The Kinect was in a way Microsoft’s answer to the Wii’s motion controls, a feature that captured the imagination of the gaming public back then in a way that not many saw coming. Now Microsoft have confirmed that the original version of the Kinect will stop being sold next year.

The Kinect is being taken off the shelves due to the introduction of the v2 Kinect released in October. The models saw updates to body tracking, greater depth fidelity, the addition of 1080p video and many other updates over the v1 Kinect. It also added updates and allowed for the creation and publication of Kinect-enabled apps for the Windows Store from outside developers.

“We know that your proven track record doing great things with the original technology will only get better with v2—the improvements in quality from the original Kinect for Windows sensor to the v2 device are truly immense,” Microsoft said in a statement. “And so, we’re cheered by the prospect of seeing all the amazing solutions you’ll create with this the new and improved Kinect for Windows.”

Microsoft will do its best to fulfill orders from customers who still need large numbers of the older model but have stopped producing new stock, which means once the stockpile is gone there will be no more sold.

The Kinect for Windows v2 model is available for $200 from Microsoft.

The new Unreal Engine 4 release has been made public today, release 4.6, bringing with it a whole bunch of improvements to the game engine.

Among the updates are additional lighting options and improvements to materials; network demo recording and playback support; new assets in the Unreal Marketplace and updates to animation workflows. The full list of improvements are as follows:

New to 4.6

• User Interface: Easily add 3D user interfaces using the new widget component; navigate between UI elements using a joystick; and localize games faster using font families and composite fonts.
• Lighting: Emissive materials can now directly illuminate surrounding objects, and precomputed lighting and shadows are now supported on foliage objects and instanced meshes!
• Demo Recording: Also known as Network Replay Capture, you can now save an “instant replay” of gameplay, stream it, and share it. Use time-warping to slow down or speed up the replay.
• Multiplayer: It’s now possible to host, discover, join and leave Steam and LAN online sessions using Blueprint scripting. No coding required!
• Animation: Play multiple animation montages on a skeletal mesh at once; utilize blended root motion from numerous animations; and enjoy even more control over animation with Blueprint scripting.
• Materials: Material complexity can be pushed even further with support for up to 128 unique textures per material, a huge bump up from 13. High-quality characters, layered terrain and such will benefit from this enhancement.
• Large Worlds: Build a single world up to 20 kilometers across! Make your play space as large as desired by connecting worlds via the World Composition feature.
• Mobile Preview: Preview exactly how scenes will look on mobile platforms without ever leaving the Unreal Editor.
• Web Widget: The new Web Browser UI Widget enables you to host and navigate web pages right inside your game.
• Performance: Stream sections of precomputed navigation data in or out of memory on the fly.
• Workflow: Packaging and cooking content from within the editor is now faster than ever! Loads of C++ optimizations, including simplified class declarations and the improved Cast() function, will benefit code-based projects.
• Learning: Check out new content example maps in the launcher’s Learn tab! Other new additions in this depot include resources for in-game analytics, source control, localization, and many documentation updates.

Marketplace additions

• Medieval Inn and Tavern by Ennelia Studio
• 3D Cloud Models by Quantum Theory Entertainment
• VFX Weather Pack by Thomas Harle
• Military Pack Part 1 by Manufactura K4
• Hand Painted Textures Pack by 3DFancy
• FX Alpha Textures by UETools
• 50+ Vector Particles by W3 Studios
• Space Shooter/Sim Music Loops Pack by Stephen Lu
• Ultimate Rocks by Ultimate Assets
• Ambient Sound FX Collection by Storm Bringer Studios

Back in the 1980, when computers were expensive, far more basic and far less capable, a number of computers that tried to keep everything simple gained cult followings. The landmark of these was the ZX Spectrum, a simple plug-in-to-your-TV affair which was inexpensive (for its time), but had a wide variety of uses and many additional options such as modems and printers. It also was easy to develop for thanks to its simple BASIC programming language, which caused it to turn a number of children, teenagers and adults working in their bedrooms overnight into game and software developers; and the ZX quickly gained a following in Britain as an early game console with classic home-grown hits such as Elite, R-Type and Manic Miner.

A 3D model of the ZX Vega Controller, which may not be the final design. Image courtesy IndieGoGo.

Flash forward to today, and now – thanks to efforts by Retro Computers – the Spectrum is being reintroduced to a modern audience. The Sinclair Spectrum Vega is an all-in-one controller and console that's styled after the original, but uses modern advancements to reduce the cost and streamline the design. While designed to look similar to the most well-known and iconic of the original Spectrum designs, with that classic rainbow motif in the corner, the Vega's design is focused solely on playing those classic Spectrum games of old, to the extent that the full QWERTY keypad of old has been simplified to just the five most commonly-used buttons – R, F, S, 1 and 2 – plus a brand new D-Pad for directional control and a dedicated "Reset" function.

Retro Computers – a startup backed by Sinclair Research, the company founded by ZX Spectrum inventor Sir Clive Sinclair – are pitching the new computer on IndieGoGo after successfully completing a prototype model of the device. The company are aiming for an initial production run of just 1,000 of the new devices, and are asking for £100,000 ($157,115 USD) to begin work; with pledges of £100 ($157 USD) or more bagging one of the first models. Retro Computers says it'll come with 1,000 games pre-installed and support additional Spectrum titles loaded from an SD card, plus further free games are planned to be added down the line.

[Via Technically Motivated]

The debate about paid for content for Youtube videos has been going on for a while now, either in the background or prominently depending on whose content you follow and consume (TotalBiscuit for example has been very vocal recently). Now one campaign has made the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK sit up and take notice.

Oreo has recently been getting UK-based vlogger Youtubers to take part in the “Oreo Lick Race” promotion, and a complaint was filed to the ASA by a BBC journalist when doubt was raised over whether the content could be seen as an advert or if it misled viewers into thinking it was just a normal video. The content creators involved include AmazingPhil, TomSka, Emma Blackery and PJ Ligouri and has since been banned in its current form by the ASA.

Mondelez, the combination of Kraft and Cadbury and the company who paid the Youtubers said that the videos were not supposed to be misleading. They had given a brief to each Youtuber, making it clear that they needed to make it clear that the videos were promotional. They were to say in the video that they were working with Oreo, had been paid for the content and were to include a disclaimer in the description box that the video was paid for.

However the ASA disagreed stating that the videos in question did not differ significantly enough from the content creators’ usual fare that it was clear they were promotional. They also state that end-of-video disclosure was not significant enough disclosure about the nature of this type of content.

“Because the statements did not fully establish the commercial intent of the videos, and because no disclosures were made before consumer engagement with the material, we concluded that the ads were not obviously identifiable as marketing communications,” the ASA concluded. “The ads must not appear again in their current form. We told Mondelez UK to ensure that future ads in this medium made their commercial intent clear prior to consumer engagement.”

From now on, UK-based video makers must make it clear that the content is promotional beyond all reasonable doubt – this goes for vloggers and also for those of us making gameplay content. Fail to disclose and the ASA say they will be getting involved.

If you are one of the millions of European WOW players, you may have heard of the new Warlords of Draenor expansion that dropped this week. Unfortunately, if you are one of the millions of European WOW players, you will also have experienced massive wait times that would test even the most experienced British queuer.

Alas, due to everyone wanting a piece of the action and DDOS attacks, my household has also fallen victim to the over-subscribed servers, with Lonesamurai twiddling his thumbs and clicking the ‘refresh’ button like it’s going out of style. In order to retain whatever sanity you may have left, I have put together a list of survival tactics, to be used in your time of need.

Step 1: Consider other Devices
Despite your undying need to explore Draenor, please be aware that other forms of entertainment exist and can be utilised to stave off the bloodlust. Halo for Xbox One has been a successful substitute for the Samurai of the house. Until he fell asleep with controller in-hand on the sofa, and that one time, mid-game when Xbox One decided to install an unwanted update. If one form of media is no longer enough, please consider turning on all electrical appliances in the house. TV, radio and even an alarm clock can trick your mind into believing you are amidst the most crowded raid your garrison has embarked upon.

Step 2: Other People
The thought of interacting with those outside the online world may be daunting, but persevere. You may discover a long-lost friend or spouse living in your home, and suddenly the source of that annoying background noise is explained. Mystery solved? Oh no, that list of chores is swiftly thrust in your face, and you can embark on a new adventure.
You may have also been fortunate enough to copulate with a member of the opposite sex. If so, chances dictate you are a parent, congratulations! Depending on the age of your offspring, they can be an infinite source of entertainment. From the small drunk person known as a toddler, to the stroppy teenager, a few choice words or a laser pointer will become your door to a new world of time-wasting. (These methods could also be employed in Step 3.) Who knew there was a world away from your desk?

This man does

Step 3: Escape to the Zoo
For whatever reason, you may discover aforementioned friend or spouse has left for greener pastures. Do not despair! Many humans share their private spaces with furry, scaled and hairy animal friends. Play can be a great bonding exercise for them and you, expanding your horizons and making you feel like the pack leader. (Unless you own a cat-then you are definitely the bitch in that relationship, believe me, I know). If your animal companion no longer functions or harbours a hatred towards you (again, I’m looking at cat owners), stuffed animals can also be a friendly alternative. Just be aware of open windows when you “do their voices”. Doctors can be really concerned about that sort of thing.

Step 4: Sustenance
Your main diet over the last few years is likely to consist of Doritos, chocolate, beer and Mountain Dew. Whilst these foods provide much needed vitamins and minerals, it may interest you to know that other flavours are available. For instance, right now, a wonderful creation known as ‘ice-cream’ may be lurking in the back of the freezer (above the big box that beer lives in). You could also try dusting off the old telephone and getting back in touch with your local take-away establishments. They will be pleased to hear from you, even though they thought you had died and sent pizza to your mother, in memory of their favourite customer.

Step 5: Porn
If you need instructions for this, you are too young to be on the interwebs.

Step 6: Acceptance
If none of the above have been successful, or you realise you are too morbidly obese to leave the desk, there is one fool proof method to pass the time. It is recommended this is used as only a last resort as you will look like a baby, and once it starts, you may be unable to stop;

By Scarlet Dragon