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36 CommentsOrigin update embraces powerful PCs, tweaks interface, achievements and more
By Dave Tach on May 09, 2013 05.09.13
An update for Origin, Electronic Arts' digital distribution service, adds options for powerful computers, tweaks the interface, achievements and more, according to an update posted on the official website. Origin version 9.2.1 adds a new "multilauncher" for 64-bit systems that gives "additional options for taking advantage of your hardware when starting supported games." Origin's Application Settings menu has also been revamped, and users can now track achievements and the Origin Points they earn from playing Battlefield 3, Mass Effect 3, and Dead Space 3 on their profile page. Finally, those who broadcast their gameplay now have the option to automatically archive it. If you'd like to install the update for Windows PC or Mac now, you can sign up for the Origin beta program. Those...
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29 CommentsDeliberately diegetic: Dead Space's lead interface designer chronicles the UI's evolution at GDC
By Dave Tach on Mar 31, 2013 03.31.13
Clarke barely survived his latest encounter with a cabal of zombie-like enemies. There's no way to know what's around the next corner, and supplies are scarce. He uses the computer built into his space suit to check his status. A holographic projection appears in front of him, and Clarke cranes his neck as he cycles through his remaining ammo and supplies. When a player invokes the user interface in a Dead Space game, it appears within the game's world. The holographic projection of Clarke's supplies appears to the user on the other side of the TV or monitor just like it would to Clarke in the game. At a GDC 2013 panel, developer Dino Ignacio, Visceral Games' lead UI designer, explained Dead Space's design philosophy and chronicled its evolution throughout the series. Diegetic by...
Deals
11 CommentsOrigin's Player Appreciation Sale includes discounts on Dead Space 3, Crysis 3 and many more
By Dave Tach on Mar 19, 2013 03.19.13
Origin's Player Appreciation Sale is live, offering discounts on more than 200 games on EA's storefront over the next week, according to the sale's website. The discounts apply to downloads and packaged games available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC, Mac, Wii and Wii U. Front page deals include: Assassin's Creed 3 for $34.99 as a PC download (regularly $49.99) Battlefield 3 Premium Edition for $29.99 (regularly $59.99) Crysis 3 for $29.99 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and on Windows PC as a download or a physical copy (regularly $59.99) Darksiders 2 Deluxe Edition for $18 as a PC download (regularly $59.99) Dead Space 3 for $29.99 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and on Windows PC as a download or a physical copy (regularly $59.99) Hitman: Absolution for $15 as a PC...
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16 CommentsDead Space 3: Awakened DLC aims to heighten the horror on March 12
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Mar 07, 2013 03.07.13
Isaac Clarke is alone, moving through darkness and an even deeper silence. Seconds later the necromorph is on him, and in a blink it's gone. Stumbling, he moves forward around a corner into a room awash in candle light. Hanging from a doorway, strung up by its wrists in a mock crucifiction, is a bloody human corpse. Except this corpse's head and limbs have been removed and replaced with crudely sewn-on necromorph parts. The Unitologists are at it again in Dead Space 3's first piece of downloadable content, Awakened, dragging protagonist Isaac and his new-found partner Carver down again into the rabbit hole of necromorph worship.The pack, which adds several more hours of content to the game's main campaign, features both single and co-op play, new weapon parts and circuits and will be...
Deals
5 CommentsAll Dead Space games and Dead Space 3 DLC on sale at Origin
By Dave Tach on Mar 01, 2013 03.01.13
Origin's Everything Dead Space sale is underway, discounting PC and console games — including the recently released Dead Space 3 — and DLC between 30 and 50 percent until March 7. The sale includes the original Dead Space for $10 (regularly $19.99) as a Windows PC download, Dead Space 2 for $10 (regularly $19.99) for PC download, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and Dead Space 3 for $41.99 (regularly $59.99) as a PC download or physical copy and on consoles. PC DLC packs for the latest installment of Visceral Games' Necromorph-filled franchise are also on sale for $3.49 (regularly $4.99) each. You can check out the sale at Electronic Arts' Origin website. For more on Dead Space 3, you can read Polygon's review, watch a recent episode of Today I Played and listen to episode 45 of The...
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10 CommentsFrom Dead Space to Destiny: Joe Cross' Dead Space 3 concept art
By Dave Tach on Feb 23, 2013 02.23.13
Joe Cross' artistic influence is everywhere in Dead Space 3, and you don't have to look any further than his concept art to prove it. Working with Visceral Games, Cross coordinated with art directors and environment leads to paint the frozen landscapes and corridors, vehicles and characters that would set the visual tone for the recently released game. Cross shared some of that artwork with Polygon recently and told us about his journey from art school to working remotely to his current position in an office working on a highly anticipated upcoming title. Originally from the Bay Area, Cross graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he received a BFA in traditional illustration. He moved to Portland in 2002 and spent time working at Nike and teaching...
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10 CommentsUbisoft now selling third-party games on Uplay Shop and its own games on EA's Origin
By Samit Sarkar on Feb 19, 2013 02.19.13
Ubisoft is beginning a major expansion of its digital distribution presence today: The company is now selling games from other studios and publishers through the Uplay Shop, its online store, and has also begun selling its own games through Electronic Arts' competing service, Origin. Chris Early, Ubisoft's vice president of digital publishing, told Polygon in a recent phone interview that the simultaneous moves are being made with one principal goal: to give Uplay's 50 million users more options for buying and playing Ubisoft games. Ubisoft launched Uplay in late 2009 alongside Assassin's Creed 2. The main part of the service, Uplay Win, gives players reward points called Uplay Units for completing in-game actions; those points are then used to purchase digital bonus content such as...
Deals
9 CommentsDead Space 3 discounted 33 percent in Amazon Gold Box deal
By Emily Gera on Feb 19, 2013 02.19.13
Dead Space 3 is now available at 33 percent off as part of Amazon.com's Gold Box deal today, dropping from $59.99 to $39.99. The price drop refers to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and digital download versions of the game that saw a release this year. The discount will be available all day today until Feb. 20. Dead Space 3 received a 9.5 out of 10 from polygon, in a review that states: "Visceral avoided major deviations from the gameplay loop established by the previous games, instead choosing to refine those mechanics."
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32 CommentsDead Space 3 infinite resource mining is 'not a glitch,' says EA
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Feb 10, 2013 02.10.13
A Dead Space 3 mechanic that allows players to farm infinite resources otherwise available through microtransactions is no glitch, and Electronic Arts has no intention of changing it, GameFront reports. Following the game's release, speculation arose that resource farming could be considered stealing in light of the microtransactions. Players can loot infinite material from lockers, chests and enemies for crafting, rather than purchasing them. But according to EA PR rep Jino Talens, the game's microtransactions are entirely optional. "The resource-earning mechanic in Dead Space 3 is not a glitch," Talens said. "We have no plans to issue a patch to change this aspect of the game. We encourage players to explore the game and discover the areas where resources respawn for free. We've...
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30 CommentsDead Space 3's action was 'a necessary evil' says original Dead Space writer
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Feb 09, 2013 02.09.13
Dead Space 3's action-heavy gameplay was "a necessary evil in order to broaden the fan base," according to Antony Johnston, the award-winning writer of the original Dead Space. Speaking with NowGamer, Johnston said that expansion was always the plan. "I know the developers always wanted to go bigger, in terms of scope," Johnston said. "And I've mentioned before that the universe we created was huge, with lots of elements, which simply didn't make it into the first game. So to get that story told, to round out the universe, it was inevitable the settings and environments would open out a bit, become a bit more epic in scale." The alternative, Johnston said, was "pretty dull." "You'd just have the same game on a different ship each time," Johnston said. Johnston did not work Dead...
