamer


The first two Modern Warfare 3 DLC 'drops' for Xbox 360 premium Elite members arrives on 24th January, Activision has announced.


You'll be getting two new multiplayer maps. Liberation is a sniper-friendly map set in New York's Central Park, while Piazza takes the action to a seaside village in Italy.


Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling told Eurogamer that there is not yet a confirmed date for when PlayStation 3 and PC subscribers can get their hands on the content, but "they will be staggered after the Xbox release."


The release is the first fruits of Activision's new approach to Call of Duty DLC. Premium Elite members can expect around 20 of these bite-sized DLC drops between now and November. The bits of content will be bundled together into traditional DLC packs every few months for regular console users, with the first of those due some time in March.


"The first content drop will be traditional multiplayer maps with Park [Liberation] and Coast [Piazza]," explained Bowling.


"In the future we hope to do a whole variety of stuff. New game modes that we've never seen before, missions, spec ops mission, spec ops survival modes and a whole variety of other stuff that we're looking to experiment with as well.


"That's what I love about this season of content - because we're doing it in a different way, because we get to release stuff early for Elite subs and get feedback before the collections come out, that will help dictate and change our design strategy for future DLC as we're moving forward. We hope to try out a bunch of different stuff - more than just the traditional 'more maps to play on'."


Elite members can expect a total of five pieces of new content in the next three months, with the next due in mid Febraury


Bowling also shed a little light on exactly how development of DLC is managed across three separate studios - Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer and Singularity-developer Raven Software.


"All three developers are contributing to the season - Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer and Raven Software," he said.


"How we've set it up is not really dictating who works on what. We've said to each team, just go out and create what you think is fun. Don't worry how it fits into the game. If you want to tie it into the game in some way do it but just have fun with it.


"Then we all come together as we're working and see where everyone is at, how polished it is, what direction it's going in and then pick the best of the best and start creating the packs out of that. We really didn't try and restrain anyone too much."


If all goes to plan, Modern Warfare 3 will see more DLC content than any other Call of Duty title to date. However, Bowling stressed that this extra burden shouldn't distract Infinity Ward from making a start on its next title.


"Well, it's definitely a unique development schedule but unlike before when we were solely responsible for post-launch support, this time we have three developers - three amazing teams that are contributing to the whole season," he explained.


"It's not a strain just on Infinity Ward. We're contributing what we think will be good for the game, Raven is doing stuff, Sledgehammer is doing stuff. So, I think with that combined development power it's something that we can easily handle and not worry about it impacting our future development."


Of the first two maps due out later this month, Bowling singled out Piazza for special mention.


"It's the seaside village in Italy. Just visually alone it's a beautiful map - this mountainside village on the ocean. Not only visually, but the gameplay it offers is very unique to anything else in Modern Warfare 3.


"It's an uphill battle... the verticality of it... there's so much dynamic gameplay. Simply because of that I think it stands out among anything you have in the game currently and anything in the content drop that comes with it."


The latest installment in the annual Call of Duty juggernaut launched back in November to predictably massive sales. Refer back to our 8/10 Modern Warfare 3 review for more details.

Eurogamer


A new patch for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim due before the end of January will tackle the lag problems currently blighting many PlayStation 3 gamers, Bethesda has announced.


"We're addressing that in the 1.4 update planned for this month," read a post on the developer's Twitter feed in response to a query as to when the notorious 'Rimlag' issue would be fixed.


Last month, Bethesda explained that the development had been working hard to isolate the causes of the problem.


"We've been reaching out to a number of those users to collect save games, so we can take a look at their specific issues," read a BethesdaBlog post.


"Right now we know it's not one thing, but a combination of smaller ones that some folks are seeing, but others are not. Some seem to be the PS3 autosaving in the background (you can turn that off), some may be SPU AI updates, and some may relate to dynamic system memory allocation."


For more on the whole sorry debacle, head on over to Digital Foundry's Skyrim lag investigation.

Eurogamer


Sony has proposed the closure of Leamington Spa-based Little Deviants developer BigBig Studios


A statement handed to GamesIndustry.biz earlier today read:


"BigBig have been an important part of SCE Worldwide Studios since joining in 2007. However, it was felt that by focusing on other studios that are currently working on exciting new projects, we would be in a stronger position to offer the best possible content for our consumers."


BigBig's other titles included the PSP version of MotorStorm: Arctic Edge and PSP action title Pursuit Force.


Mini-game compilation Little Deviants is due out at Vita's launch on 22nd February. Eurogamer's Tom Bramwell awarded it 7/10 earlier this week.


Sony also announced a change of direction for its Cambridge Studios - the outfit responsible for the 2009 PSP version of LittleBigPlanet.


"It has been decided that Cambridge Studios will become closely linked with Guerilla Studios and as such will focus on bringing the Killzone franchise to PlayStation Vita. As a result of this, there will be a realignment of resource within the studio to ensure that the studio is in the best position to achieve this."


Does this mean additional redundancies? Sony isn't saying.

Eurogamer


"Most" Star Wars: The Old Republic players "aren't really having performance concerns", game director James Ohlen assured Eurogamer this afternoon.


He estimated that around five per cent of the MMO's million-plus player base had problems. Those problems being plummeting SWTOR frame rates, as reported earlier this week.


Ohlen said these problems were often related to gamers with low-end PCs.


His response came when asked whether there was a deeper SWTOR performance problem than BioWare was letting on. So far, BioWare has been content to issue a stock workaround each time low frame-rates are questioned on the SWTOR forum.


"The thing is, for the most part, 95 per cent - oh I can't give you the exact percentage - most of our players aren't really having performance concerns," James Ohlen told Eurogamer.


"However, we know that it's important that there is a smaller group of people usually with lower end machines that are having problems in some areas. And one of the most important things for us to grow our service is to continue to bring in more players, including those players who only have low-end machines.


"So we have a client team, a team of programmers, whose entire job is to optimise the code, find out where some of the issues are, and then fix that up.


"Most of the performance issues are localised though," he added. "They're things that we can track down. I would call them bugs."


BioWare has been speedily rolling out bug fixes for SWTOR since launch. These hot fixes will often be separate to content patches, which will take weeks to assemble.

Eurogamer

UPDATE: Microsoft has issued the following statement in response to the story:


"Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue.


"We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge. Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy."

ORIGINAL STORY: Around 300 workers at a Foxconn manufacturing plant in Wuhan, China reportedly threatened to throw themselves en masse off the building's roof following a pay dispute earlier this month.


According to a WantChina Times report, as spotted by Kotaku, the staff, who worked on the Xbox 360 assembly line, were denied a pay rise by Foxconn management.


They were then offered a choice between staying on at their current wage or taking compensated dismissal. Many workers apparently chose the latter, however, management then rescinded the offer. In protest, the workers climbed onto the plant's roof and threatened to jump off.


The mayor of Wuhan apparently intervened and helped talk the workers down.


This isn't the first time Foxconn has made headlines. A spate of employee suicides back in 2010 led to management installing nets on the sides of its buildings to stop staff jumping.


At the time, Microsoft's Phil Spencer offered the following statement:


"Foxconn has been an important partner of ours and remains an important partner. I trust them as a responsible company to continue to evolve their process and work relationships.


"That is something we remain committed to - the safe and ethical treatment of people who build our products. That's a core value of our company."

Eurogamer


iOS "micro-platformer" Run Roo Run is the latest effort from Scribblenauts developer 5th Cell.


Due out on 12th January, it's an auto-run jumper that sees you attempting to make your way through over 400 single screen platforming stages.


As demonstrated in the trailer below, you'll need to make use of various environmental items and power-ups to do so.


Mistime your jump and a marker arrow will be placed on the screen to help you get it right next time.


The game is divided up into chapters. Finish all 'Normal' levels in a chapter and you'll unlock a batch of 'Extreme' stages to test your skills.


5th Cell boss Jeremiah Slaczka told Joystiq that the studio plans to offer an additional 10 stages a week free of charge.


It's apparently one of four titles that 5th Cell hopes to release this year, with ambitious XBLA shooter Hybrid also on the slate.

Eurogamer


A demo of Capcom's bizarre god-filled beat-'em-up Asura's Wrath is now available to download on Xbox Marketplace.


It is, at least initially, exclusively for Gold members.


Next week's Deal of the Week offer is all about Grand Theft Auto IV, with savings on both the digital download version of the game and its excellent DLC episodes.


These fresh morsels of news come from US Microsoft mouthpiece Major Nelson, who has detailed the full Xbox Marketplace release schedule for the next two weeks.


The current Deal of the Week offer, started today, discounts Dungeon Defender, Orcs Must Die!, South Park: LGTDP and Defense Grid: The Awakening.


This week also brings add-ons for Kinect Sports: Season 2, Worms Ultimate Mayhem and Magic the Gathering 2012.


Then, from next Tuesday, Gears of War 3 receives the Fenix Rising Map Pack, which costs 800 Points - free to those who own the Season Pass. There's also the Genkibowl 7 expansion for Saints Row: The Third and a demo of Kingdoms of Amalur: The Reckoning.


The full list of content lies below.

Game Add-ons

  • Kinect Sports: Season 2 Midnight Mountain Ski Pack - 1/10/2012 - 400 Points
  • Worms Ultimate Mayhem Multi-Player Add-on - 1/11/2012 - 400 Points
  • Magic the Gathering 2012: Deck Expansion Pack 3 - 1/11/2012 - 240 Points
  • Gears of War 3 Fenix Rising Map Pack - 1/17/2012 - 800 Points
  • Saints Row The Third Genkibowl VII - 1/17/2012 - 560 Points
  • Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 - 2012 Weight Control - 1/17/2012 - 400 Points
  • Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 - Cool Down Pack - 1/17/2012 - 320 Points
  • Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012 - Cool Down + Weight Control Pack - 1/17/2012 - 560 Points

Deal of the Week

  • Dungeon Defenders (1/10 - 1/16) - 800 Points (33% off)
  • Orcs Must Die! (1/10 - 1/16) 600 Points (50% off)
  • South Park: LGTDP (1/10 - 1/16) 400 Points (50% off)
  • Defense Grid: The Awakening (1/10 - 1/16) 400 Points (50% off)
  • GTA IV (1/17 - 1/23) 25% off
  • GTA IV - The Ballad of Gay Tony (1/17 - 1/23) 800 Points (50% off)
  • GTA IV - The Lost and Damned [JP] (1/17 - 1/23) 800 Points (50% off)
  • GTA IV - The Lost and Damned (1/17 - 1/23) 400 Points (50% off)
  • GTA San Andreas (1/17 - 1/23) 800 Points (33% off)

Games on Demand

  • NCAA 12 - 1/10/2012

Demos

  • Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning - 1/17/2012

Avatar gumph

  • Gears of War 3 update - 1/10/2012
  • Bruce Lee - 1/17/2012
  • Max Payne 1&2 - 1/17/2012
  • Spartacus - 1/17/2012
Eurogamer


Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D will sneak onto 3DS on 8th March in Europe, Konami has announced.


Snake Eater 3D is an update of PS2 classic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.


The game comes with refreshed visuals and will be the second 3DS game in Europe to support the Circle Pad Pro expansion, which adds an extra slider pad to the handheld. The peripheral launches first with Resident Evil: Revelations on 27th January.


Konami has also added a first-person mode and a new over the shoulder camera, both missing from the original, as well as gyroscopic controls for traversing rope bridges.


You can even take photos of your surroundings to customise Snake's in-game camouflage.


A demo version of the stealth shooter was one of the first games shown for the 3DS at its unveiling at E3 2010. A special snake skin-themed 3DS was teased by Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima earlier this month.

Eurogamer


PC and Mac role-player Diablo 3 will be released on consoles, Blizzard has confirmed.


Blizzard community manager Micah Whiple broke the news via his Twitter feed. No specific platforms were mentioned for the console version, or a release date.


When asked if he could confirm or deny rumours the anticipated hack and slash was on the way for consoles, Whiple responded with the affirmative:


"Yup. Josh Mosqueira is lead designer for the Diablo console project."


Mosqueira previously worked as design director on Company of Heroes at Relic.


Diablo 3 is due "early 2012" for PC and Mac.


A console version has long been rumoured and various job postings for console-based development roles at Blizzard have previously cropped up.


"People don't believe us when we say we're going to make a console game - flat out," Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson said last November, talking of Blizzard's commitment to a console version. "We haven't officially announced a product. We say that because we like our product announcements to be a big deal. We haven't been as secretive about this one because our biggest barrier is actually getting a console team."


Need to know more? Eurogamer's goblin commander Oli Welsh went hands on with Diablo 3's beta last year.

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