Weekly News Round Up: Part Duex

Been away recently. Up north. Manchester area. Seeing...people. It's a nice city. A pretty good thing they've got going up there. They have nicely coloured bricks. A good shade too - indeed. 

It's been over two weeks I wasn't able to post much with regards to news and games so this is me catching up. 

Gaming - 

[1-Mar-2013]
Role up, role up! Tickets for the 'Eurogamer Expo 2013' went on sale today! Couldn't go last year because you were in Japan (but went to TGS) - go this year! I think I will thanks. 

- Tickets for Eurogamer Expo 2013 on sale now

Here's a story that everyone can relate too. Poor parents have been taken advantage of by their no-good, calculating and manipulative son, Danny. Unassuming and innocent, he plays 'Zombies vs. Ninjas' and racks up a £1,700 bill through micro-transactions. To top it off Apple refused to give a refund - initially. Dastardly 5 year old. 

- iTunes refund after Bristol boy's £1,700 spending spree 
- Parents refused refund by Apple after son spends £1700 on free iPad game

Brace yourselves Playstation 3 owners. The PSN is scheduled to go down for  an 11 hour maintenance come March 4th.

- PSN to Go Down for 11 Hour Maintenance on Monday, March 4th - Be Sure to Sign in Before to Play Online


[28-Feb-2013]
Still reeling from last weeks explosively- explosive- mind blowing- life changing- star exploding Sony press conference? Couldn't get enough of the unrevealed PS4? 

They had us salivating over the confirmation of hardware specifications, the theoretical social and gaming possibilities that are yet to be confirmed - and I don't know anyone who wasn't talking about content. 

Want to see exclusive images of what the new console looks like? Here are some HD photo's of the PS4 UI. Just look at that content! 

- PlayStation 4 interface shown off in HD screenshots

And here's a reaction:

- Daily Reaction: Sony Retires the XMB, Unleashes the PS4 UI

Assassin's Creed fans, prepare your spare pair of underwear. Earlier this week news surfaced about the IV instalment with information regarding a new Assassin named 'Edward Kenway', and a new pirate based setting . More importantly there are... screen shots (sploosh) and... a release date (sploosh again!). Now dry yourself off.

- First screenshot of 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag' surfaces (Photos)
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag dated, next-gen versions confirmed, more
- Assassin’s Creed IV countdown begins, trailer confirmed for Monday
- World Premier Trailer

[27-Feb-2013]

A writer called SchollA over at consolecontrollus.com believes they have stumbled across an "genius" marketing method from the chaps at Naughty Dog. The gist - we were initially led to believe that 'The Last of Us' was a Zombie apocalypse game. However, as we approach the launch date they have performed a shuffle of sorts, and are now focusing heavily on the character stories, meaning... it's not a Zombie apocalypse. *GASP*

- Genius…Did you notice it? Naughty Dog, I see what you’re doing with The Last of Us

Film and Television -

Thought the dreadful 'Twilight' saga, with its mushy and completely nonsensical story, nay world, would finally be burned so it couldn't rise again. Yeah so did I. It brings me no pleasure to inform you that The Weinstein Company have chosen to cash in on the many impressionable youths, and taken it upon themselves to keep this crappy style of story telling alive. Yay.

- The Weinstein Company Takes Its First Young Adult Franchise: Vampire Academy

A genuinely interesting article here. No sarcasm, no biting remarks, just a decent insight into some possible reasons that the mediums of Film and Video Games don't marry/cross over so well.

- Digital Gap: Why Aren't Moviemakers Learning Narrative From Videogames and the Web?

Like the 'Game of Thrones' series (books or tv)? Like 'X-men' (comics, films or games)? Then you too should be happy to hear that Peter Dinklage has signed up for the new X-men movie! Whoot! Sadly, so has Halle Berry.

- Peter Dinklage signs up for X-Men film

Celebrities - 

Now I know there are people out there who will defend this man until their blue in the face, but I'm not one of them. In fact I don't think much of Chris Brown in general - past criminal acts aside. No - my biggest gripe against this guy is his unadulterated lack of talent and his general childish attitude. Okay that's two. So in my opinion he had this coming and it couldn't of come from a more talented, beautiful, successful individual.

- Adele caught on camera shouting at Chris Brown at Grammys