Molyneux appeals for donations as Curiosity woes continue

22 Cans studio director Peter Molyneux is seeking donations from fans of his troubled iOS experiment Curiosity.

It is reported that as many as one million people have downloaded the application from both the Android and iOS store - an unexpected swell of demand that has ignited numerous networking problems.

As uncovered on CVG's Curiosity live blog, many players have been unable to log on to the service for days while others are seeing the cube in different stages of decomposition. The idea of the experiment was that everyone could chip away at the same cube at the same time, and earn coins in the process. But due to server bugs, players' coin collections are disappearing randomly.

22 Cans, which is based in Guildford, has been working long hours to solve the issues, though now it is seeking donations from players to purchase better network infrastructure.

"We may need help to make the experience truly wonderful, our server costs are going to ramp up with our new fix," Molyneux explained.

A statement on the group's website reads: "We are a small independent developer and due to popular demand we now offer the option for kind people to donate, so that we can make Curiosity the best possible experience it can be. However big or small the donation; it will really help us make Curiosity better."

The studio has also acknowledged the server problems in a video message to its fans.

On the Curiosity Live Blog, users have told CVG that all six sides on fourth layer are coming clear, with images of fruit and scissors emerging.

View the original article here

Scribblenaut Dev: no universal achievements for Wii U

Scribblenauts creative director and 5th Cell co-founder Jeremiah Slaczka has revealed that the Wii U will not have its own universal achievements system.

Posting on NeoGAF, Slaczka wrote that "there are no Wii U accomplishments that are system-wide".

He continued to write that Scribblenauts will have its own in-game achievement tracker in the form of 'Flobal Starite Shards'. These are "like a giant checklist of global things to spawn and do in the game that aren't area specific," he wrote.

Sony introduced its trophy achievements in a post-launch system update, so it's not unfeasible that Nintendo will have achievements down the track. For now though, it'll be up to individual developers to create their own.

View the original article here

GAME 'in good shape', on course for £20m profit

The boss of GAME Group insists the retailer is in "good shape" following its takeover by private investment firm OpCapita earlier this year.

CEO Martyn Gibbs told The Telegraph that the company expects to report ?20 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in the year ending July 2013.

Gibbs also claimed that GAME has maintained its 36 per cent UK market share despite the closure of half of its stores.

While OpCapita bought GAME out of administration in April, the firm has structured its investment in the company in much the same manner as it did with Comet - GAME is operating without credit insurance, one of the main reasons cited for the electrical store's collapse.

GAME is also estimated to be making as much as ?10 million in annual interest payments to OpCapita, which will be the leading secured creditor if the firm goes out of business.

But Gibbs backed OpCapita, noting that any interest payments are "not at all" impeding the business, adding: "I have all the cash I need to trade through peak [period]. There has been nothing that I tabled that I didn't get investment for. I can't ask for more."

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Halo 4 Spartan Ops Episode 2 out now

Episode 2 of Halo 4's Spartan Ops campaign is available now on Xbox Live, Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has confirmed.

Titled 'Artifact', the second episode is accessible through the Spartan Ops chapter select menu and introduces five new chapters and an accompanying CG cinematic.

Here's the official description and a teaser trailer:

"The mysterious artifact recovered from Requiem takes control of vital systems on board the UNSC Infinity, forcing the Spartans of Crimson and Majestic back down to the planet to look for a way to free the ship. Commander Lasky and the UNSC need you, Spartan...get back in the game!"

In our Halo 4 review we said 343's first game is "one of the best multiplayer shooters on 360 but Reach has the better Firefight and Halo 3 has the better campaign".

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GTA V will introduce a musical score for missions

Grand Theft Auto V will introduce a musical score for missions inspired by previous Rockstar titles Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3.

Studio co-founder Dan Houser told The Guardian that despite the introduction of an in-game score, the series' traditional radio stations will remain.

"We thought [we] could do something interesting if we scored missions in GTA," explained Houser. "Obviously we didn't want to lose radio stations, so we thought we'd do both.

"Exactly how we're going to balance between the two we're not entirely sure yet - we're still trying to figure that out. But we have some very cool people doing the score, different people, who will work in the same stem-based system that we used in the other games".

Last week we gathered all the first GTA V details from Game Informer magazine in the US, including a breakdown on each of the game's three main characters, dynamic missions, and more.

This morning new GTA 5 screenshots appeared online.

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ZombiU preview: Is this going to be Wii U's best launch game?

Maya didn't ask for this. Deep underneath the Tower of London, shadows dance across the wall at the end of a long, dark brickwork corridor. Our survivor stops, mid-stride, to assess her next move as shuffling steps indicate her would-be flesh diners number two or more.

As yet they are unaware of Maya's presence. After some deliberation, she realises that the two bullets she's got left aren't worth considering. She lobs a flare to lure them out properly into her line of sight. Tossing a Molotov cocktail in, she preemptively smiles in the perceived knowledge of a job well done. That's three of ZombiU's unpredictably dangerous cadavers dealt with, we smirk, from behind the Wii U GamePad. We're proud of Maya.

The zombies in the game are a different beast from the shopping mall fare

But then two of the still-burning buggers start stumbling our way. We take one of them out with a double tap to the face, only for our next preciously-aimed shot to give out a blood-draining 'chink'. An undead Beefeater, still aflame, is in our face, spittle flying, but we shove him off, back pedalling.

Switching to our not-so-trusty but effectively brutal cricket slab, we deal out some crushing blows as Maya's chunderful breathing, permeated with screams, grows increasingly frantic. After about six weighty thwacks to the cranium, our attacker is finally put down. Maya survived her ordeal with those three zombies under the Tower of London. Sadly, she got her face chewed off in the very next room.

The zombies in Ubisoft's ambitious Wii U launch title are a different beast from the shopping mall fare we were getting bored of in horror games. Sure they can be scary and they look as gruesome as needs must. What really makes them stand out from the oncoming horde is the sheer danger they bring to the table.

Melee weapons are only really effective against one at a time, given their realistic lack of killing power. Pistol shots are pointless unless they hit the head, no easy task when Mister Dead is zippier than your average flesh-muncher. Like Velociraptors in a shiny metal kitchen, they can open doors. They can climb ladders and swim, constantly forcing you to question your perception of safety. Oh, and they're occasionally loaded with explosives rigged to go off should you misfire.

It's not only the zombies that make this a brilliantly punishing ride. Your delectably shoddy torch runs out of battery juice fairly quickly, requiring precious seconds to recharge. Ammo is so scarce it should be featured on a David Attenborough documentary. You will die. Often. And you'll love it.

In many ways ZombiU shares some similarities with From Software's infamously tough RPG Dark Souls. Not only does it boast a similar message-sharing mechanic between players online, but it measures player death with the same brutal yet rewarding yardstick.

Each death, however unfair it initially feels, teaches you a valuable lesson and will give you the vital knowledge to push a little further next time. It's fair to say we expect ZombiU to inject a hefty dose of hardcore viricide into the Wii U's fluffy launch line-up.

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Team Ninja: "In Dead or Alive 5, we took a lot of inspiration from the Uncharted series..."

Last issue we awarded Team Ninja's new game, Dead Or Alive 5, a healthy 8.1. This month, we caught up with the quiet, unassuming man behind the series (and the Ninja Gaiden games), and asked him - among other things - why he makes fighting games, how PS3's Uncharted series influenced Dead Or Alive 5, and whether or not the gaming media needs to grow up...

Thinking back to your childhood, what got you into games? What was the spark that ignited your games industry career?

The biggest reason I got into games is... I remember a childhood experience I had. One summer holiday myself and my younger brother went down to our cousin's place, and they had a NES there and we started playing it. I remember that I was so intrigued and into the games that I couldn't get away from the TV. I was so glued to it that when my parents said: 'It's time to go back home now,' we didn't move. So they said: 'Alright we'll get you a NES, and any game you want - we just have to go home now.' That promise led my parents to buying me a NES and Super Mario Bros. I remember just falling in love with that game. And I think that was the moment that shaped my future.

Can you think of any other games that have had a big impact on you and the way you think about development?

During a lot of the turning points in my life, games have always been there for me. I remember I was doing my entrance exam for university and I wrote a whole essay on Policenauts. It was Hideo Kojima's game. I wrote a whole essay and I got a really good score actually, and that got

me into university. Games have always played a big role in my life, not just when I was a child. I think Policenauts was one of the games that changed my way of thinking as well.

So, for you, who is making the best games in the world right now?

For Dead Or Alive 5 we took a lot of inspiration from Naughty Dog. Specifically it was the whole stage crumbling, and things falling off, and the characters rolling down, grabbing on to the ledges in Uncharted. We also wanted to hint at that flow you get into in Uncharted, where you know that something massive is about to happen. In Uncharted you fall off a cliff, or off a boat and things like that, and we thought moments like that would be great in DOA5's fighting system. We got really inspired by that, and we've tried to do something very similar.

Yes, the thing Naughty Dog do well is establishing the character's presence in the world, and I think it's something that works well in DOA5 as a result.

I think that we definitely were inspired by Naughty Dog's work. It's not like we're doing a cheap, superficial imitation of that game. As creators we were inspired, and it's a good opportunity right now to tell our players about this. It's something they might not notice, but we really respect Naughty Dog, their work is fantastic.

So you've finished DOA5. Do you ever feel like a game is truly finished, or are there always things you could improve or say: 'I wish I'd done that differently?'

There's always something more that you want to do. It often happens mid-development. You think: 'Ah, we should have done it this way or that way'. There's always something you can learn and apply for next time, so yeah.

Is there a plan beyond DOA5? Have you begun to think about how you might move the series forward?

This is not the end. In many ways DOA5 feels like a fresh start for us. We want to refine the game to the level where we can fight for the number one spot in the genre, so we will keep going until we achieve that. Obviously the next generation is something that we have in mind; we've started thinking about it.

Where do you see videogames going in the future? There's a lot of talk about this next generation being the last for traditional consoles. Do you think that will be the case, or do you think there will always be separation between consoles and other media?

I don't think consoles are going to disappear from gaming. You still have millions of people playing videogames with a controller on a box in front of the TV. Just look at Call Of Duty, for example: it's everywhere. There are millions of people playing it. I think people will continue to play games, and as long as the cost of development stays sustainable, and people continue to buy traditional games, then we'll be here.

If only one game sells everything, it will ruin the gaming and console industries completely. I think you can compare it to movies. People still go to the cinema after all this time. I don't know how long cinemas have been around but it's not like cinemas are completely gone and everyone is watching movies on their TV or smartphone. Yes, you have those new mediums, but the old guy is still there - and I think it's going to be like that with consoles. I think they will be around for quite a while.

View the original article here

DirectX 11.1 to be Windows 8 exclusive

DirectX 11.1 is likely to remain exclusive to the recently released Windows 8, along with Windows RT and Windows Server 2012.

Microsoft has said that it has no plans to bring the latest version of its 3D graphics API to older operating systems, meaning that Windows 7 owners who don't want to upgrade will miss out on a number of new features.

Writing on the Microsoft Answers forum, Microsoft employee Daniel Moth said: "DirectX 11.1 is part of Windows 8, just like DirectX 11 was part of Windows 7. DirectX 11 was made available for Vista .... but at this point there is no plan for DirectX 11.1 to be made available on Windows 7."

A full list of DirectX 11.1's new features can be found here. Arguably the biggest addition over the older DirectX 11 is native stereoscopic 3D support, which means PC games and applications offer support for viewing content via stereoscopic 3D glasses as default, Neowin reports.

Contacted for an official comment, Microsoft told the site that the company has "nothing further to share".

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Get over here! And watch this Mortal Kombat Gangnam Style video

Just when we think we've had enough...

The latest parody video of PSY's infectious and now-a-little-bit-annoying Korean pop tune features the cast of hyper-violent fighting game Mortal Kombat getting down Gangnam style.

And by getting down we mean running up to random people in the street and furiously thrusting their crotches back and forth in the unsuspecting bystander's direction. Op! Op! Op!

Keep your eye on Scorpion, he gets mad hype.

Apologies for the bad Scorpion pun in the headline.

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Halo 4 guide: 9 killer secrets you might have missed

Halo 4 is a treasure trove of secrets, from the crude to the touching to the utterly absurd. The hard part is finding them all. With CVG's help, you needn't waste hours on a fruitless hunt when we've wasted plenty for you. Read on for everything we've discovered so far. Oh, and SPOILERS AHEAD.

Let's start with the big one: MC's face. Finish Halo 4 on normal and you'll get a cutscene of the battle-hardened Spartan removing his Molinjor armour, but the camera cuts to black just before the money shot. Complete it on legendary difficulty, however, and you'll be awarded with the extended version where, after the famous Mark VI helmet lifts, you'll see John-117's mug in all its glory (well, his weary eyes, anyway). It chimes with a story which explores the rocky relationship between men and machines, and proves, after all, the Chief really is a person under the suit.

It's one of the FPS genres' most caustic gestures - crouching repeatedly over the dead body of an enemy to really rub the salt in - and that's why we love it. With Halo 4, you can perform the homoerotic dance from complete safety. Aim a holographic decoy (one of your armour abilities) at a fallen foe and it'll automatically perform what more polite gamers have come to call a 'victory crouch'. Warning: only to be used in instances of sheer butt-hurtery.

Forget that waistcoat and baseball cap combo your poor Xbox Avatar's been decked in - Halo 4 serves up brand new outfits to try on for size. The Knight helmet is awarded for snagging the 'Knight in White Assassination' achievement (assassinate a Knight in any Spartan Ops mission); the platinum Mark VI helmet is given to those who finish the story; and a fetching avocado-green UNSC Infinity hoody is yours if you rank up to SR-5 in multiplayer component War Games.

Coco and his sidekick Andy Richter cameo in Halo 4 as surly UNSC soldiers. He's basically the American version of Jonathan Ross, who himself made an appearance in Halo 3, and the red-headed TV host is such a fan of games - which he reviews in his web series Clueless Gamer - he jumped at the chance for a guest spot. He and Richter are stationed in one corner of the hanger at the beginning of mission six, Shutdown, just behind the Warthogs. Dialogue ranges from experiences of workers unions and their crate-guarding duty to awakening giant evil deities. Try meleeing an extra line or two out of them.

Rooster Teeth's enormously popular series of comic videos, Red vs. Blue, kickstarted the machinima movement and generated more than a few Halo sales in the process. 343 Industries repays the favour. In the fifth Spartan Ops mission, The Cauldron, look over the barricade just before the ramp and you'll find a box on the ground near lava. Shoot it to hear RvB's jingly-jangly theme. For further fan pleasure, towards the end of the mission, RvB mainstay Caboose even chimes in with a few braindead phrases over the radio.

Grunts are the jesters of the Halo universe. Enabling one game-modifying skull sets each headshot to the sounds of children's laughter and puffs of confetti, and there was even an easter egg in Halo 2 level The Arbiter where the little fellas shared a birthday party. Here, visit the campaign's seventh mission Composer, and just before you get the Mantis mech, look down at the Atrium from behind the glass to see a group of grunts strutting their stuff. And what do you know? Even a bunch of Jackals are joining the festivities.

There's a second secret hiding on this level - a marine struggling to overcome an unwieldy Mantis. Turns out the previous pilot had inverted the stick! We've all been there. To find him, once you reach the Atrium, veer left and ascend the ramp where two mechs are stationed, then head on up to hear the dialogue. Sure, he's mad now, but wait until he discovers we set that other mech to bumper jumper...#haloinjoke

For those that didn't shell out for the 80 quid collectors edition, the folks at 343 Industries have kindly included a free version with every copy. Well, a virtual version, anyway. On the first level, Dawn, clear the section where Covenant dock with the ship (just after you see a fleet of Banshee bank towards you from behind glass) and on the floor to the left you'll see a 3D model of the game box on the ground. And there's even more, one outside the cryopod with the number 8 painted on it, and one outside the 15th. Right, that's 80 quid saved.

Terminals are a recurring feature in Halo games, and there are plenty spread throughout this one. There's a very special one at the start, though, that's easy to miss. Upon exiting Forward Unto Dawn's cryopod, head for the catwalk. You'll see a set of stairs. At the bottom, there's a terminal which contains Master Chief's service record. That is, it recaps the entire events from Halo 1, 2 and 3 with a complete plot summary. A handy feature for those lost in the labyrinthian exploits of the Master Chief.

So, that's our list of all Halo 4's secrets... so far. Have you found any we've missed? Tell us in the comments and share the love!

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Black Ops 2 review Q&A: What do you want to know?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be released worldwide tomorrow. For some of you, picking up Treyarch's latest is already a done deal, but we know a few will have niggling queries you want answers to.

We're dotting the i's and crossing the t's on our comprehensive Black Ops 2 review, which will be live on the site tomorrow morning, and are confident the majority of questions will be covered in it.

But just to be sure we're inviting you to pose any and all burning questions you have about the game in the comments below for our regular reviewer Q&A.

If you've got questions about how certain guns feel, how perks are balanced or want to know the intricacies of the progression system, let us know and we'll endeavour to provide you answers in a follow-up article tomorrow.

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Valve confirms work on 'Source 2' engine

Valve boss Gabe Newell has confirmed the Half-Life studio is indeed working on a new iteration of its Source Engine.

Asked by visiting 4chan members if the company is working on 'Source 2', Newell replied (captured in the video below): "We've been working on new engine stuff for a while, we've just been waiting for a game to roll it out with."

Asked if that meant an "entirely new engine" rather than a simple extention, the Valve boss replied: "yeah."

Source was introduced with Half-Life 2 in 2004, and has since been tweaked and upgraded with the releases of Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Left 4 Dead and Portal 2.

The 'Source 2' news hardly comes as a surprise of course; earlier this year more than 60 references to a "next-gen" engine were discovered in script files behind recently-released Source Filmmaker.

The Counter-Strike developer has previously bragged its engine is "considered the most flexible, comprehensive, and powerful game development environment out there. And it's about to get even better."

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GTA 5 screens: Racing, new protagonists showcased

PCGames.de has posted a batch of new Grand Theft Auto V screenshots.

Last week we gathered all the first GTA V details from Game Informer magazine in the US. Have a read for a breakdown on each of the three main characters, dynamic missions, and more.

Click for gallery mode

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Treyarch releases 'security and enforcement' policy for Black Ops II

With Call of Duty: Black Ops II releasing this week, Treyarch has released their 'Security and Enforcement' policy, which details conduct that will result in users being banned.

According to the document posted on the Black Ops II community forums, bans range from the temporary to the permanent, with a minor offense defined as something that causes no "quantifiable damage" to another user or the community, and permanent bans involving malicious damage to other players' experience or large scale organised damage to the community.

The policy takes into account modding and hacking, pirated content, unsupported peripheral devices and applications, boosting, glitching, offensive behavior and offensive emblems.

Read the full document here. Black Ops II releases November 13.

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3DS XL: Limited Edition white, Pokémon models dated

Nintendo has confirmed UK release dates for a number of upcoming limited edition 3DS XL models.

White 3DS XLs, one with Mario Kart 7 pre-installed and another with Super Mario 3D Land pre-installed, will launch on November 16 and November 30 respectively, with the former priced at ?199.99 at retailers including GAME.

Meanwhile, Pok?mon fans will be able to pick up a 3DS XL featuring an image of Pikachu on the system for ?179.99 from December 7.

None of the three systems will come bundled with an AC power adapter, but they are compatible with DSi, DSi XL or 3DS AC adapters, which can also be purchased separately.

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Scribblenaut Dev: no achievements for Wii U

Scribblenauts creative director and 5th Cell co-founder Jeremiah Slaczka has revealed that the Wii U will not have its own universal achievements system.

Posting on NeoGAF, Slaczka wrote that "there are no Wii U accomplishments that are system-wide".

He continued to write that Scribblenauts will have its own in-game achievement tracker in the form of 'Flobal Starite Shards'. These are "like a giant checklist of global things to spawn and do in the game that aren't area specific," he wrote.

Sony introduced its trophy achievements in a post-launch system update, so it's not unfeasible that Nintendo will have achievements down the track. For now though, it'll be up to individual developers to create their own.

View the original article here

Black Ops 2 stats won't be reset at launch

Treyarch doesn't intend to reset Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 stats when the game officially launches at 12:01am tomorrow morning.

Game design director David Vonderhaar confirmed on Twitter that players who legitimately obtained copies of the game ahead of the official Black Ops 2 release date of November 13 won't be penalised for playing early.

He said (via MP1st): "FAQ. Will people be reset? A. Unless you are a bad person doing bad things, no.

"Enjoy the game," he added. "Services will be spotty as we prepare for the official launch," adding that "it's a rolling start. Expect bounces the new few days as we bring up extra services."

Vonderhaar also urged players to read the Black Ops 2 Security/Enforcement policy, which outlines what players will and won't be banned for doing.

View the original article here

Final Fantasy XIV trailer: Witness the end of an era

Square Enix has released a new trailer for Final Fantasy XIV: A Real Reborn.

It shows the Eorzean Alliance clashing blades and magic with the Garlean Empire.

A Realm Reborn is a comprehensive re-release of FFXIV which incorporates a new visual engine, gameplay mechanics and systems, fresh maps and more.

On November 11 a story event led to the final closure of all the worlds in the game. Current Final Fantasy XIV account holders have been invited to participate in the alpha test of A Realm Reborn.

Watch the cinematic below:

All of

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Black Ops 2: The ultimate midnight launch price round-up

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 mere hours away from its official release many of you will no doubt be planning your launch evening shenanigans.

Whether you're aiming to play it all night and pull a sicky tomorrow, or just want to hang out with like-minded CoD lovers, we've got you covered with all the information you'll need to make it happen.

HMV is holding the official Black Ops 2 London launch at its flagship Oxford Street branch. The event begins at 10pm tonight, with signings, multiplayer tournaments and other competitions keeping attendees busy until the game officially goes on sale at 12:01am on Tuesday morning.

Attendees will be treated to a "zombie bus stop featuring exciting props from the game as well as an in store Zombie invasion", and will also receive a "collectible goody bag" too.

Tesco will be opening 600 for the release of Black Ops 2, with 150 extending their opening hours for the release, making this the supermarket's biggest ever midnight launch event. Fans that head to Tesco's flagship Extra store at Cheshunt this evening will be able to get a sneak preview of the full game up to two hours before the official midnight launch. They'll also be able to take part in a competition with a host of prizes up for grabs. Tesco's other top one hundred stores will also be offering a chance to win special goodies bags.

GAME will be opening 319 of its stores for the release. Customers who buy Black Ops 2 and any piece of GAME exclusive Black Ops 2 merchandise will get ?5 worth of Reward Points.

Employees at the retailer's Westfield Stratford, Shepherd's Bush and Birmingham Bull Ring stores will be outfitted in full army gear, and to protect the stores against enemy fire, they will be camouflaged. The first 25 people in the line in London will receive goody bags.

I'm fighting proxy wars for the United States.I have explosive diarrhea.Cyber-attacks have crippled the Chinese stock exchange and I need to fix itA buffalo escaped from the the local zoo and found its way to my house, it keeps charging at me every time I try to go for my door.My strike team needs to *REDACTED* so we can kill *REDACTED* to save the *REDACTED*My refrigerator has fallen on me and I'm stuck .My false flag operation is taking longer than expected.My dog is having a nervous breakdown.MY COUNTRY NEEDS ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!My toe is stuck in the faucet.Some idiot bet me I can't force a towel down his throat. Trust me, I can, all the way. I hold onto one little bit at the end. When the stomach starts to digest it, I pull it out, taking your stomach lining with it. It's a lengthy process and I need to prove this fool wrong.My sobriety tool won't let the car start.My heart, it's broken.I watched The Hunger Games and now I'm really upset, I can't come in.The end of the world is imminent, I need a couple of days off to come to terms with this.I won't be able to make it into work today. I am so sick of hearing about Black Ops 2 that's it's rendered me bedridden - Richard DanielsMy goldfish ate my keys so I am trapped in my house until he does a number 2 -Dean SwainZombies at the lobby. Get out everyone while you still can -Shaikh SiddikyI shall not patronise you with an unnecessary explanation for my absence. Black Ops 2 is out. That is all. -JDLWLI'm getting over a bad BREAK-up. *Whisper* Modern Warfare 3 -Codeblue94I can't make it into work today I'm playing black ops 2 and quite frankly would rather do this than work for you. -WillyStyle65I've taken a ballistic knife to the knee -Doc_syn

If you have burning questions about the game, post them in our Black Ops 2 review Q&A thread and we'll bring you answers.

View the original article here

Treyarch release 'Security and Enforcement' policy for Black Ops II

With Call of Duty: Black Ops II releasing this week, Treyarch has released their 'Security and Enforcement' policy, which details conduct that will result in users being banned.

According to the document posted on the Black Ops II community forums, bans range from the temporary to the permanent, with a minor offense defined as something that causes no "quantifiable damage" to another user or the community, and permanent bans involving malicious damage to other players' experience or large scale organised damage to the community.

The policy takes into account modding and hacking, pirated content, unsupported peripheral devices and applications, boosting, glitching, offensive behavior and offensive emblems.

Read the full document here. Black Ops II releases November 13.

View the original article here

GTA V's huge map designed to 'accommodate flying'

Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar and co-writer of Grand Theft Auto 5, has said the immense size of Los Santos was necessary to accommodate flying.

Last week Houser was quoted as saying that GTA 5's world is bigger than Red Dead Redemption, San Andreas and GTA 4 combined.

Now Houser has told The Guardian that players will be doing a lot of flying in GTA 5 so it was important to the studio that there's plenty of airspace.

"We wanted to make a big place, as much as anything, to allow you to fly," he said. "A lot of the decisions, we're talking about them here on a philosophical level, but they're also practical decisions, too: we're making a game. You have to understand the medium.

"On an obvious level we wanted somewhere big so you can fly properly - we have a lot of missions that involve flying, in helicopters or whatever, it was logical. Also, Jet skis work better around LA than they would in New York.

"We're using the environment to let us have toys we couldn't have had otherwise," Houser added. "And equally, we're using the story and environment to introduce missions that can be more extreme. In some ways we wanted the game to have a larger-than-life Hollywood feel; the stories we heard in LA, we wanted to capture them in the game. If the place isn't informing what we're doing, we're not using it correctly."

For details on bank heists, dynamic missions and underwater gameplay read our GTA V full details story.

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Curiosity Uncovered: We discover what's in the cube

If you are viewing on a mobile device please scroll to the bottom and tap on 'View classic version' to see the latest updates

Here's a summary and analysis of the last few days' events, in which CVG associate editor Rob Crossley and I discuss 22cans' decision to accept donations, server issues and what's happening on the latest layer:

Less than five per cent left on this layer folks. Keep on tappin'

A new message on the cube reads: "Less that 13 per cent left on this layer."

Progress has been far slower on this layer compared to the others. Quick stats update while we're here:

There are 4,935,083 Cubelets remaining on the current layer, and 3,542 current users tapping away. On average, each user destroys 50 Cubelets per day.

In total, 853,968 people have played Curiosity, and have destroyed 296,612,653 Cubelets so far.

Interesting note from CVG reader Adam Panzer overnight:

"With regards to why people are not all seeing the same sides, I am pretty sure it is just an issue with the game servers causing not all images to load. My gf with me in NY, using her iphone, with AT&T has 4 cubes with pictures. My cousin in LA, using his iphone, with AT&T has 6 visible picture sides. I am using my iphone in NY with Verizon and can only see 2 pictures. I have way more coins than either of them. This rules out location, device, service provider and coins. Seems random. Thought maybe this was worth posting on your blog.

You're right, Mr Panzer. It is worth posting on the blog. He continues:

"Anyway, thanks for keeping so current with your blog. It's enabled the game to remain its social aspect despite the many, many server issues that have all but ruined the community aspect of the experiment."

Will be interesting to see if 22cans can clear this one up for us.

One CVG reader can see all six sides:

@cvg_uk I've got all 6 sides on my iPad, but only three on my android phone twitter.com/Mowlamania/sta...

— Simon Mowlam (@Mowlamania) November 11, 2012

Interesting to note the discrepancy between devices. If @Mowlamania is logged in through Facebook and therefore on the same account, then we can discount location and the number of coins accumulated as a factor in who sees which sides of the cube.

Or, or course, it could be completely random or just a bug. Will be interesting to see if 22cans clarify this at some point.

CVG readers are really helping to piece this one together. Last night we discovered that different people are seeing different sides of the cube. My iPad only shows two sides with pictures on them, but some readers can see up to as many as five:

@cvg_uk these are all the sides I have. Seems a lot of people are getting blank sides and not all the images. twitter.com/thealmeister1/...

— Alunjohn Jones (@thealmeister1) November 11, 2012

So we know that all six sides are oil painting-style pictures of fruit and other objects, but what we don't know is why people are only able to see a certain number of the pictures on the cube.

It could be a bug, of course, but equally 22cans might be showing different sides of the cube to different Curiosity players based on the device they are on, location, the number of coins they have, or some other criteria. Or it might be completely random. The plot thickens.

I am seeing this too:

@cvg_ukas I tap I can readHow doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail and pours the water of the Nile on every golden scale

— MarcheseM71 (@mattpascal71) November 11, 2012

It is a poem by Lewis Carroll which appears in Alice In Wonderland. Wikipedia says that this is the full poem:

How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail,

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale!

How cheerfully he seems to grin,

How neatly spreads his claws,

And welcomes little fishes in

With gently smiling jaws!

We're through the looking glass, readers.

A new(ish) message on the cube also directs Curiosity folks to search YouTube for 'The future belongs to the curious' to 'discover the inspiration' for the Curiosity project. This is the video you get:

The video is originally from skillshare.com, a 'global marketplace for classes' which allows its contributors to teach classes for a fee.

Seriously. WHAT:

@cvg_ukI can see four of the six sides to the next layer on my Droid Razr and my sister's iPhone can see only one.

— Tyler Hyliard (@TylerHyliard) November 11, 2012

Okay, more intrigue. WHAT:

@cvg_uk My #Curiosity has 3 sides, and only the "tomato" side is the same: twitter.com/NM_Jeff/status...

— NM Jeff (@NM_Jeff) November 11, 2012

A little break from all the intrigue:

So to find out what's in #curiosity cube it's RT LT LT RT UP UP R L RT LT DOWN DOWN and find the 64bit name of god. twitter.com/lanerobertlane...

— Robert Lane (@lanerobertlane) November 11, 2012

Okay, so it seems that perhaps Android users are seeing a different cube:

@cvg_uk my cube is on Android. You think it makes a difference? Could Androiders have their own cube? Are we behind iPeople?!

— Ross Keniston (@RossKenistonHuG) November 11, 2012

Again, this is NOT the cube I am seeing:

@cvg_uk don't know if it takes a while to kick in but this is all I can see as of right now. yfrog.com/kgi3hip

— Ross Keniston (@RossKenistonHuG) November 11, 2012

This is NOT the cube I am seeing:

Nearly there! Almost another side completed! #Curiosity twitter.com/Liaaaam_98/sta...

— Sheldor. (@Liaaaam_98) November 10, 2012

Erm, what?

@cvg_uk You have a diff #Curiosity cube to me. Only 1 picture for me, rest plain. twitter.com/TheEvilMummy/s...

— E M (@TheEvilMummy) November 10, 2012

Are you seeing a different cube to us? How many different cubes are there? Is this guy having us on?

Some highlights from today's Twitter action:

@22cans #curiosity yfrog.com/h7u6xduej

— The Doctor (@doctormoto) November 10, 2012

But my big smiley sun outshines them all; whoever's makin that line of squares is OCD - #Curiosity @pmolyneux @22cans twitpic.com/bc0zql

— snook (@snookstah) November 10, 2012

Aaaah

Lovely! RT @robinparrish: Even kids love tapping cubelets. Our whole family is curious about #Curiosity! @pmolyneux instagr.am/p/R2u6eRPgGV/

— 22Cans (@22Cans) November 10, 2012

Progress! This seems to be a pair of scissors(?):

And this one might be some tomatoes of something. Not sure:

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Batman and Dishonored art auctioned for charity

Concept art and visuals from leading game series like Dishonored and Batman: Arkham City are being auctioned off for charity.

Original artworks formed part of last month's London Games Art Exhibitionand are now being sold to the highest bidder in order to raise funds for the very worthy cause of SpecialEffect, the UK-based charity dedicated to helping disabled people enjoy video games.

Over a hundred pieces of original concept art were originally on display at City Hall including works from Mind Candy, Sports Interactive, Lionhead and Konami who participated as part of the Metal Gear Solid 25th anniversary celebrations.

The first auction starts today and will include Batman: Arkham City art, two Fable drawings signed by Peter Molyneux and other works from games such as Tomb Raider, Dishonored and Moshi Monsters.

A further three weekly auctions are planned between now and December 3rd and full details will become available on the London Games Art Web site, where you'll also be able to get a preview of some of the artworks up for grabs and of course plan your own bid for a very worthy cause.

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Bookies tip Black Ops 2 for Christmas No.1

Bookies Paddy Power and Ladbrokes have revealed their odds for this year's contenders for the UK Christmas No.1 chart spot.

Both firms told MCV they make Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 the favourite, ahead of FIFA 13 and the likes of New Super Mario Bros U, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Assassin's Creed 3 and Halo 4.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "It would be one of the upsets of the year if Black Ops didn't land the top spot this Christmas."

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim claimed the Christmas No.1 spot last year, marking the first time in eight years the Xmas top spot didn't go to an EA or Activision game.

Paddy Power odds:

1/20 - Call Of Duty: Black Ops II8/1 - FIFA 1320/1 - Medal of Honour: Warfighter28/1 - Borderlands 233/1 - World Of Warcraft: Mists Of Pandaria33/1 - Assassin's Creed III33/1 - New Super Mario Bros. ULadbrokes odds: 1/8 - Call of Duty: Black Ops II12/1 - New Super Mario Bros U14/1 - Halo 416/1 - Assasin Creed III16/1 - FIFA 1325/1 - LEGO Lord of the Rings25/1 - Hitman Absolution33/1 - Medal of Honor: Warfighter33/1 - WWE '1350/1 - Just Dance 450/1 - Football Manager 201350/1 - Need for Speed Most Wanted66/1 - Far Cry 3100/1 - Madden NFL 13100/1 - Forza Horizon100/1 - Diablo 3100/1 - Resident Evil 6100/1 - Dishonored

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Hands-On: Devil May Cry's first 2 hours leave a strong impression

'Demons aren't scary and Dante as we knew him just wasn't cool anymore,' Ninja Theory's creative director Tameem Antonaides tells us - in a more roundabout way. And he's right on both counts.

What made Devil May Cry special was that it brought everything great about action cinema, horror, fashion and music of that era to video games. As he so eloquently put it, the game "was like a cultural melting pot".

A lot has changed since its debut in 2001. Devil May Cry? Not so much. In a surprisingly astute move Capcom hit the big red button and signed up the Cambridge based developer of Heavenly Sword and Enslaved to bring it up to speed.

So what's scary now? What is 'cool' in the current day? Questions like these are what drive the radical reinvention of Devil May Cry. To make the waning franchise contemporary again Ninja Theory started from scratch, beginning by tearing down and rebuilding an icon.

Right from the outset of our hands-on it's clear the new Dante is all about raging against the machine, an attitude which his trusty sword 'Rebellion' served as the origin point of.

"We looked at all aspects of rebellion," Tameem tells us. "From the original Sex Pistols punk era in London - and what that meant - to different forms of rebellion going on all around the world: political rebellion, street art rebellion, music as a form of rebellion. We thought about what the rebel without a cause would look like now."

In redesigning Dante Ninja Theory ditched the anime influence and took its cues from modern Hollywood heroes instead. It traded the piecemeal flamboyant fashion of Japan for the downtrodden, too-cool-for-school look prevalent in the English punk rock era.

"We thought about what the rebel without a cause would look like now"

Ninja Theory's re-imagining is anything but a superficial makeover though, the studio has comprehensively deconstructed and reconstructed Dante, rationalising every change and idea to build a character that's cohesive in terms visual design and attitude.

"We went back to Dante's childhood and started to make a story about him. We had big discussions about what his favourite drink is, where he grew up, what happened to him when he was four or five. We imagined what he'd be like as a runaway escaping the violence around him, and being at the lowest rung of society. What makes him a brash asshole? There's got to be a reason he's cocky."

Dante has never exactly been prim and proper, but at the same time we can't say we've seen him wile out quite as hard as he does in the opening moments of DmC. Mission one begins with a blur of writhing ladies, flowing alcohol and implied sexual mischief that ultimately climaxes with a butt-naked teenager nursing a hangover and holding a 'Call me' note.

As Dante seemingly struggles to recall his night of debauchery in his pier-front trailer, an obnoxious TV news anchor brands a mysterious masked leader of 'The Order' a terrorist. A swig of whiskey straight from the bottle later and the almost-a-man about town is crotch to face with a girl who begins shouting about "leaving a trail for the Hunter demon" and doing her best to not stare directly at his junk.

The Hunter demon emerges from the sea moments later and proceeds to cut Dante's quaint little trailer in half, giving him the perfect opportunity to dive through it in slow-motion and dress himself. Don't worry; his package is obscured by a slice of floating pizza.

Much of the action in DmC takes place in Limbo, a parallel reality super-positioned over the real world. Limbo allows Ninja Theory to ground the game in an almost-believable modern setting, but also keep a foot firmly planted in the fantastical realm of demons and devils, where the studio's artists can thrive.

"A lot of time was spent making the game feel like it has a grounded nature to it," explains Stuart Adcock, technical art director at the studio. "There's a believable kind of story that goes on in the human realm. But as soon as we came up with the concept of Limbo, suddenly we were able to put what we do best into the game.

"We didn't want to go to a crazy level because we appreciated that it has a story that's grounded, based in a city that's believable, but in Limbo we definitely wanted to make it more fantastical."

Describing Limbo is one the few occasions we feel comfortable using the old "leaving, breathing world" clich?; because since it was constructed as if it were a living organism, it's apt.

"On Enslaved we had a lot of vegetation, so when we thought about a city environment we looked at it as if the outside walls were a shell that serves no purpose," Adcock continues. "In Limbo they don't need houses but it's there because it's a parallel world, but behind all that is blood that you'll see oozing out of places. Rocks are visualised as the bones behind the facade. We were thinking of it as a weird character in itself."

"In Limbo we definitely wanted to make it more fantastical"

Limbo is tangibly antagonistic and exudes killing intent. Dante is treated like an invading parasite; his presence is met with the utmost hostility. The idea for what the developer calls 'Malice' was born from a request to find a reason for the 'Demon Doors', which were in the original series to trap players in a room until the enemies were cleared out or a puzzle was solved.

The studio's response was that the world is alive, and not keen on you being in it. Along with cornering you and dumping enemies on you, Limbo belittles you at every given opportunity, it tears and twists itself to stop you from progressing; the ground crumbles away at your feet, rooms fold in on themselves and what's familiar becomes deadly.

Ninja Theory's answer to that other question, 'what's scary now?', is manipulation and subversion. The thinking goes that since we've all got a pretty solid game plan for the inevitable zombie apocalypse and vampires are busy pining over dead-eyed broads, our idea of 'evil' is now the unseen puppet masters subjugating us from the shadows.

Returning arch-baddie Mundus does just that under the guise of 'Kyle Rider', a man presented by the media - which he controls - as a saviour and philanthropist. In reality he's tightening his demon death grip on the world through propaganda, debt and a tasty but totally spiked soft drink that keeps the populous oblivious to his machinations. Think Bilderberg, except with sharper teeth and longer fingernails.

Dante's efforts to bring down the Hunter takes him traipsing through a demon addled fairground. Pulled into Limbo the area's duller palette erupts into a rainbow of nauseatingly bright colours. Together with pulsing attraction lights the area becomes a kind of hell for someone coming off an all-night bender. Meanwhile attractions like a mini Ferris wheel are possessed and spin wildly out of control, inviting the player to make the silly mistake of jumping.

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Dreamfall: The Longest Journey sequel announced

Funcom has announced it has started pre-production a sequel to Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.

Titled 'Dreamfall Chapters', the sequel is being developed at Red Thread Games, a new studio founded by Ragnar T?rnquist, the creator of The Longest Journey.

According to a post on Funcom's website "Red Thread Games has licensed the rights to The Longest Journey universe from Funcom, and Tornquist will head-up development of Dreamfall Chapters, while serving in an advisory capacity on The Secret World

"I'm very excited to finally have the opportunity to continue the 'The Longest Journey' saga," said Tornquist. "Ever since we ended 'Dreamfall' on a nail-biting cliffhanger, players have been rightfully demanding a sequel, and my deal with Funcom will finally make that possible.

"I'm extremely grateful to Funcom for this unique and exciting opportunity, and I can't wait to dive back into the universe I helped create more than a decade ago, and continue the story players have been waiting for these past six years."

Red Thread Games has promised more details on Dreamfall Chapters in the coming months.

In August Funcom refocused on smaller games following disappointing early sales of The Secret World.

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Halo 4 review round-up: 343 deemed worthy of Bungie's legacy

Posted on Thursday 1st Nov 2012 at 7:32 AM UTC

Our Halo 4 review describes 343's debut Halo entry as "One of the best multiplayer shooters on 360," adding, " but Reach has the better Firefight and Halo 3 has the better campaign."

Other reviews have also gone live, and as always we've rounded them up and presented them for you below.

CVG: 8.0 - "343 did the best job anyone could have done with those graphics on this generation of hardware but given the choice between pretty or huge, Halo should always be the biggest game in the world."Eurogamer: 8 - "Halo 4 is authentic, and assures 343's role is more than a mere tribute act. Their delicate yet sprawling work may be more continuation than true expansion - and perhaps the true test comes in the next step - but for now, Halo returns with a bang, not a whimper."IGN: 9.8 - "Halo has been rebuilt. It has been redefined. And it has been reinvigorated. The Xbox's original king has returned to his rightful place on the throne."Gamespot: 9.0 - (Video)Joystiq: 5/5 - "Our doubt and questioning of Halo's continued existence has, in some small way, helped deliver one of the best games in the series and one of the finest shooters in years. Of course, if we want to use this tactic for the next one we'd better start now."Kotaku: Yes - "As afraid as you may be of Bungie passing the torch to a new development team to handle a franchise that has the foundation of years of quality behind it, I strongly urge you to keep an open mind for Halo 4, because you just may enjoy it as much as I did. "The Mirror: 5/5 - "Halo 4 is recognisably a post-Modern Warfare shooter in the sense that it has grit under its fingernails and a hint of darkness in its heart but it still fundamentally looks, feels and plays exactly like a Halo game should. Think of it as as Combat Evolved evolved."Polygon: 9.5 - "Halo is in new hands with 343i, but the studio nailed exactly why the series became a genre-defining franchise. And it's exciting to think about where it goes from here."ShopTo: No score - "Halo 4 is a massive, high budget title which will more than appease fans of the series. It's a great start to 343 Industries 'Reclaimer Trilogy' and a fantastic sign of what is to come. If this developer can break free of Bungie's legacy then the future of Halo is looking very bright indeed. "Strategy Informer: 8.5 - "Despite this instalment's shortcomings, 343 have got plenty of time to find their feet and take the series to new and greater heights."Videogamer: 9 - "One fact is clear: this is no longer Bungie's Halo, but much of what made the series such an irresistible proposition has remained intact for this new beginning. Rich, lavish and often spectacular, Halo 4 is an encouraging first effort from 343 Industries and a deserving entry into one of gaming's most beloved franchises."Digital Spy: 4/5 - "Despite the risk of handing the reins to a new studio, 343 Industries has done good with such a revered franchise, by not only respecting and retaining the essence of what makes it unique, but also by having the will to take it forward in some smart and satisfying ways."Giant Bomb: 4/5 - "The developers have executed quite well, developing a Halo game that gets that Halo feel down nicely while also playing around with the periphery of the experience in an attempt to modernize things a bit. Some of those new ideas work better than others, but if there's any actual issue with Halo 4 it's that the game plays it a little too safe. "Destructoid: 10 - "343 Industries have done a remarkable job at continuing the Halo legacy. They've gone all out, creating a fantastic sequel that brought forth a major focus on storytelling while upping the visual and audio direction to a level that will be tough for anyone to rival with these few remaining years of the current console generation."

The Essex-born copy machine boasts an undying love for all things gaming, Jack Bauer and KFC-flavoured, while his knowledge of the Boleyn Ground fares well with the industry's West Ham cartel. Read more

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Assassin's Creed 3 ending analysis: What does it all mean?

So you've finished Assassin's Creed 3. Confused? We don't blame you. The series' mythology is a dense, complex beast, and even though a lot is revealed in the finale, it still leaves us with many lingering questions.

It's pretty obvious that this is the end of the trilogy, but it's not like Ubisoft are going to just drop their most lucrative franchise. Assassin's Creed will almost certainly return, and the ending of the latest game gives us some pretty big clues about the direction the next one will take.

First, let's recap. After retrieving the amulet buried by Connor, Desmond unlocks the Grand Temple's inner chamber. Juno appears and tells him that she knows a way to save the world from the incoming solar flare, but at a cost. He has to die, and she will be reborn in the physical world. Minerva warns Desmond that freeing her will have dire consequences.

Further reading: Review Q&A | Assassin's Creed 3 guide | 360 vs PS3 video comparison | Assassin's Creed 3 review | Assassin's Creed 3 Liberation review

Juno, as it turns out, is the real villain of the Assassin's Creed series. She's been locked away in the Grand Temple for thousands of years, secretly manipulating human history to lead Desmond Miles to her. Before they were wiped out, Juno's people interbred with humans - who were more likely to survive the solar flare because of their greater numbers. This allowed the First Civilization's DNA to live on, and Desmond, who has these genes, is the key to her release.

So Desmond has two choices. The first is to allow the solar flare to engulf the planet, then rebuild society with the survivors. The second is to liberate Juno and save it now, but at the risk of humanity being enslaved by her. Desmond reluctantly goes for option two, perhaps thinking that if he saves the planet now, the remaining Assassins will be able to stop her.

He activates the device containing Juno and is seemingly killed in the process. "It is done," she says, materialising next to his lifeless body. "The world is saved. You played your part well, Desmond. But now... now it's time that I played mine." She steps forward in the direction of the temple entrance, and the credits roll. But what does it all mean?

Juno being released is potentially very bad news for Earth. We know from previous games that human beings were used as slaves by the First Civilization. In Subject 16's video, The Truth, we see a figure in similar garb to Juno and Minerva using an Apple of Eden to control a workforce of humans. So they obviously don't think much of us (except, perhaps, Minerva), and Juno may see her newfound freedom as a way to subjugate humanity once more.

So the next Assassin's Creed game will almost certainly be about the Assassins trying to stop Juno. But will Vidic and the Templars join them, or will they side with her? Exactly how they'll defeat her remains to be seen. Ubisoft Montreal are fond of MacGuffins, so it may be the case that there's some ancient technology buried somewhere that'll stop her.

Desmond unlocking the Grand Temple on December 21, moments before the solar flare, was all part of Juno's plan. If the Assassins had arrived earlier, they may have found a way to save the planet without freeing Juno. But with only minutes to decide, it was their only real option to save humanity. If Desmond had gone for the other option, Earth would have been reduced to ashes; a wasteland, almost entirely devoid of life. Billions of people would have died.

So he bit the bullet and freed Juno, the lesser of two evils. The irony is that the Assassins devote their lives to preserving free will, but in the end they're forced to make a choice that's more in line with Templar thinking. Did Desmond make a mistake? That all depends on whether they can defeat Juno. With him dead, the Assassins will have to find another subject whose ancestors hold the key to humanity's salvation: the perfect opportunity to introduce a new hero.

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EA responds to Watchdog FIFA 13 report

EA has released a lengthy statement in response to a FIFA 13 segment aired on BBC One consumer rights show Watchdog yesterday evening.

The statement addressed reports of problems with the record breaking footy game, including occurrences of invisible footballs, paid for players disappearing in Ultimate Team mode, and reoccurring game crashes.

EA pointed out that the game "goes through a rigorous, year-long testing process that logs thousands upon thousands of hours of evaluation to ensure a high quality experience at launch and all season long".

Among other things, the publisher said in its response to Watchdog:

In summary, we have already delivered improvements to FIFA 13 to address issues in online connectivity, addressed key issues in game modes like Career Mode and FIFA Ultimate Team, and are actively addressing customer issues related to transactions in the game that have not been executed properly, such as missing coins or FIFA Ultimate Team items. Since we released a major update to the game on October 19, we've seen reported game crashes and other issues drop by more than half.

We have received reports from our fans of rare occurrences where the ball in the game does not appear. Our team continues to investigate these rare events and we will communicate directly with our fans once we have more information.

Our commitment is to not only address issues and necessary fixes to improve the FIFA experience as quickly and effectively as possible, but deliver new services and new content all season long. The process of improving the game experience for our fans is a constant one, and our team continues to work on additional improvements that we will implement and communicate in the coming days and weeks ahead. We know that we have significantly improved the FIFA experience for our fans in recent days, and we fully expect that to continue as we develop and implement additional improvements and fixes.

We understand that some fans may wonder why we can't fix all the known issues at once. That's a fair question and the answer isn't quite as simple. We are delivering improvements and fixes in such a way to ensure the millions of people playing FIFA 13 do not experience undue or overly lengthy network/server outages, that title updates and other improvements are done to a high quality, and that we're confident the changes will improve the FIFA 13 experience for everyone.

We look at all enquiries an individual basis and are investigating the two cases you have brought to our attention, and will be in contact with them directly. Once again, thank you for the opportunity to provide this above information, and we welcome Watchdog to come over to the studio in Vancouver to see all the processes and procedures in place to ensure we're delivering the best game possible for consumers. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any clarification.

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