Halo: Nightfall San Diego Comic Con 2014 Panel July 27, 2014

For those of you unable to attend this year’s SDCC, here’s a panel you might have missed. Microsoft and 343 Industries are preparing an all new Halo Miniseries to be released through the new Xbox Video service and SDCC attendees got an early look at it. Here’s a video of the entire Halo: Nightfall panel.

Halo: Nightfall is coming with Halo: The Master Chief Collection this November. It will also be released through the Xbox Video service.

Halo 2 Anniversary San Diego Comic Con Cinematic Trailer July 25, 2014

It’s been ten years since the release of my favorite game in the Halo franchise, Halo 2.  To celebrate its inclusion with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, the game is getting a complete face lift on par with the enhancements the first Halo game received for the Xbox 360 game, Halo: Anniversary in 2011.  Just how good is this game going to look?  Take a look at some of the game’s cinematics, redone by the people at Blur Studios.

It feels like 2004 all over again.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is coming November 2014 exclusively to the Xbox One.

The Last of Us: Remastered Photo Mode Trailer July 25, 2014

In anticipation for the release of The Last of Us: Remastered on the PS4 next week, Sony and Naughty Dog have released this trailer during San Diego Comic Con showing off the game’s new photo mode.  It’s a pretty detailed video which gives explicit instructions on how Photo Mode works, its limitations, and how you can use it to share your photos.

The Last of Us: Remastered is coming July 29th, 2014 exclusively to the Playstation 4.

Destiny Beta Open to All July 25, 2014

If you have been itching to enter the Destiny Beta Test for the past few days, I’m happy to report that you can.  Bungie has announced that the Destiny Beta Test is now available to download widely on all of its accepted platforms.  If you’ve got an Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3 or PS4, and a valid online account on your platform of choice, you can download the Destiny Beta right now and play it until the Beta Test concludes on July 27th.  Bungie has promised all players who participate in the Destiny Beta will get exclusive emblem in the full version of the game.

While you’re wait for the Beta to download, don’t forget to download the Destiny Companion on your SmartPhone to keep track of your player progress and game news during the beta test.  It’s available to download free of charge on iOS and Android platforms.

Destiny is coming September 2014 for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 4 and Playstation 3.

The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection Free on Origin Until July 31st, 2014 July 25, 2014

If you’ve got yourself an Origin account through EA or not, you might want to take a look at this deal.  EA is offering all Origin members a free digital copy of The Sims 2 Ultimate Edition.  That’s right, The Sims 2, and a ton of its expansions, are free right now.  I don’t know why EA has chosen to do this, while they do typically give games away as a part of their “On the House” program, this promotion is not part of that, EA is currently offering Peggle 2 through that promotion.

If you are an Origin customer, you can redeem the game free of charge simply by going to the “Redeem Product Code” option after logging into in the Origin launcher and inputting the Product Code: I-LOVE-THE-SIMS

If you are not an Origin Customer, you can download the Origin client free of charge here.  Setting up an account through the service is also free, and it will accept the CD Keys from many different EA games.

The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection will continue to be offered through this promotion until July 31st, 2014.

Destiny Beta Maintenance Finished Early, All Platforms Active July 22, 2014

Bungie has just announced they finished their scheduled maintenance for the Destiny Beta ahead of schedule and they are in the process of emailing all the Xbox One and Xbox 360 players who are participating in the Beta Test the download codes they need to play.

If you’re an Xbox One or Xbox 360 tester, go and check your emails right now. Just remember you will need a Hard Drive and Xbox Live Gold to play on the Xbox 360. PS3 and PS4 owners already participating can get back into the game right now!

Destiny is coming September 2014 to the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4 and PS3.

PS4 System Software Update 1.74 Released July 22, 2014

A required PS4 update was quietly pushed to the PSN today. System Update 1.74 says it “improves system software stability during certain functions” but does not specifically state what those specific functions are. I know I’ve been having some issues with Game Streaming recently so hopefully this update addresses that.

The update is out now and, like with other required updates, you MUST install it before the PS4 will allow you back on the Playstation Network.

Destiny Beta is Down for Maintenance July 21, 2014

Bungie has confirmed they have taken down the Destiny Beta for maintenance so PS3 and PS4 players won’t be able to access the game for the next few days.

Bungie plans to restore the Beta Test on July 23rd, when the Beta Test will officially start for Xbox 360 and Xbox One players. On that day, PS3 and PS4 players should be able to regain their access to the Destiny Beta until the testing period concludes on July 27th.

Destiny is coming September, 2014 to the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Club Nintendo Elite Status Awards Now Out July 17, 2014

Every year, Nintendo offers all Club Nintendo Members who have registered enough new game consoles, retail games and downloadable titles a special gift. The total amount of points you earned over the course of a calendar year (ending on July 15th) without deducting for any rewards redeemed earns you a status reward for that year. A total of 300 points in one year earns you Gold Status, and a total of 600 points in that same year upgrades Gold Status to Platinum Status.

In previous years, Nintendo would offer a physical gift you couldn’t get anywhere else. This year they’re offering a free game for download on the Nintendo eShop. While Nintendo is offering titles for both the Wii U and 3DS, this year you’ll only be able to pick one free title on one platform.

Platinum Members will be able to choose one game Club Nintendo is offering for either Platinum or Gold Status. Gold Members will only be able to redeem a game offered to Gold Status, and can’t redeem a game offered to Platinum Status Members.

The games available for download include titles on the Wii U or 3DS. Platinum members will be able to exclusively choose from titles like Game & Wario, Dr. Luigi, EarthBound, or NES Remix for the Wii U. 3DS titles included Dillion’s Rolling Western and Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move.

Gold members have a slightly smaller selection of titles to choose from. Titles on the Wii U include Virtual Console titles Kid Icarus, Zelda II: The Adventures of Link, and Super Mario Bros. Gold titles for the 3DS include Metroid, Donkey Kong 3, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins and Wario Land 2.

Happy downloading.

Bungie App Updated for Destiny Beta July 16, 2014

In anticipation of the start of the Destiny Beta Test tomorrow, the Official Bungie App has been updated and is now the Official Destiny Companion.

Originally released as a way for players to track their progress in Halo Reach and unlock some exclusive multiplayer content, the Bungie app has been a constant companion for me since it was released. Since Bungie split from Microsoft, the app has been a tool for browsing Bungie.net on a mobile device, but we have expected for some time that the app would be updated to an essential game companion once Destiny was close to release. In fact, one of the first preview videos for the game showed the developers using their mobile app to communicate in the game when not playing it.

You can download the Destiny Companion App from your SmartPhone’s App Store right now or if you already have the Bungie App installed, it will become the Destiny Companion after updating it to its latest version.

The Destiny Companion app is free of charge. You do not need to be a part of the Destiny Beta Test to use the app.

The Destiny Beta Test starts tomorrow on the PS3 and PS4. It is coming to the Xbox 360 and Xbox One on the 23rd.