Epic Games isn't presumptuous enough to draw up its ideal specs from the next PlayStation and Xbox, but it knows one thing: it wants more memory.

The tech and software firm has been very vocal in recent months about its desire for the industry's next-gen machines to match top-end PCs.

It was a point driven home by its astounding Samaritan demo at GDC in March, which showcased Unreal Engine 3's new DX-11-compatible capabilities. If you haven't seen it yet, we very much recommend you do so now.




When we asked Epic European boss Mike Gamble what the firm wanted from the next-gen, he told us: "Basically, Samaritan was our request to the hardware manufacturers - that's what we'd like to be able to do. Beyond that we don't really know anything."

Senior technical artist and level designer Alan Willard agreed, adding: "There's always that question, nobody has knowledge for sure until the manufacturers say 'here's our minimum specs'. We obviously have things that we'd very much like to see but until the major console manufacturers come out and say 'here's what we're thinking' we won't be able to make any concrete plans."

However, when asked how they'd feel about consoles that offer little more in the way of raw horsepower and more in other areas, like AI capabilities - as discussed by Ubisoft - both execs made it clear that there was one enhancement Epic would be petitioning for above all.

"I think our biggest request from any new console will always be more memory - more than anything else," Gamble told us.

Willard added: "Yep, that's something we lobbied for with the Xbox 360 and PS3. We talked to them and went: 'Hey, here's what we can do with this and here's what we can do with that. Give us more memory and we can do better.' That was a win for us and that is something that will always give us a bigger platform to work on."

PlayStation 3 contains 256 MB of XDR DRAM main memory and 256 MB of GDDR3 video memory, whilst Xbox 360 offers 512 MB of GDDR3 RAM.

When asked if there may come a stage in the future where gaming graphics could became 'too real', Willard said:

"It's to problematic to make something that's...well, nobody wants to go home, sit down and play their own life, I think that's one of the mistakes that a lot of people assume. You want it to look good, you don't want it to look real. Yes we want to make characters look really good but if you look at BioShock Infinite those characters look fantastic - Gears of War's characters look great. They're not photo-realistic, they're not meant to be. They're meant to be interesting, fun and great game content."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...s-more-memory/ ...

From team-xecuter.com:
[QUOTE]
As you all know (or should know), the AP2.5 challenges changed dramatically with the latest dashboard (not in the dae.bin either)

Over 140+ unique challenges were logged and that wasn’t even the end of it !

Anyway after speaking to C4 this morning, he told me that he has BO booting finally with yet another new firmware hack.

Early days yet, lots of testing needed. More news soon.

If you want the latest news updates, guides and info for firmware – join the OFFICIAL IRC channel #C4E !

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/...EyFrInETTT.php ...

Microsoft has set out its Xbox Live schedule for the next few weeks, with highlights including discounts on Mass Effect 2 DLC and a Games on Demand release for Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

As detailed on Major Nelson's blog, you can get 50 per cent off a selection of Mass Effect 2 add-ons between 26th July and 1st August.

The following week sees the price of changing you gamertag discounted from 800 Points to 560. Yes, you have to pay for the privilege.

EA's acclaimed NFS: Hot Pursuit can be downloaded from 26th July, with Shaun White Skateboarding among a number of other titles also heading for Games on Demand over the next fortnight.

Here's the full rundown of new content and special offers:

Xbox Live Arcade:

27th July: From Dust (1200 Points)
3rd August: Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (1200 Points)
Games on Demand:

26th July: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
26th July: Shaun White Skateboarding
2nd August: Record of Agarest War
2nd August: Pure Futbol
2nd August: World of Outlaws Sprint Cars
2nd August: Adrenalin Misfits
Game add-ons:

26th July: Dragon Age II: Legacy (800 Points)
28th July: Homefront: The Rock Map Pack (400 Points)
Deal of the week:

26th July to 1st August: Mass Effect 2 DLC - Lair of the Shadow: 280 Points (50 per cent off); Arrival: 400 Points (50 per cent off); Kasumi – Stolen Memory: 280 Points (50 per cent off)
2nd August to 8th August: Change your Gamertag - 560 Points (30 per cent off)
Sales and specials:

26th July: Microsoft Studios Sale game add-ons (up to 50 per cent off)
Avatar marketplace:

28th July: Peggle
28th July: Ancient Times
28th July: Jersey Shore
4th August: Rage
4th August: Warlords
Additional content:

28th July: Kinect Sparkler (240 Points)

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...e-dates-update ...

The "second generation" of Kinect games will show the technical leaps developers have made with Microsoft's motion sensor, according to Rare studio head Scott Henson.

"Kinect 2 is already here," he said at the Develop conference last week, according to Beefjack.

"The great [thing] with Kinect is it's all software," added Rare incubation software director Nick Burton. "Yeah, there's a sensor bar there, but everything is dealt with in software, which means we can continue to push it."

Burton said that improvements to Kinect motion tracking have allowed the studio to tackle sports like golf and darts in Kinect Sports: Season 2, both of which proved problematic when developing the original game.

In addition, he said the studio's "really pushing" voice control for its upcoming sequel. One example is a virtual caddy which recognises over 300 phrases, allowing you to perform actions like changing your club with your voice.

Speaking in March, Henson and Burton said Rare had only taken advantage of "10 to 15 percent" of Kinect's technical potential - and that the studio's going great guns to fully explore the "virtually limitless" possibilities afforded by the device.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ady-here-rare/ ...

The PS3 could catch or even overtake the global install base of the Xbox 360 in 2011, analysts have predicted.

While Microsoft’s machine remains the firm favourite of the pair in key territories such as the US, it’s a different story in other parts of the world. And it could be enough to swing the battle in Sony’ favour.

“The Xbox 360 does have a five per cent lead over the PS3 worldwide, a minimal difference,” EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich told IndustryGamers.

“The race is neck and neck. Additionally, if one looks at the total amount of sales through the first six months of 2011, the PS3 has sold about ten per cent more than the Xbox 360, worldwide, so the PS3 is definitely gaining ground.

“The PS3 is still incredibly successful and outselling its rivals overseas. In terms of the PS3's performance in North America, it is selling quite well and outperforming last year's sales. The problem is the Xbox 360, which has increased its velocity without the aid of any price cuts or redesigns over the last year.

“The Xbox 360's success is simply incredible. I won't lie, it has consistently beaten my models over the last few months – the folks at Microsoft remind me every month. The only reasoning that seems plausible is the Kinect or the strength of its software library has reached some sort of tipping point making the Xbox 360 an incredible value to consumers at its current price points.”

M2 Research’s Billy Pidgeon also admits to being surprised by the Xbox 360’s endurance in the US, but does have a surprising prediction should Microsoft choose to unveil its Xbox 360 successor in the coming weeks.

“I still think PS3 has potential to ramp up hardware sales performance based on a stronger first party software library and more affordable hardware, but PS3 got off to a very slow start due to high price and fewer first party software hits than the competition,” he said.

“Should Microsoft release a successor to Xbox 360 and shift the pipeline for hardcore games over to the new consoles, that would be a possible scenario by which PS3 could bypass Xbox 360's active installed base. This scenario would give PS3 the opportunity to soak up the hardcore sector.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/analy...box-360/082456 ...

Microsoft has revealed two new accessories designed to reinvigorate the designs first debuted with the original console back in 2005.

Firstly, the new Media Remote sports a very modern black styling in keeping with the Xbox 360 S that was released in 2010.

It includes the functions you’d expect of such a device – play/pause, fast forward and rewind as well as a power on and off button and volume controls. A new addition from the last design is the inclusion of a d-pad.

Also on the way is a new black Bluetooth Headset, which replaces the white version currently available alongside the standard wired headset. It’s compatible with all Bluetooth devices and will connect with Xbox 360 straight out of the box.

The Media Remote will retail for $19.99 in the US and the Headset $59.99. Both are due out in November.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/new-x...evealed/082472 ...

The usual suspects have taken a back seat on this week's UK Xbox 360 sales chart, making way for a few new games.

Leading the pack at No.1 is Call of Juarez: The Cartel, which is followed by Dungeons Siege 3, which moves up four spots to No.2.

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon makes debuts at No.3, ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, which climbed from No.10 to No.4.

Nestled in the middle of the pack at No.5 is Call of Duty: Black Ops, along with Dirt 3 at No.6.

Last week's No.1, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, falls to No.7, followed by UFC Personal Trainer, FIFA 11 and Brink.

GfK/Chart-Track Xbox 360 Top 10 (week ending July 23):

01. Call of Juarez: The Cartel (Ubisoft)
02. Dungeon Siege 3 (Square Enix)
03. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (Namco Bandai)
04. Harry Potter: The Deathly Hallows Part 2 (EA)
05. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
06. Dirt 3 (Codemasters)
07. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Activision)
08. UFC Fitness Trainer (EA)
09. FIFA 11 (EA)
10. Brink (Bethesda)

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...cartel-is-no1/ ...

Microsoft's 343 Industries has been working on Halo 4 for two years.

In a panel discussion at Comic-Con reported by GameSpot, Halo franchise boss Frank O'Connor said it was a relief to announce the 2012 Xbox 360 exclusive at E3 last month because the team has been working on it in "relative secrecy for a couple of years".

Halo's Covenant-beating hero will appear "changed" in Halo 4. And there's a story behind his new look – yet to be revealed.

Some time has passed since the events of Halo 3, when the Chief finished the fight. Halo 4 opens with him floating through space towards an alien planet. "A lot of things have changed in that intervening period," O'Connor has teased.

Halo 4, out late 2012, follows 343 Industries' upcoming original Halo re-make - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary - out 15th November.

Anniversary includes a similar mechanic to Halo 3: ODST's terminals and data pads. The mechanic will provide insight into Halo 4 and extra backstory, with nutty AI Guilty Spark the subject.

Meanwhile, the panel discussed the upcoming Halo novels. Halo: Grasslands, due out in October, is set between Halo 3 and Halo 4, a time when Master Chief is adrift in space.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-for-two-years ...

We know the US Army has already experimented with vibrating clothing, and soon it could be our turn. The trendy figure-hugger above is rigged with haptic actuators across the arms and torso, which respond when the wearer's body 'touches' virtual objects created via Microsoft's Kinect platform. The outfit's designers at the University of Aachen spent just a few hundred dollars on components, aside from the cost of the Kinect, so this might well have commercial potential. Click the source link if you're really keen to see a concept video -- although it doesn't consist of much beyond a German dude doing the Hey Macarena in his socks.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/k...eight-differe/ ...