Hasta La Gadget!

As we enter February of 2013 we’re finding ourselves inundated with news about gun violence in the USA with special focus on school shootings and how this all relates to video games – and today one gun manufacturer has made one perfectly clear connection between the two. Not a connection between gun violence in the shooting of human beings and video games, or between this man’s firearms and the murder of innocent victims, but between his business and the video game industry. In one simple affirmation, Ralph Vaughn of Barrett Rifles has shown how cash flows from one to the other.

Speaking with Eurogamer about his lovely invention of the M82, various assault rifles, and sniper rifles alike, Barret made it clear that video games that feature firearms with brand names on them have to pay the creators of those firearms a cash sum. Just as it is with video games that show racing cars or shoes with the Adidas logo on them, cash must flow in one direction or the other. It’s much more rare that a simple no-cash agreement will appear between the makers of the video game and the company that holds the rights to the products used in said video game.

The fact that Barrett has worked with companies came first, “yes, we’ve worked with companies to send our sniper rifles into video games.” Simple enough, but which games are we talking about here? Pushed with this question from Eurogamer once again, Barrett said, “Which ones? Our license agreement prohibits us from mentioning a company by name. [but] you are welcome to check out the Call of Duty series.” The video you’re seeing below comes from Piston2x and shows the intense detail included in the Call of Duty series and – perhaps more importantly – how important the actual real-world gun is to those playing the game.

Also of from Eurogamer comes a quote from Martin Hollis, director and producer of the original most awesome multi-player shooter ever made, GoldenEye. He makes it clear that back when the game was released they were told they’d have to remove the names of the guns from the final product likely due to the amount of work they’d have had to do to get licenses back in that transitional time. “I assumed novelists and filmmakers have no compulsion to license”, he noted, “I was not pleased [we had to remove the real names] because it would decrease the realism, or at least the verisimilitude.” Such things are still considered in video games today.

What do you think, gamers, are you more apt to play a game in the guns have real-world names attached to them? And those of you who didn’t realize purchasing a video game could send cash to arms manufacturers – what’s your opinion of the situation now?

[Image via Cod4Source]

Fact: Gun manufacturers make money from SOME video games is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Even though nothing official has been announced by Sony, gamers all around the world are looking forward to the launch of the Sony PlayStation 4. The new game console has been rumored to launch sometime this year. Recently, Sony sent out invitations to a press event being held in New York City on February 20 at 6pm EST. Of course speculation has gamers all around the world excited that Sony could be unveiling the PS4 at the event.

So far, the only details on what will be covered in the event Sony has offered is that “we will be talking about the PlayStation business.” Previous rumors attributed to vague unnamed sources have claimed that the PS4 would be unveiled this month and launch before Christmas 2013.

I hope the event is for the unveiling of the PlayStation 4, but I wouldn’t put it past Sony to invite a bunch people out for a mundane PlayStation realm announcement either. February 20 is only a couple weeks away, so at least we don’t have to wait that long to see what Sony has up its sleeve.

If you’re interested on getting the scoop as soon as Sony announces it, you can sign up for updates over on the Playstation website.

[PlayStation Blog via Telegraph]

I know you can’t wait for the third season of Game of Thrones when it hits at the end of March. Me too. Well, here is something to help tide you over until then. This amazingly detailed Minecraft King’s Landing was created by the people at Westeroscraft – who are gradually recreating the entire domain of Westeros using only Minecraft. And even though it is awesome, it makes me sad because we still have to wait for next season.

I want to watch it now! I’ll just take a deep breath instead, and absorb all of detail of King’s Landing. Just look at all of those buildings, the docks, the countryside. This city is alive – though we all wish King Joffrey wasn’t.

The only thing missing is an immense battle with green wildfire spraying over the ships in Blackwater Bay.

Hit this link for a gallery of hi-res images. They did an amazing job. But I still want to watch the show now!

[reddit via Nerd Approved]

Considering I’m a huge fan of science fiction, first person shooters, and video games, on paper you would expect me to enjoy the Dead Space franchise. In reality, I’ve never been a big fan of the series. There are a lot of people out there who love the franchise though, and its third installment is set to launch very soon. Ahead of launch the developers are offering up a few interesting new details on the game.

Dead Space 3 executive producer Steve Papoutsis has revealed that the game will have four additional difficulty modes that will only unlock after players beat the game one time. Two of these new modes will include Classic and Hardcore. Classic mode removes the new game’s crosshairs and resource management system to make it feel and play more like past games in the series. The Hardcore mode gives players only a single life for the entire campaign. Yikes.

Game+ mode lets you play through the game again with all of your weapons and arsenal that you finished the game with. DS3 will also feature an interesting Pure Survival mode where the players have to craft everything they use from ammo to health and weapons. In this mode there are no resources hidden around the map. That sounds like a cool challenge. Papoutsis also said that after launch the game would get new downloadable content. He wouldn’t give up any details of exactly what be in that DLC, but he said think “disturbing” to get an idea of what may be coming.

Dead Space 3 releases on February 5, 2013 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

[via GameSpot]

The sequel to the popular simulation racing game GRID now has a solid and confirmed release date of May 28 in the US, while other countries can get it on May 31. The game will hit the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on these dates, and all three platforms will have pre-order bonuses for its users, including a special edition.

This has been a long-awaited sequel, and ever since the original GRID came out over four years, diehard gamers have been looking forward to a continuation of the game since. You can pre-order the game now at any number of locations, including Amazon, but each retailer has their own exclusive pre-order bonus, so choose wisely.

When you pre-order from GameStop, you’ll get the “Super-Charged Edition,” which includes the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 Special Edition, plus two-new circuits around the Brands Hatch GP circuit, as well as the Nissan GT-R SpecV road car (pictured above), plus all five Yas Marina routes during the day. Pre-ordering from Best Buy will get you the “IndyCar Edition,” which comes with the Dallara IndyCar and IndyCar Pace car, plus two new routes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Finally, pre-ordering on Amazon will score you the “HeadStart Edition,” which comes with the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT car, as well as discounts in the car upgrades store in online game modes, and a “unique” RaceNet bonus. Overall, it sounds like either Amazon or GameStop have the best pre-order bonuses. As far as the Special Edition version of GRID 2, the game will come with “extra content” that’s redeemable through your console’s online store.

GRID 2 arriving May 28 with pre-order bonuses is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.