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The Indie Game Show with DJs Digmbot and PredictedCyborg Sunday night, 6pm til 9pm GMT, 1pm til 4pm EST.
On the Indie Game Show this Sunday…
Smudged Cat Games!
Recently having released their previously Xbox 360-based game Growing Pains onto Steam, we’re joined by them to discuss it, their other games and other topics of interest for the Indie Game Show.
Remember to tune in so you can join in our Q and A session in the IRC!
Even though Steam has put a dampener on Steam Machine plans by announcing that SteamOS will be delayed to at least 2015 “to fix issues with the Steam Controller”, partners to the project are still continuing to design, prototype and demonstrate their own Steam Boxes ready for sale as soon as SteamOS officially launches. Taking the stage again to kick off today’s action for day two of COMPUTEX Taiwan, ASUS announced two new Steam Machines under it’s gaming-orientated brand, ASUS ROG.
While both machines may run SteamOS, the two ASUS ROG Steam Machines share very little in common when it comes to either size or features. We’ll start with the smaller machine first – the ASUS ROG GR8 (ten bucks says you’ll pronounce that like “great”) comes equipped with a Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti graphics card inside, but is incredibly slim – ASUS wouldn’t give the exact dimensions, but did state it took no more than “2.5 litres” of space on a desk. The device is also capable of supporting 4K HD output – though you’ll have to supply your own screen – and also supports Miracast, making it a plausible console alternative. ASUS claim the device’s size-to-power ratio is the best it’s ever made.
Meanwhile, the ROG G20 is not only bigger, but more powerful as well. While it keeps the Core i7 Processor of its smaller sibling, the G20 swaps the graphical chippery for the GeForce GTX 780 – truly a gaming machine. ASUS claims that because it uses a hidden airflow tunnel for cooling, it’s capable of “near silent” operation; and has supposedly measured it to emit just 25dB of noise while idle. We at Sanitarium.FM point out that an idling machine is always quieter than one actually being used for gaming, which is what SteamOS is primarily about, and the real test for how “quiet” a machine may be is in measuring its loudness during a hardcore gaming session. The hidden airflow tunnel does, however, result in a machine that has no visible exhaust system whatsoever, which is unusual for gaming-orientated computers. For that added touch of class, the G20 also has built-in lighting – and even here ASUS feel the need to show off, claiming that the lighting is capable of cycling through millions of colour shades. Really, ASUS? Millions?
ASUS have decided to withhold further details of both Steam Machines until Valve reveal their own Roadmap for Steam OS’ eventual launch, which as stated at the top of this article has suffered some delays. Additionally, as is typical of Computex reveals, ASUS are currently keeping mum on expected retail prices for the machines as well. We expect more details to appear alongside Valve’s next announcement.
An interview with the CEO and creative director of Big Red Button has shed a little light upon the reasoning behind the redesigns of four main characters in the Sonic universe for the new Sonic Boom franchise that is in development right now. Basically it was all about making the characters look older and more experienced while still maintaining their distinctive features so you could tell who they were. And the seemingly random wraps tie into that too.
“The wraps are there because it shows that the characters are not vain. They’re not so much concerned about their gear, like, for example, Dr. Eggman, who is more of the vain, militaristic-looking guy who wants to have all the pomp and pageantry of that outfit.” Bob Rafei said about the characters. He goes on to say that the design team took direction from the idea of football players and boxers with the wraps, in that the characters are doing it out of necessity because of their goal. “They’re just trying to do the thing that they need to do to get through to the action and then their goal.” The gear each character wears is meant to relate to their love of action and adventure, which can be seen in the handkerchief Sonic has donned or Tails’ goggles – both have a history of being adventurer gear.
The new designs were revealed over a month ago and the Internet instantly reacted to them, prompting waves of fanart and discussions over what the new games and TV series might lead to. Rafei sees the reaction as being a sign that they’re headed in the right direction.
“From my perspective, if there wasn’t such controversy, or potentially conversation about it, I should say, then we would not have been doing our job. As an independent developer who has been brought into the family to try something different, if it was seen as, ‘Oh, it looks like another Sonic title,’ then I think I would’ve failed Sega, personally.”
But at the same time, the team made sure they stayed in contact with Sonic Team to be sure that the re-designs weren’t going too far beyond what was needed. Rafei notes that some early designs were judged to be a step too far which set what he sees as a needed guideline for them to refine the new ideas. He also recognises that Sonic as a character has been around for a long time, and so they didn’t wish to mess with his distinctive and recognisable outline too much.
Whatever you might think of the new designs (I’m personally still a bit confused at Knuckles’) or the new character, Sticks, who was introduced a few days earlier, you can’t deny that Big Red Button are committed to pushing the boundaries for Sonic as a game’s franchise. Even if it is to be a separate continuity from the other Sonic game in development right now, it’s possible that Sonic Boom could be the shake-up that the series has needed for a few years.
Microsoft has announced its plans for Skype Translator, a new tool that aims to break down language barriers by translating spoken words during Skype video calls in real time.
Last week at the Code Conference in California, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Skype corporate vice president Gurdeep Pall demonstrated the feature publicly for the first time, via a conference call conducted between Pall speaking English in California and Diana Heinrichs speaking German in London. Though the translations were not always entirely accurate – many onlookers who understood German described them as “passable at best” – the near-real-time translation into a voice speaking the listener’s language impressed many. Microsoft state that Skype Translator “opens up so many possibilities to make meaningful connections in ways you never could before in education, diplomacy, multilingual families and in business”, and it’s easy to agree.
The company plan to release Skype Translator as a Beta for Windows 8-based devices later this year. Following successful testing, it’s believed the tool will later be offered as an update to existing Skype copies and support Windows 7, although nothing is confirmed beyond Microsoft’s reminder that Skype is “available across a number of devices and computing platforms”.
Crytek, the company behind the Crysis series has just announced Arena of Fate, a MOBA coming to console and PC this summer.
If you’re wondering, a MOBA is a multiplayer online battle arena – think League of Legends or DOTA 2. Arena of Fate is set to feature five-against-five battles and will see players controlling legendary heroes from history and fantasy”, including Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, Baron Münchhausen, Joan of Arc, Robin Hood and Little Red Riding Hood.”
Naturally, the game is powered by the CryEngine and is being developed by Crytek’s Sofia studio. As yet, it is unknown what consoles the game will be launched for, although is will be playable at E3 and more details are expected then. While you wait, check out the trailer below and leave us your thoughts on Crytek’s entry in to the MOBA battle in the comments below:
