Pininfarina Concept Teased Ahead Of 2016 Geneva Motor Show

A teaser for the concept was released recently but reveals little of the actual car.

Teaser for Pininfarina concept car debuting at 2016 Geneva Motor Show

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Italian design and engineering firm Pininfarina will present its first concept under the ownership of Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindraat next month’s 2016 Geneva Motor Show.

A teaser for the concept was released recently but reveals little of the actual car. The teaser likely depicts part of the car’s nose as seen from above.

ALSO SEE: 2016 McLaren 650S GT3 Revealed Ahead Of Geneva Motor Show

In a statement, Pininfarina described the car as “exciting,” “innovative” and a “technological jewel.”

Pininfarina has used the Geneva show in the past to unveil striking concepts meant to showcase the design firm’s talents to potential customers rather than preview production-bound models. Recall, Mahindra is allowing Pininfarina to remain independent so that outside firms will still be able to contract it for work.

In the past, Pininfarina has brought concepts like the Cambiano and Sintesi to Geneva. More recently, the firm showed off the Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] 458 Spider-based Sergio, which managed to spawn a small production run for some well-heeled collectors.

We’ll have all the details soon as the Geneva Motor Show gets underway March 1. In the meantime, learn about some of the other vehicles set for the Swiss show by visiting our dedicated hub.

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E3 2015: ‘Fallout 4’ Pre-Bomb Life, Character Creation, Dog Companion Detailed

Bethesda promised to deliver new information and footage of many of their titles during their pre- E3 2015 conference.

conference. While there were many exciting things to enjoy, it’s quite likely that Fallout 4 is what the majority of audience members and streamers were eager to see a peek of.

Bethesda didn’t disappoint, offering a great deal of detailed information on what had previously been only hinted at in theteaser trailer. While Bethesda is keeping Fallout 4 ‘s storyunder wraps for now, they’ve given gamers an idea of what they can expect from the beginning of the game, from character creation to meeting your first companion.

In contrast to the teaser trailer, Bethesdapresented actual gameplay from the introductory and tutorial stages of the game. Unlike Fallout 3 , which only featured a limited number of flashback sequences to what the world was like before the bombs fell, Fallout 4 will start the player out in a pre-nuclear wasteland world.

The character creator has been designed to work as seamlessly into the world as possible, with an option of playing as either a male or female protagonist. The main characters, who are husband and wife, have a casual conversation while staring into the bathroom mirror. The player can toggle between the two of them to choose whether they’d like to play as a female or male, and their faces can be fully customized on this screen. Rather than sliders, the facial features can be sculpted into the shape or size the player desires. Director Todd Howard also pointed out that the game would also take your customized couple into consideration, and create a baby that has a combination of their features.

The game is also looking to be revolutionary in that at least 1,000 names have been recorded in the game, so if a player uses a common name, other characters will actually speak their name when talking to them.

Character attributes are chosen separately from the character creation sequence, during a discussion with a vault-tec salesman. They generally look to be the same as in prior Fallout games, and make use of the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system found in.

Shortly afterwards, the bombs begin to fall, and the player’s family rushes to Vault 111. Todd Howard remained tight-lipped about the story here, but the player emerges from the vault 200 years later, as the sole survivor of Vault 111.

Bethesda showed off some footage of the Vault survivor exploring his old neighborhood, now a wasteland, and introduced the dog companion, as well. Simply named “Dog”, the German Shepherd is a friendly NPC that can join the player character as a companion. Todd Howard demonstrated some footage of being able to issue commands to the dog, indicating that players could effectively point at an area and tell the dog to go there, or issue a command to have the dog toggle a switch or attack an enemy.

Fallout 4 looks like it’ll make use of plenty of the things that made Fallout 3 great, but is going to bring plenty of innovation, too. Between Bethesda giving players a voiced protagonist for the first time and going through the immense time it must have taken to include so many different voiced names, players are sure to feel more immersed in the post-apocalyptic world than ever before.

Check back throughout the week for more of our live E3 2015 coverage.

Fallout 4 will be released on November 10, 2015, and will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

E3 2015: ‘Fallout 4’ Collectors Edition Comes With Real Pip-Boy

Bethesda’s long-awaited first ever E3 2015 conference finished with a bang, with the studio showing off plenty of much-anticipated footage from Fallout 4 .

. The game will offer players their first look at the pre-war world, as well as customizable bases and new brand conversation mechanics. Of course, Bethesda Game Studios also showed in-game footage for the latest Pip-Boy modelfound within, which players will find lying next to a long-dead scientist who isn’t likely to need it anymore. To go along with the exciting new deivce, Bethesda has announced that a real life Pip-Boy will be included in the Collector’s Edition of the game, giving players a chance to wear the iconic device for the first time in official capacity.

It’s not just stylish flair, though – this collectible has function to match the form. Fans will be able to insert their iPhone or Android device into the sleeve of the Pip-Boy and use it in conjunction with a new Fallout companion app, which lets the Pip-Boy connect to their PC, Xbox One or PlayStation 4 and function just like the in-game device. Players can check stats, browse inventory, and check out audio tapes in real-time.

Game Director Todd Howard couldn’t contain his excitement on-stage, though he did achknowledge that the collector’s item felt a little gimmicky. That said, he was still excited enough to lead in to the first live on-stage expletive of what is sure to be an exciting E3:

As far as stupid gimmicks go, this is the best ****ing one I’ve ever seen!

The Pip-Boy will come loaded with retro-styled games for the first time ever, with Bethesda showing off a jump-based game clearly inspired from the origins of Donkey Kong . It’s a neat bit of bonus content for fans of the game, and the companion app will compliment gameplay nicely. Those who aren’t interested in a simple companion app will be excited to know that free-to-play application called Fallout: Shelter will also launch tonight, which allows gamers to play as the Overseer of their own Vault.

Those who opt-out of purchasing the limited edition pip-boy needn’t worry, however, as Howard confirmed that the smartphone application will work just as easily without the plastic peripheral. The app will be ready for download by the game’s launch this November, and will receive full ioS and Android support. Of course, gamers not interested in taking their eyes away from the screen can always use the in-game Pip-Boy, but it’s a known fact that those who use the peripheral clearly get a charisma bonus in real life.

Todd neglected to mention the actual price for the collectors edition, but we’ve no doubt more information will be pour out about the Fallout 4: Pip-Boy Edition during the E3 2015 convention.

Fallout 4 is scheduled for a November 11th, 2015 release on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Why the Bugatti Chiron looks the way it does

When you are designing a 1,480-horsepower car that can top 250 mph, cooling and aerodynamics become very important factors.

When you are designing a 1,480-horsepower car that can top 250 mph, cooling and aerodynamics become very important factors. That was the task Bugatti director of design Achim Anscheidt faced when drawing up the Bugatti Chiron, and he came to the same conclusion.

"The main elements that you see on this car, from the rear, from the side, and the front, are based on form following performance," Anscheidt said in an interview at the Geneva Motor Show.

ALSO SEE: Hear the Bugatti Chiron’s 8.0-liter W-16 engine roar: Video

The increases to horsepower, torque, and top speed, and the resulting aerodynamic requirements meant the designers had to work with the engineers to make this car possible. "The limits were so high that we realized we can only achieve this with a win-win collaboration of design and engineering. And that set up a system that gave me a chance to solve technical issues to better the performance," Anscheidt said.

Strong lines, quiet details

The Chiron is defined by just a few lines, including the strong C shape along the sides, the cut off and open rear end, the low nose with the signature horsecollar grille, and the long, low line on top of the car from nose to tail. "Make the elements that you justify technically very strong--the C shape, the rear end, the front architecture--and that should be the first and primary read. Everything else goes into the background," Anscheidt said. "The stronger those lines are and the more justified they are, the more the other elements and the other surfaces can be quiet, can be really nice and clean."

Anscheidt feels this type of design gives a car longevity. He compares it to Bauhaus buildings in Berlin. Almost a century after they were built they aren't contemporary, but they are beautiful and they represent their era. Longevity is important to Bugatti because this is the type of car that a buyer can pass down to the kids or grandkids.

Bugatti Chiron

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Bugatti Chiron

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Bugatti Chiron

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The side view

He further explained that the C is one large intake that the car's massive W-16 engine needs. The air that travels along the body side is relatively turbulent and it arrives with about 60 percent efficiency in the lower portion of the C's massive air intake area. The air that runs along the greenhouse arrives with 85-90 percent efficiency at the top of the C's intake.

Aside from the large C shape, the fenders have no other character lines. Anscheidt says it was a challenge to go from the "beautiful, beautiful Veyron fender, and find a new interpretation that is equally generous and equally organic, but different."

CHECK OUT: Bugatti Chiron to have eight-year lifespan, sell at a profit

Bugatti Chiron

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Bugatti Chiron

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Bugatti Chiron

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The rear view

The rear end has a cutaway look, which Anscheidt says is nothing new for a supercar. However, aerodynamics and cooling play a large role here. "The soft pressure zone is extremely strong behind the car, and that allows all the hot air to get sucked out and that's why all the ducts are in there. Otherwise, the power increase of 25 percent would not be possible to handle," Anscheidt explained.

The thin LED taillight doesn't have much aerodynamic function other than staying extremely slim so that as much heat as possible can escape from the engine compartment. However, it plays a big role in the look of the car. Anscheidt wanted a very clear new signature rear view for Bugatti, and that became a single line that he calls "reduced magic."

The rear spoiler plays a big role in aerodynamics. Bugatti made it an active, full-width spoiler for best performance. At rest, it is completely tucked away so as not to disrupt the car's lines. However, it comes up at 50 mph and raises to various levels. It mainly acts as an airbrake, tilting up to 90 degrees. "If you've ever had a chance to come down from 400 kph [248 mph] to 0 as fast as you can, you realize how important an airbrake is for Bugatti," Anscheidt said.

The rear end is more efficient than the Veyron's, meaning the Chiron is capable of achieving higher top speeds. Right now, Bugatti says the top speed is limited to 261 mph, but the company is not saying how fast the Chiron or a version of it can ultimately go.

Jeep concept hints at new Wrangler pickup

Now we have an idea of what the new Wrangler might look like, specifically in its pickup bodystyle.

Jeep is hard at work developing a new Wrangler, one that’s expected to be larger yet more fuel efficient than the current model.

The new Wrangler will also spawn a pickup bodystyle, as confirmed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] CEO Sergio Marchionne earlier this year.

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Speaking to the adventure gurus at Outside , Jeep design boss Mark Allen said he hid “hints” of the new Wrangler in the Crew Chief 715, one of seven concepts built for the recent Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Crew Chief 715 is based on the current Wrangler Ultimate but features a bed out back and heritage styling cues throughout.

“We’re finally going to get to do a pickup truck,” Allen said in reference to the Wrangler pickup. “I can’t explain too much but there may be things you see on the Crew Chief that you might see on that truck.”

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Allen also pointed out that this was Jeep’s first pickup concept with a crew cab configuration, which suggests that the upcoming Wrangler pickup will feature four doors.

Production of the new Wrangler is expected to start at the current model’s plant in Toledo, Ohio in 2017, meaning we should see it arrive as a 2018 model. It’s not clear at this point when the Wrangler pickup will arrive.

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Fallout 4’ Officially Announced

‘Fallout 4’ Officially Announced
When Bethesda announced that it would be hosting its very own E3 2015 press conference , fans of the company immediately began speculating on just what blockbuster titles the developer had planned.

, fans of the company immediately began speculating on just what blockbuster titles the developer had planned. If the publisher had an entire press conference planned around its IP, then there was no doubt that there’d be some major announcements throughout. Almost immediately, fans jumped on the possibility of the next Fallout finally being revealed.

It quickly became evident that Bethesdahad other plans though, after posting a link to a countdown timervia its official Twitter account. Now that timer has expired and gamers have finally been given their first glimpse of the nuclear wasteland that awaits them in Fallout 4 .

The teaser site for the game went live prematurely, giving players the opportunity to sneak a peek at some teaser art for the forthcoming game. The art itself features the infamous armor from the Brotherhood of Steel, which is a rather iconic part of the series. Meanwhile, several other well-known properties of the franchise are scattered about the image, teasing a very familiar landscape for those anticipating the arrival of.

Despite initial reports that the game could be coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, however, that doesn’t appear to be the case at this point in time. The trailer wraps up with listed platforms at the bottom, and those aforementioned past-gen systems are nowhere to be seen. It’s possible that Bethesda has plans to port the game over, but its focus on the visuals this time around is evident enough by the trailer – which means it could have passed on bringing the game to those pieces of hardware.

Aside from the graphics, the variation in the environment is also prominent during the brief glimpse that players were given. Just how much variation in landscape there is is unknown, but there’s sure to be even more of the title explained and explored in the coming weeks. With that in mind, stay tuned to Game Rant for more news as soon as it arrives.

Fallout 4 is set to arrive on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC with more release details set for Bethesda’s E3 2015 press conference.

Acura To Preview New Design Direction With Precision Concept At 2016 Detroit Auto Show

Acura today provided a glimpse of what it will unveil at 2016 Detroit Auto Show on January 12.

Teaser for Acura Precision concept debuting at 2016 Detroit Auto Show

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Acura today provided a glimpse of what it will unveil at 2016 Detroit Auto Show on January 12. It's called the Precision concept, and it's a peek into the future of Acura design, especially that of the brand’s next-generation sedans.

READ: 2017 Acura NSX Priced From $157,800, Neither Seinfeld Nor Leno Will Get First One e

Created by Acura's California design studio, the automaker claims the concept will have bold lines and plenty of attitude. So far, we can only see some seemingly attractive angled lines on a long red sedan with a coupe-like profile.

New Acura boss Jon Ikeda said the company needs to improve its sedan lineup, and this show car could be the first step toward realizing that goal. Of course, the brand would also do well to create a new rear-wheel-drive-based platform and offer its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 from the NSX supercarin any car aimed at the established European luxury automakers.

CHECK OUT: 2017 Honda Ridgeline To Debut In Detroit, Star In Super Bowl 50 Spot

Acura design boss Dave Marek calls the company's core DNA "precision crafted performance," and says that the goal is to more strongly express performance through design.

We will have much more information about Acura's newest concept when it is revealed to the public at the Detroit Auto Show. In the meantime, see what else will be appearing at the show via our dedicated hub.

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GM design chief Ed Welburn to retire July 1

General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] today announced that design chief Ed Welburn will retire effective July 1.

GM design chief Ed Welburn presents the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept

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Welburn, 65, spent 44 years at General Motors. He took over as head of GM design in 2003, then assumed global responsibilities in 2005. Under his leadership, GM built a network of 10 design centers in seven countries: the United States, Germany, South Korea, China, Australia, Brazil, and India. GM design employees more than 2,500 men and women.

ALSO SEE: Could this Ferrari be the most valuable car in the world?

GM chairman and CEO Marry Barra praised Welburn: “GM Design is among the most respected and sought-after organizations in the industry because of Ed’s leadership. He nurtured a creative, inclusive and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands.”

Mark Ruess, executive vice president, Global Product Development and Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, also had praise for the legacy Welburn has established. "Ed’s team turns out one award-winning product after another…and his strong bench will keep GM Design on top for years to come,” Reuss said.

Michael Simcoe, vice president of GM International Design, will take over for Welburn as the company's seventh design leader. He starts his new job May 1st, working with Welburn for a couple months during the transition. Simcoe is an Australian and is the first non-American to take the job.

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Ed Welburn and Michael Simcoe

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Simcoe has worked on such production vehicles as the GMC Terrain, Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, and Cadillac CTS. He also led the team that created the Buick Avenir Conceptthat was revealed at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.

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Google to bring podcasting to Play Music in a few months: Report

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Google Play Music will聽soon offer podcasts through its service based on a user’s current interest which could help the company’s service offer an edge over聽the other apps and services available today.

By tech2 News Staff /  29 Oct 2015 , 06:33

Google Play Music will聽soon offer podcasts through its service based on a user’s current interest which could help the company’s service offer an edge over聽the other apps and services available today. The consumer launch for this service is said to arrive in a few months.

According to the,聽Elias Roman, Product Manager at Google Play Music stated, “Along with direct searches and browsing for podcasts, the service will connect new listeners with podcasts based on what they鈥檙e doing, how they鈥檙e feeling, or what they鈥檙e interested in. Similar to our contextual playlists for music, this will give podcast fans and new listeners a way of finding and listening to content that鈥檚 unique to Google Play Music.”

Some of the聽popular podcasters and networks to offer their shows聽include聽5by5,聽Dan Carlin,聽Dave Ramsey, Earwolf, Feral Audio,聽Gimlet Media,聽HBO,聽Head Gum,聽HowStuffWorks,聽Loud Speakers Network,聽Nerdist/Legendary,聽Public Radio International,聽Radiotopia/PRX,聽Sideshow Network,聽Slate/Panoply,聽StarTalk Radio,聽This Week in Tech and聽Tim Ferriss.

Elias Roman,聽co-founder of the streaming service Songza聽before Google acquired it last year,聽 also told Re/Code聽 that podcasting was always in Songza鈥檚 roadmap. Google accelerated it. 鈥淥ur goal is to serve content that makes what you do every day better,鈥� he said.聽鈥淧odcasts allow us to do everything for our users,鈥� Roman added. 鈥淚t makes us a more complete concierge.鈥�/p>

The report also shed some light on the fact that sorting podcasts algorithmically isn’t as easy as sorting music.聽If Google can crack that problem, it will please the podcasting world.

Tags: Elias Roman, Google, Google Music podcasting, Google Play Music

Acura Confirms Super Bowl 50 Spot

Acura will have a spot during the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 that will highlight the automaker’s North American presence.

2017 Acura NSX

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Acura will have a spot during the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 that will highlight the automaker’s North American presence. No other details on the spot were revealed but it’s likely the new NSX supercarwill feature prominently in it.

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The NSX is due to enter production next spring so a spot reminding Americans of the car, plus the fact that production will be taking place in Ohio, will be a smart move for the brand. The NSX is also a likely bet as Acura doesn’t have any other new products in the pipeline. And don’t forget, Acura made its Super Bowl debut in 2012 with a spot that depicted the original NSX concept.

Super Bowl 50 takes place February 7, 2016 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. We should be hearing about spots from other automakers in the weeks to come. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] usually spends the big bucks for some lengthy spots and last year we also saw brands like Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan all take part.

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Acura Rolls Out 'Precision Crafted Performance' Ad Campaign, Including Super Bowl Spot

Acura has a new mantra.

Acura has a new mantra. It's known as Precision Crafted Performance and the company views it not only as its new marketing tagline but also the brand's core promise.

Actually, this tagline isn't new. Acura used Precision Crafted Automobiles in its advertising when the company launched 30 years ago, and Precision Crafted Performance debuted in 1990 with the introduction of the NSX. Now, as Acura approaches its 30th anniversary on March 27th, the tagline is making a comeback in the brand's advertising.

Starting with the NFL's AFC and NFC playoffs, Acura is running the new campaign on television, as well as digital and social media outlets like ESPN.com, Facebook, and Yahoo. It starts with the 60-second Point of View spot featured here, and it marks the introduction of actor Michael B. Jordan as the company spokesman. You will recognize Jordan from Friday Night Lights , The Wire , and his role as Apollo Creed's son in the new Rocky movie Creed .

The campaign will also extend to the Super Bowl. Acura will run an ad in the first quarter highlighting the new NSX and its North American roots.

Acura Precison Crafted Performance Campaign

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To further promote the Precision Crafted Performance idea, the company introduced the Acura Precision Conceptat this week's Detroit Auto Show. In our interview with exterior designer Michelle Christensen, she was sure to point out that the Precision Crafted Performance is also part of the design and engineering DNA of the brand.

Take a look at the commercial above. We like it. What do you think? Will this type of spot elevate your view of the brand?

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Acura NSX Order Book Opens, Configurator Launched

Starting from today you can place an order for the all-new Acura NSX.

Starting from today you can place an order for the all-new Acura NSX. To coincide with the sales launch, Acura has also launched a configurator at the web address nsx.acura.com which lets you build your ideal version.

As previously reported, the new NSX arrives as a 2017 model and starts at $157,800, including an $1,800 destination charge. The configurator shows a number of the main options which you’ll quickly learn can easily inflate the price tag.

ALSO SEE: The Bugatti Vision GT Concept Sounds So Glorious It Makes Angels Cry: Video

For example, the NSX will initially be available only with carbon-ceramic brake discs, which are a $9,900 option if you go with the standard black calipers. Another big ticket item is the hero Nouvelle Blue Pearl paint job which will set you back $6,000. Another $6,000 option is the carbon fiber roof package.

Of course, not everything on the NSX is exorbitantly priced. For example, there are pearl paint finishes starting at just $700. The various wheel patterns only cost $1,500 and the feature-packed Technology package is also reasonable priced at $2,800.

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Sure the NSX is expensive but we’re talking about one of the most advanced cars in production. It features a hybrid-based all-wheel-drive systemsimilar to the one in the Porsche 918 Spyder and should be able to keep up with supercars costing twice as much. Its peak output registers at 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque which Acura says is enough to rocket the car from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 191 mph.

Even if you can’t afford the NSX, by playing around with the configurator and sharing your ideal setup on Twitter you’ll have a chance at winning some seat time in the car.

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Fallout 4: Automatron DLC Trailer and Release Date

Bethesda releases a trailer for the upcoming Automatron DLC expansion for Fallout 4 , while also announcing the expansion’s release date for March 22nd.

Those that have already thoroughly explored the Boston Commonwealth in Fallout 4 are probably ready for some new experiences in the game. As announced by Bethesda earlier today, anyone looking for something new to do inwon’t have to wait much longer, as the Automatron DLC will be available on March 22nd.

Simultaneously releasing across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron DLCwill be adding fresh story content to the critically-acclaimed game, as it sees players contending with a new antagonist named The Mechanist and his army of evil robots. The trailer for the DLC also seems to indicate that players will begin this new quest after being approached by a mysterious well-meaning robot looking to stop The Mechanist’s plans.

Along with new characters and story quests, the Automatron DLC for Fallout 4 will also allow players to build their own robots. By destroying The Mechanist’s creations, players will collect the parts necessary to build said robots, which can be further customized with paint schemes and voice customization options for those that are at least level 15.

See Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron DLC in action in the trailer below:

Since Fallout 4: Automatron ‘s achievementsappeared in the game’s Xbox One achievement hub a couple of days ago, many anticipated that it would release soon. Previously, Bethesda only confirmed that Automatron would be available in March, so it’s nice to know exactly when players can look forward to expanding their Fallout 4 adventure.

Judging by the trailer, it does seem like Automatron will be worth the price of admission for Fallout 4 enthusiasts. After all, Automatron is bringing to the table brand new story content as well as the ability to build and customize one’s own robot companions, which should give players plenty more to do in Fallout 4 ‘s Bostonian wasteland. We’ll find out just how extensive the Automatron DLC for Fallout 4 is when it releases to the masses next week.

What do you think of the Automatron DLC for Fallout 4 ? Do you think that it looks like it will be adding enough content to the game to justify purchasing it or the Fallout 4 season pass? Are you excited to build your own robots, or are you more interested in what happens in the expansion’s story? Leave us your thoughts on Fallout 4 ‘s first major expansion in the comments below.

Fallout 4 ‘s Automatron DLC will be available on March 22nd for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: IGN

Here’s Acura’s Super Bowl 50 Spot Starring The NSX: Video

If we said there was a connection between the Acura NSX and Van Halen, we bet you’d be hard pressed to guess it.

If we said there was a connection between the Acura NSX and Van Halen, we bet you’d be hard pressed to guess it. Perhaps Sammy Hagar’s a fan? We’re not sure on that front, but what we do know is that the Van Halen classic Runnin' with the Devil features in an ad starring the all-new 2017 Acura NSX.

Acura has previewed the ad which is set to run during the first quarter of Super Bowl 50, taking place February 7 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The 30-second ad, titled What He Said , is the start of a new campaign out to promote Acura’s Precision Crafted Performance philosophy, a revival of the Precision Crafted Automobiles tagline that helped launch the Acura brand three decades ago.

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“In our Acura commercial, we wanted to convey the excitement of the NSX to a big Super Bowl audience," explains Acura’s new chief Jon Ikeda said. "The high energy visuals are complemented by a big rock anthem, giving viewers just a taste of the emotion this new Acura supercar elicits."

You’ll also note that we see three different NSX supercars, colored red, white and blue. This is to highlight the new car’s North American roots. Remember, this time production is taking place in Marysville, Ohio.

The 2017 Acura NSX goes on sale this spring, priced from $157,800, including an $1,800 destination charge. The car features a sophisticated hybrid-based all-wheel-drive systemand has a peak output of 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. This is said to enable the NSX to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 191 mph.

You can watch an extended version of the ad in the video below.

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FYI: Fallout 4 Season Pass Gets More Expensive Starting March 1

For those unaware, Bethesda’s expanded DLC plan for perennial Game of the Year winner Fallout 4 means things will start getting a little more expensive soon.

To any gamers who have meant to purchase the Fallout 4 season pass and forgotten to get around to it: be thankful that this year, February has 29 days in it. As of March 1 (tomorrow), the price of the Fallout 4 season pass will increase from $30 to $50, so if fans were interested in purchasing guaranteed access to all of the content Bethesda currently has planned this year, today is the last day they can do so at a discount. We posted a detailed breakdown on how to save money on the Fallout 4 season passhere.

The price increase is a result of Bethesda’s commitment to an “expanded DLC plan”, which the studio says will provide gamers with over $60 worth of new Fallout content in 2016. ‘s DLC will also be released for all platforms simultaneously, meaning every Vault Dweller will have access to the newest content at the same time. It’s a nice bit of solidarity between gamers on each platform while console owners still await the chance to use the many incredible Fallout 4 mods the PC community has been working on since release.

While it remains to be seen what the expanded DLC plan will entail, gamers know what to expect from the first 3 Fallout 4 DLC packs. They will be called Automatron, Wasteland Workshop, and Far Harbor, and they will cost $10, $5, and $25 respectively. Bethesda will release one DLC pack a month starting in March with Automatron before Wasteland Workshop follows in April, with the largest update, Far Harbor, coming in May. Those looking for a sneak peak into what kind of gameplay will be featured in the first DLC can check out the leaked achievements for Fallout 4 Automatron, which are relatively spoiler-light.

Wasteland Workshop, on the other hand, will let players participate in a post-apocalyptic version of Pokemon , as the DLC will allow players to design cages to capture live creatures and tame them, even giving Vault Dwellers the option to pit them against each other. Far Harbor will be the biggest narrative of the 3 currently known DLC packs, and will task players with a mission from Valentine’s Detective Agency that will embroil gamers in a feud between synths, the Children of Atom, and the folk inhabiting Far Harbor.

Of course, for most players, Fallout 4 itself is arguably too much content, but the allure of self-contained stories that only demand a fraction of the time investment is enough to make the DLC extremely appealing. After all, gamers are still digging up new Fallout 4 easter eggsmonths after the game’s release, and there are likely many more secrets left to uncover. For those who want to save a bit of money before they dive into even more content, committing to that exploration today via a season pass would seem to be a wise decision.

Fallout 4 is currently available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: GameSpot

First 2017 Acura NSX Sells For $1.2 Million At Charity Auction

It’s been a heck of a long wait for Acura’s second-generation NSX supercar but we’re now just a few weeks out from the order books opening up.

It’s been a heck of a long wait for Acura’s second-generation NSX supercar but we’re now just a few weeks out from the order books opening up. If you were hoping to get your hands on the very first customer example, though, you’re out of luck as the rights to the car have just been sold.

Yes, the rights to the 2017 NSX with VIN 001 was sold yesterday during Barrett-Jackson’s vehicle auction currently on in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the winning bidder was none other than Rick Hendrick. He's the owner of Hendrick Motorsports and founder of Hendrick Automotive Group and is a regular at these types of auctions, having snapped up the first examples of a number of special cars over the years.

ALSO SEE: Another ‘Bandit’ Pontiac Firebird Crosses The Auction Block, Raises $550K

For the privilege of owning the first NSX, Hendrick bid a cool $1.2 million. Acura is donating all proceeds from the sale to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground, so the bidding was for more than just the car.

The NSX goes into production this spring but you’ll be able to put your name down for one at authorized Acura dealers from February 25. Acura has previously confirmed that pricing will start at $157,800, including an $1,800 destination charge.

That’s a lot to pay for an Acura but we’re talking about one of the most advanced cars in production. The NSX features a hybrid-based all-wheel-drive systemsimilar to the one in the Porsche 918 Spyder. It’s not as potent as the Porsche as its peak output registers at 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. Still, this is said to be enough to rocket the car from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 191 mph.

We’ve only had a brief drive of a pre-production versionso we’re looking forward to getting some more seat time in this beast.

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2017 Acura MDX preview

The Acura MDX is a luxurious family hauler that offers great space and willing performance.

While fuel economy has been decent for a large crossover SUV, it hasn't been thrifty. That's about to change, and it doesn't come at the cost of performance.

At the New York International Auto Show, Acura unveiled the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid. Utilizing the same system found in the RLX sedan and adapted to the NSX supercar, the 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid teams a 3.0-liter V-6 with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, a lithium-ion battery pack, and three motors. One of those motors is paired with the transmission, while the other two are found at the rear to deliver all-wheel drive and torque vectoring.

Total system output is 325 horsepower, and Acura is promising EPA fuel economy ratings up to 26 mpg on the highway.

That's not the only 2017 MDX model. Acura will also offer the 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 with a 9-speed automatic, and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The AWD system in this version also offers torque vectoring, but it’s delivered mechanically, rather than via electric motors.

The most noticeable change for 2017 is the new front end. The Acura "beak" is gone, replaced by a less controversial trapezoidal "diamond pentagon" grille.

Across the lineup, the MDX now offers an adaptive suspension. Safety features include standard forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control. Rearview and surround-view cameras are also standard.

Pricing hasn’t been announced, but the 2017 Acura MDX will go on sale this summer.

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First Fallout 4 DLC Achievements Leaked

As players prepare to return to the wasteland next month, the first achievements from the hotly anticipated Automatron DLC for Fallout 4 are leaked to the Internet.

Next month, Bethesda will release the first piece of DLC for Fallout 4 , the robot-centric Automatron. As a result, preparatory work is already going on behind the scenes — and that’s caused a leak of some achievements set to be patched into the game when the content becomes available.

While there’s a sizeable amount of DLCalready scheduled for, this information only pertains to the Automatron package. Based on the details to hand, we now know that at least three quests will be included in the first content drop, which should warrant its price tag of $9.99.

Three achievements are offered up for completing quests named Headhunting, Mechanical Menace and Restoring Order. Even though they’re completely non-specific, they certainly fit the theme of robots gone amok that Bethesda’s announcement of Automatron seemed to suggest.

The other two achievements are more specifically focussed on side content, in particular the ability to construct robots that’s introduced as part of the DLC. Not much has been said about how this mechanic will work, but it’s likely to be a different twist on the crafting and creation gameplaythat’s already present in Fallout 4 .

Players can earn an achievement labelled Robot Hunter for unlocking 10 Robot Mods. Building 10 Robot Mods will then pop an achievement referred to as The Most Toys. Depending on how difficult it is to gather the necessary materials to do so, this may well be the most difficult plaudit to earn in the Automatron package.

Given that Automatron is set to be on the cheaper end of the DLC scheduled to release in support of Fallout 4 , this certainly bodes well for the immediate future of the game. That being said, it’s still unclear whether players should buy the season pass while it’s being offered at a lower price.

Despite being teased for a long time, it’s only recently that Bethesda has shared any concrete details on its DLC schedule for Fallout 4 . At this point, it’s a question of whether players are willing to put their trust in the company to save a few dollars — or if prior experience with other studioshas soured them on season passes altogether.

Fallout 4 is available now for PS4, Xbox One and PC. The Automatron DLC is set to release in March.

Bentley Shows Off New Mulliner Options With Flying Spur

Mulliner is the arm of Bentley that's responsible for making dreams come true...to those who already have the means to make such things happen.

Mulliner is the arm of Bentley that's responsible for making dreams come true...to those who already have the means to make such things happen. It's the bespoke customization department for Bentley, and it's been offering up seriously luxurious options on already seriously luxurious vehicles. Now there are some new options, and Bentley has chosen to show them off on its Flying Spur sedan.

Starting toward the fairly standard end, we have the ability for customers to paint the interior finishes of their cars. You can now select a color scheme from Bentley's extended palette for the veneers of your cabin space. Want to add a bit of scent as well? Mulliner will supply your seating space with a pair of sterling silver atomizers. These can be filled with water for a fine misty spritz of perfume to appease your delicate nostrils.

MUST SEE: Koenigsegg Designs The World's Most Expensive Car Key: Video

Bentley Mulliner Rear Seat With Champagne Cooler

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Stepping up a few notches, you can add some options to make the ride all the more cossetting. A refrigerated bottle cooler fits between the rear seats, and the cupholders happily accept the bespoke champagne flutes. You don't drive, you get driven, and that means you're free to enjoy a bit of bubbly. It's not just you riding in style, though, as you can also outfit a hide-trimmed storage compartment to hold your watch. We imagine this watch costs anywhere between what you'd spend on a gently used Honda Civic for the gardener on up to the price of a brand-new Flying Spur, so it's probably a safe place to stow your delicate jewelry.

CHECK OUT: 2016 Audi RS 7 Performance and S8 Plus First Drive

Finally, Mulliner’s signature quilt pattern can also be applied to the center console, seat bolsters, and door panels. Who doesn't want a little bit of extra design flair for a few thousand dollars?

Mulliner likes to tout a number of these optional extras, but the truth is that a customer can pretty much have whatever they desire. If they have the cash, Mulliner exists to make their dreams and whims a reality.

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Study: Only 2.2% of Free-to-Play Mobile Users Actually Pay

Player retention and monetization are two of the biggest factors of making a free-to-play game profitable to developers.

Player retention and monetization are two of the biggest factors of making a free-to-play game profitable to developers. While there are some wildly profitable and popular mobile gamesthatutilize the free-to-play model, one can assume that, if made well, a free-to-play game can rake in huge profits from a multitude of gamers. However, that may not be the case, as a recent study from Swrve has determined that only 2.2% of a free-to-play player base ever pay for the content on average, with almost half of the revenue coming from ten percent of that number, a minuscule 0.22%. Less surprisingly, two-thirds of all players who begin playing an app stop playing within one day of starting.

Swrve began the study by tracking 10 million new players to over 30 different mobile games over the course of ninety days. During this time period, they found that the only revenue to come out of player’s pockets was from 2.2 percent of the entire 10 million. Within that 2.2 percent, a tenth of that number was responsible to 46 percent of the revenues. To simplify it, out of ten million users, only 22 000 users are responsible for a little less than half of revenues. These are the “whales” who essentially fund the game.

While that may sound scary to developers, that’s only half of what the study discusses. The report also explains how difficult it is to keep players around. Out of the ten million users being tracked, two-thirds, or 6.6 million players, quit playing the games within one day. That’s how the concept of the free-to-play model works, taking down the barrier of entry (the retail price of a traditional game or app) to let players try it out. Most won’t go beyond that. As well, the report shows that over half of the revenues acquired through the games were within the first seven days after the game was downloaded. The average amount of money spent per user was 45 cents over 90 days.

Swrve CEO Hugh Reynolds toldthat the report is “A word of caution around user acquisition,” when referring to how companies focus more on getting their app downloaded, rather than focusing on the content of the game and the experience the user has. By keeping users engaged, there is more of a chance that each player will spend money on it, rather than stop playing the game altogether within 24 hours.

While it’s understandable that games with microtransactions can be seen as outrageous, contributing to the numbers that Swrve reports, many gamers see free-to-play mobile apps as time-killers, rather than immersive and enjoyable games on the same level as current-gen consoles. And while most mobile downloads are usually free apps, that is not to say that every free-to-play game is bent on squeezing money out of the players. Rather, some games obtain revenues through advertisements, rather than introducing a limit of plays per day. Personally, this model is something that I believe most gamers would favour, as long as it was not obtrusive to the gaming experience.

Do these mobile stats surprise you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Source: Re/Code

McLaren Reveals Carbon Fiber-Bodied P1, Confirms New Sports Series Addition For Geneva

McLaren is set to have its largest presence ever at a Geneva Motor Show when this year’s event gets underway on March 1.

McLaren is set to have its largest presence ever at a Geneva Motor Show when this year’s event gets underway on March 1. The British automaker has confirmed a number of cars that will appear on its stand, one of which is a yet-to-be-revealed addition to the Sports Series lineup. But more on that later.

Cars that we do know are headed to Geneva include this special P1 that the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division built to celebrate the end of production of the flagship supercar. The car was one of the 375 P1s delivered to a customer but was sent back to the McLaren factory for a bit of personalization.

This included the application of a bare carbon fiber body with panels dressed in a bespoke blue tint. Other unique touches include a gloss black finish to the wheels, an extensive retrim of the interior with carbon black Alcantara and contrasting blue stitching, and a 24-carat gold exhaust heatshield in a homage to the McLaren F1.

Incidentally, this will be the first time McLaren is presenting a car with a body completely formed from carbon fiber. That's because McLaren only made the option available to P1 owners earlier this year.

McLaren Sports Series GT spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien

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As for the new addition to the Sports Series lineup, McLaren remains tight on details. It’s possible the car is the more practical version of the Sports Series that we recently spied in prototype form. McLaren has stated that it will add a new Sports Series bodystyle in 2016, and the car won’t be a convertible. The open-top version of the Sports Series will be coming in 2017.

Also in Geneva will be a few other McLaren models being shown for the first time. The list includes the 675LT Spiderand 2016-spec 650S GT3 race car.

For more Geneva Motor Show coverage, head to our dedicated hub.

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BMW debuts new exclusive 7-Series editions

BMW has taken the wraps off of a pair of new special edition models of its flagship 7-Series sedan: The Solitaire Edition and the Master Class Edition.

Just a handful will be built—six examples of the Solitaire and a single Master Class—but the two models are closely linked to each other, differing only in exterior color paint.

ALSO SEE: Tesla Model 3 first look

Both are based on the 750Li. The Solitaires will all be a unique metallic white, while the Master Class will be swathed in a special black shade. Both paints contain glass flakes in their final stage that BMW says give them an extra level of glossiness.

Inside, both special editions utilize a unique leather dyed a special shade of brown. Alcantara trim offsets the leather on the headliner, while embroidery, which matches a badge on the cars' C-pillars, reminds drivers and passengers that they're in an especially unique special edition. The trunk is finished in the same suede to complete the look.

Curiously, BMW lists as optional a unique diamond inlay for the cars' piano black interior trim.

Rear seat passengers are also treated to a refrigerator with its own crystal glassware.

CHECK OUT: Meet the Audi RS 7 from hell: Video

There is no word on if any of these cars will make it to the United States, but given their very limited availability, we doubt it. That doesn't mean, however, that you can't use the Individual program to make your own very special 7-Series.

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Minecraft’ Given to Every Secondary School in Northern Ireland for Free

‘Minecraft’ Given to Every Secondary School in Northern Ireland for Free
Minecraft has become one of the most well known titles in video game history, inspiring legions of gamers to take up their pickaxes in an attempt to build the spectacular.

has become one of the most well known titles in video game history, inspiring legions of gamers to take up their pickaxes in an attempt to build the spectacular. It also inspired Microsoft to pay out an immense $2.5 billion to buy developer Mojang, in a move to cultivate a franchise that has caused in-game creations as varied as a recreation of Destiny raid ‘Crota’s End’and a 4.5 million block city.

In particular, Minecraft has impressed because its creative nature, featuring the tools for players to build whatever their imagination desires – as long as they don’t mind their creations being a little blocky. That creative stem has not only inspired would-be gaming architects, but also educators. Intrepid teachers have used Mojang’sgame to teach everything from history, through the creation of historic buildings, to maths and physics.

Minecraft is now going to take another step into the educational realm, as the creative title is set to be given to secondary schools in Northern Ireland for free. In a move that is bound to be popular with the children who get to use a copy of the game, Minecraft will be gifted to 200 schools and 30 community organizations. The move, as revealed by The Guardian , was put forward by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as part of the annual CultureTECH festival, and is the first time Minecraft has been distributed as a tool across an entire province.

It’s a far cry from the other recent governmental move surrounding Minecraft . Earlier this month, the Turkish government continued with its plans to ban Minecraft from sale. A study from the Turkey’s Family and Social Policies Ministry found that the game inspired bullying and promoted violence, although the study did praise Minecraft’s creative aspects. A motion has been put forward to Turkey’s courts to decide on the future of Mojang’s title, with the developer suggesting a focus on non-violent game modes.

Elsewhere, reception for Minecraft as a positive influence has been much more prevalent. The Minecraft add-on LearnToMod is aimed specifically at teaching children how to code, whilst Computercraft adds programmable computers to the Minecraft world. It remains to be seen just how successful this move will be, but it’s a bold one that will hopefully inspire both a passion for learning and a respect for the depth of video games in its users.

Source: The Guardian

South Park’ Takes on Oculus VR and Free-to-Play in Latest Episodes

‘South Park’ Takes on Oculus VR and Free-to-Play in Latest Episodes
In its nearly 2 decade run on the air South Park has seemingly covered every pop culture or political topic under the sun.

has seemingly covered every pop culture or political topic under the sun. They’ve tackled everything from The Hobbitto alien abductions, Kickstarterto Food Network.

Sometimes the writers at South Park even tackle a gaming-related topic or two, and usually those episodes become instant classics. Who can forget the World of Warcraft episode from season 10?

However, this past two weeks has delivered a series of episodes that are sure to become instant favorites among gamers. This week’s episode was of particular interest because it focused on Virtual Reality and the Oculus Riftheadset in a story that was trademark South Park .

Those who have yet to check out the South Park episode, titled “Grounded Vindaloop”, are highly recommended to head to Comedy Centraland hit play. Even those who might not enjoy South Park on a regular basis (if at all) are encouraged to give this one a try. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that although VR is the focal point of the episode it functions as a clever piece of comedy writing all on its own.

After Facebook acquired Oculusfor $2 billion it became very clear that VR was not the fad that some thought it to be. And now that South Park has incorporated Oculusinto one of its episodes, the technology’s place in our culture is even further established. In fact, where the “Freemium isn’t Free” episode made fun of the free-to-play business model, this most recent episode actually touted VR as an immersive experience. Obviously, it’s not THAT immersive, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a few gamers start to lose touch with reality.

What did you think of this week’s South Park episode? What other video game-related topics would you like to see the writers parody?

Source: Comedy Central

Follow Anthony on Twitter @ANTaormina

Kim Kardashian Making Upwards of $85 Million From Mobile Game

The Kim Kardashian West brand is a seemingly unstoppable money-making machine.

The Kim Kardashian West brand is a seemingly unstoppable money-making machine. The reality TV star, who rose to fame with the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians , has jumped from enterprise to enterprise, making millions off fashion, perfume and beauty products. Not only that, but Kardashian West has made a huge chunk from endorsement deals.

Kim Kardashian West has given her name and reputation to a huge variety of brands, from clothing lines to liqueurs and diet products, and even raked in an incredible $18 million in licensing deals from her wedding to second husband Kris Humphries. However, it looks as though one of her most recent ventures is set to make that — and her yearly earnings of $28 million — pale in comparison.

According to, Kardashian West will earn a whopping $85 million from mobile game Kim Kardashian: Hollywood — and that’s just this year. The game, a free-to-play iOSand Androidtitle that lets players try to make their way to the top of the world of celebrity — and pay through microtransactions for the privilege — is expected to make $200 million this year, and Kardashian West will get 45% of the net profits.

The game was created by Glu Mobile, a developer that has made early mobile ports,mobile titles and a mobile version of the original. Glu Mobile can be very happy with the performance of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood — even though $85 million will go to the star attraction. After all, Glu Mobile’s shares are up 42% since the game’s June 25 release. The title has over 40,000 five-star reviews on Apple’s App store, and it’s jumped as high as second in Apple’s free-to-play charts.

But where exactly is that $200 million coming from? Apparently the freemium model of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is working better than that of Dungeon Keeper , with that huge projection expected from both in-game advertisements and purchasable items. Kardashian West herself gives players in-game advice over how to act and what to buy, often with nods to her own life. “Dating another celebrity will make you more famous,” says her in-game counterpart.

It’s not the first time that mobile games have been tied to external franchises. Recently, Syfy Vice-President Jeff Li announced that there would be an endless runner tie-in to the Sharknado sequel— again on a free-to-play basis. The market is also full of movie tie-ins — in fact, Glu Mobile, the creator of Kim Kardashian: Hollywood , is also responsible for the Robocop and Hercules mobile titles.

However, the mobile tie-in is hardly an excuse to print money any more. According to a study in April of this year, only 2.2% of free-to-play users actually pay for content. Not only that, but mobile titles often see an extreme drop-off in sales and earnings. Even the Zynga, creator of Farmville , has struggled with diminishing returns. It remains to be seen whether Glu Mobile will be able to buck this trend.

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood is out now for iOS and Android.

Source: TMZ

Apple Rejects Games with Violent Screenshots on App Store

Apple ‘s iOS App Store is by far the market leader when it comes to downloadable applications for smartphones and tablets.

‘s iOS App Store is by far the market leader when it comes to downloadable applications for smartphones and tablets. That’s no surprise, considering the iPhone is arguably what created the entire mobilemarket in the first place. Navigating the iOSstore, many would agree, is also a more pleasant experience than its competition thanks to Apple’s heavy curation and strict guidelines for submission.

But its those same strict guidelines that have sometimes stuck in the craw of developers trying to get their applications approved. There have been stories in the past about apps getting arbitrarily rejected, and now it seems that some game developers are having this problem with certain types of titles.

Several developers speaking to Pocket Gamersaid that Apple has started to reject new game applications and even updates to existing titles if the screenshots feature guns or someone getting shot or killed. Developer OrangePixel, who make the mobile title GunSlugs II , had to fight Appleafter the company rejected an update because the screenshot featured tiny pixelated people getting killed.

Another dev, Team Chaos, reported that it had to change the original icon for its game, Rooster Teethvs. Zombiens , because it originally featured a character holding a NES Zapper gun. Apparently, Apple isn’t a fan of Duck Hunt.

The strangest story, though, may belong to developer Splash Damage. The company was forced to pixelate the guns in the screenshots for its game Tempo in order to get approved. The reason this is strange is because Tempo was selected as an Editor’s Choice game by Apple, and therefore prominently promoted on the App Storeprior to the change.

Does Apple Hold Too Much Power?

The concerns here are twofold. First, this new policy about “no guns or violence” does not seem to be universally applied. There are plenty of games still on the App Store that feature violence or guns in the screenshots. Gang Nations , a Clash of Clans clone, features characters holding AK-47s. Another game called Bullet Rush has characters holding sniper rifles in its screenshots, and is still on the App Store. It would appear Apple is only flagging existing games for violence or guns once the developer submits a new update for approval. It’s perhaps understandable that Apple doesn’t want to spend the time combing through the entire existing catalog, but the fact that developers are being punished just because they want to update their game and improve the user experience seems dubious.

The second concern here is pretty straightforward: censorship is never a positive thing. Apple certainly has its heart in the right place, as its likely trying to protect the many younger gamers that use its service, but they may not be going about it the right way. It does set them apart from the competition, as the Android/Google Play store has a number of titles that are sexual or risque in nature. That being said, every time a company adds something to the list of things it will censor, one has to wonder where it will stop.

This also continues a long running trend of video games getting punished for featuring the same kind of content that is readily available in many TV shows and movies. Two of the current top 10 movie downloads on Apple’s store, for example, are John Wick and The Equalizer . The cover photos for these titles feature Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington holding guns. Make of that what you will.

GunSlugs II is available on PC, Ouya, the Apple App Store and Google Play. Rooster Teeth vs. Zombiens is available for PC, the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Tempo is exclusive to the Apple App Store.

Source: Pocket Gamer

Bethesda on Paid Mods: ‘We’re Going to Re-evaluate It’

It was only a few months ago that Valve decided to implement paid mods into Steam , which allow its users to pay for mods they like and support the people making them.

, which allow its users to pay for mods they like and support the people making them. It was an interesting endeavor, since mods take a lot of time to create and their creators deserve some compensation. And while some aspects of it needed work, it could’ve become a huge addition to the PC service given enough time.

Of course, we’re all aware of how things went for the paid mods. Valve cancelled the paid mods initiativethat began withand later revealed that a few modders received death threatsover it. To say that Valve was hit with a bit of backlash would be a huge understatement, but developers and publishers are always being told to listen to feedback, and in this particular case the negative (and a bit extreme) feedback resulted in the necessary reaction – though it’d be unfair to say it’s what everyone wanted.

Valve has shared their views on how everything went down, but now Bethesda’sPete Hines, in an interview with GameSpot, reveals what the company may do next when it comes to paid mods. Those hoping to see paid mods return to Skyrim or the upcoming Fallout 4 will be disappointed, however, as it doesn’t sound like they’ll be showing up anytime soon. Furthermore, Todd Howard said as much about Fallout 4 last month.

“I honestly, genuinely, don’t know what it means for the future. It was an idea we worked on with those guys for Skyrim; it didn’t pan out. It came back down.”

“Our belief is, ‘We made the game, we made the game you’re making a thing for.’ So just like anything else, there is some kind of involvement that we’re going to have in that.”

Fallout 4 is set to release on November 10, 2015 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It’s several months away, but modders are already prepping for the wave of modsit will inevitably get. Apparently, you can never be too eager for Bethesda’s next game.

Source: GameSpot

2016 Dodge Viper ACR Street-Legal Racer Revealed: Video

The Dodge Viper American Club Racer has become the stuff of legend.

The Dodge Viper American Club Racer has become the stuff of legend. The track-focused but street-legal machine was first launched in 1999 and by its second generation had already smashed the Nürburgring lap record for a production car with a time of 7:12.13, a feat surpassed only by the all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R NISMO and Porsche 918 Spyder models.

MUST WATCH: Hellcat Vs. Hellcat: Tires Shredded, Faces Melted, Internet Broke

Now we have a new Viper ACR to lust over, which Dodge is introducing for the 2016 model year, and you can bet it will be putting down even better numbers than its predecessor. In fact, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis calls it the “fastest street-legal Viper track car” the automaker has ever produced.

There’s no extra power on offer, which means the car’s 8.4-liter V-10 churns out the same 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque as the other Viper models, with drive sent rearward via a six-speed manual gearbox. Instead, the engineers focused on honing the aerodynamics, brakes and tires—a recipe designed to carry on the Viper ACR’s lap-time busting reputation that's made it a legend on race tracks all around the world.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR

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Using knowledge gained in racing the Viper GTS-R in events like the American Le Mans Series and United SportsCar Championship, Dodge’s engineering team developed an aero package for the Viper ACR that produces nearly a ton of downforce at 177 mph, or around three times the downforce of the Viper TA 2.0 package. The package includes an adjustable rear wing, a rear diffuser, a new hood, front splitter and dive planes. Many of the elements are made from carbon fiber to keep weight down.

The brakes, sourced from Brembo, also utilize carbon. The setup uses 15.4-inch two-piece front rotors and 14.2-inch two-piece rear rotors. The front brakes use six-piston Brembo calipers while the rear brakes use four-piston calipers. These pizza tray-sized brakes reside in a set of 19-inch wheels, which are shod with massive Kumho Ecsta V720 high-performance tires (295/25 front, 355/30 rear) designed exclusively for the car.

Being a track machine, the suspension also received a thorough work out. Aluminum bodied, double-adjustable (for rebound and compression) coil-over Bilstein race shocks are designed specifically for the Viper ACR and work in conjunction with a lower ride height (with 3.0 inches of adjustment) compared to the stock Viper. Spring rates are also up, coming in at 600 lbs/in at the front and at 1,300 lbs/in at the rear, which is more than double the suspension stiffness of the Viper TA model.

There’s also more negative camber and the electronic stability system, which can be completely switched off, tuned to take into account the extra grip available. Dodge says the car is capable of sustaining more than 1.5 g on high-speed turns due to the combined chassis and aerodynamic improvements. One final mechanical mod is the new, higher-flow exhaust tips.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR

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Beyond the mechanical mods, what else can Viper ACR buyers expect? Well, there is suede-like Alcantara lining the instrument cluster hood, lower instrument panel and door armrest panels, and there's also a custom steering wheel wrapped in more Alcantara and accented with a stripe. The seats are also unique to the ACR and carry Alcantara inserts, and buyers have the choice of silver or red accent stitching throughout the cabin. Finally, special badging also sets the ACR apart from other Viper models.

Production of the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR commences in the third quarter of the year, and buyers will be able to select the Viper’s ‘1 of 1’ personalization optionwhere no two cars will be alike for any given model year. Key rivals include the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Nissan GT-R NISMO and Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

Pricing will be announced closer to the sales launch this fall.

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Fallout 4 Vault Dweller’s Survival Guide Revealed, Available In Three Formats

In this day and age, with the high-speed internet and free game guides at the fingertips of the majority of gamers, buying game guides and magazines for tips are mostly something of the past.

In this day and age, with the high-speed internet and free game guides at the fingertips of the majority of gamers, buying game guides and magazines for tips are mostly something of the past. Even so, official game guides are still regularly produced for many major game titles, ranging from family-friendly titles liketo the more adult.

Given the massive world and scope of Bethesda titles like The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim , it’s not a surprise that Bethesda’s games continue to receive massive tome-like official strategy guides. Bethesda’s Fallout 4 is no exception, and Prima Games today detailed the game’s upcoming strategy guide.

While the known details ofitself are still relatively sparse, the Prima Games official strategy guide looks to be packing in every scrap of information possible. The Fallout 4 strategy guide, officially titled Fallout 4 : Vault Dweller’s Survival Guide, will have 400 pages of walkthroughs, information, and images for Fallout fans to peruse. For fans who enjoy flipping through pages, a physical copy will be available at $29.99, while digital enthusiasts will be able to acquire an e-book version for $9.99.

Prima Games is also attempting to compete with online walk-through resources by providing a free mobile-friendly e-guide to those who buy their strategy guide, which will allow gamers to view tips and content on their mobile device. Finally, a Collector’s Edition hardback edition of the guide will also be released for $39.99, and Prima Games states that it will contain certain exclusive content. However, only one wave of the collector’s edition will be released, which bears a similarity to the announcement that Bethesda can’t make any more Pip-Boy Fallout 4 editions.

Official strategy guides definitely have certain advantages to them – the Fallout 4 : Vault Dweller‘s Survival Guide, for example, will be released the same day as the game. Fans who want to know the best way through a quest won’t have to wait for someone else to accomplish it and post their findings online; the guide will already have the needed information from start to finish. The e-book version should have some benefits as well, since gamers will be able to jump directly to the section they need, and shouldn’t need an internet connection, like they would for an online walk-through.

Fallout fans have had a lot of real-world loot to look forward to recently, like the Fallout anthology mini-nukeor the Pip-Boy edition of Fallout 4 . For diehard fans, the Collector’s Edition of the official strategy guide is just one more thing to add to their shopping list.

Fallout 4 will release on November 10, 2015 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The Fallout 4 : Vault Dweller’s Survival Guide will release on the same day.

Source: Prima Games

Build Your Ideal 1-Of-1 Dodge Viper SRT With New Configurator

As part of its updates for its 2015 Viper SRT supercar , Dodge launched a new variant dubbed the “GTC” that buyers are able to customize in virtually any way they desire—and no two Viper SRT GTCs will be allowed to be alike for any single model year, not even when it comes to their color.

that buyers are able to customize in virtually any way they desire—and no two Viper SRT GTCs will be allowed to be alike for any single model year, not even when it comes to their color. Of course, buyers have numerous variations to choose from, as Dodge is offering up to 8,000 hand-painted exterior color finishes, 24,000 hand-painted stripe styles, 10 wheel options, 16 interior trims, six aero packages, and host of additional standalone options.

Dodge has now launched an online configuratorthat allows buyers—as well as anyone just wanting to dream—to play around with a few of the options in order to build their ideal 1-of-1 Viper SRT GTC. With the configurator, you can adjust things like the exterior look, the added packages and groups, and the interior trim, and when you’re done you can save the details to share them with your friends, add to a public gallery or use in an eventual sit-down with a dealer.

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For Viper SRT GTC buyers, Dodge will appoint the services of a “Viper Concierge” whose job it is to liaise with the buyer and help them design the ideal car. From the time the order is placed in the system to the moment the car is delivered, the Viper Concierge will also provide the buyer with behind-the-scenes stories and pictures about their car.

As previously reported, the Viper SRT GTC is based on the Viper SRT GT, which sits between the base Viper SRT and more luxurious Viper SRT GTS. Its pricing starts at $94,995, which is $10k more than the base Viper SRT’s $84,995 sticker. The first 1-of-1 Viper SRT GTCs should start rolling off the line at the Viper’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit this month.

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Dodge Viper 1-Of-1 Personalization Program Expanded, Matte Finish Now Available

Dodge’s ultra-exclusive ‘1-of-1’ personalization program for its Viper supercar has proven so popular that for the 2016 model year the American go-fast brand is adding even more options, one of which is a striking matte finish available for most of the exterior colors.

2016 Dodge Viper ACR with new matte exterior finish

Enlarge Photo

Dodge’s ultra-exclusive ‘1-of-1’ personalization program for its Viper supercar has proven so popular that for the 2016 model year the American go-fast brand is adding even more options, one of which is a striking matte finish available for most of the exterior colors. It means the Viper is now available in more than 50 million unique configurations, made up from the more than 16,000 unique paint color options and more than 48,000 unique stripe combinations.

Last year’s Viper Time Attack Anodized Carbon Special Editionwas actually the first model to feature the new matte finish. Normally, the body panels are sanded with a fine 1,000-grit paper and then polished to a near mirror finish. To create the new matte finish, each panel is also sanded a second time before the matte clear paint is applied.

MORE: 2016 Dodge Viper ACR Pricing, Live Photos & Engine Rev Video

Some additional options include satin chrome or satin black finishes for the badges and fuel cap, giving the car an even more sinister look. As mentioned above, stripes can also be added. These are all painted by hand—unlike most cars that use decals—and add about 18 hours to the 145-160-hour overall paint process for the Viper.

Dodge will start accepting orders for the 2016 Viper in July. Remember, no two Vipers ordered with the 1-of-1 personalization program are allowed to be alike for any single model year, not even when it comes to their color, so if you have a particular combination in mind you had better head to your local Dodge dealer come July and lock in your preference. Dodge has an online configurator for its 1-of-1 Viper personalization program that you can play around with, details of which you can find here.

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Fallout Mystery Figures Revealed by Funko

There’s no denying the appeal that Fallout 4 has brought with it thus far.

has brought with it thus far. Aside from once again bringing the series to the forefront of relevancy, the upcoming game looks to be one of the more ambitious projects to ever come from Bethesda. With an ample number of new features and an ever-growing community to support the title post-launch, the blockbuster’s hype train has officially left the station.

With excitement on this scale, however, it was inevitable that merchandise pertaining to the series would be arriving to capitalize on the release of. Evidently, Funko will be providing fans with the chance to lay some cash down for collectibles with the company’s newly unveiled lineup of Fallout “Mystery Minis”.

The forthcoming figures were revealed through IGN , as the site announced the newfound partnership between Bethesda and Funko. Understandably, fans of the Fallout series will be excited at the prospect of collecting further merchandise beyond the Pip-Boy included in the collector’s editionof the series’ next iteration, but it won’t be as easy as going to the store and purchasing all 12 in one go.

These unique vinyl figurines will be made available in blind boxes, which means that players can’t be sure which character they’ll receive. Fortunately, there aren’t any that are considered more rare or valuable than the other, so collectors will have a 1 in 12 chance of getting their preferred collectible.

Each toy is modelled after the iconic Vault Boy mascot or other existing characters from the series, with a fun variety of different people being included for fans. The range of collectible characters can be seen below: Supermutant Tunnel Snake Ghoul Raider Power Armor Male Vault Dweller Mysterious Stranger Black Widow Nerd Rage! Wired Reflexes Grim Reaper’s Sprint Cyborg

Funko’s line is set to arrive in stores later this Fall, to establish themselves prior to the launch of Fallout 4 . That said, the lineup of characters and figurines made available through this partnership is sure to grow, so if you don’t see your favorite series’ mainstay yet then don’t worry too much. Still, the fact that fans can own some additional, tangible swag for the upcoming game is an exciting possibility for them to be sure.

These bad boys will be showing in stores this September, so keep your eyes peeled for more details on exactly when to expect the Fallout merchandise in the coming months.

Will you be buying any of these mystery minis? What other Fallout merchandise would you like to see next? Get at us in the comments.

Source: IGN

Couple Adds 79th Dodge Viper To Their Collection: Video

They say you can never have too much of a good thing, and for one couple from Texas not even 77 Dodge Vipers are enough to satisfy their demand for the all-American supercar as they’ve just added two more to their collection.

They say you can never have too much of a good thing, and for one couple from Texas not even 77 Dodge Vipers are enough to satisfy their demand for the all-American supercar as they’ve just added two more to their collection. We first learned about Wayne and D’Ann Rauh of Texas two years ago when their collection of Vipers, nicknamed the Viper’s Nest, was already brimming with 65 examples. Incredibly, the collection has since grown to 79 cars, with cars number 78 and 79 being delivered on Friday.

Coming as no surprise, the couple, now retired from their oil transportation business, chose to take advantage of Dodge’s ‘1-of-1’ personalization program for the Viper. The program allows enthusiasts to add options that no other Viper will share for the same model year, including the color. In total, there are over 50 million unique build configurations to choose from.

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For the latest additions to their collection, the Rauhs went with a Viper GTC finished in brown and contrasted with a black stripe package, plus a purple Viper TA 2.0 with silver stripes. The cars were handed over at a special event organized at the Viper’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit. Other Vipers in their collection include an example with an image of a Medusa across the hood, a Spiderman-themed car, another inspired by Darth Vader, and two track-only Viper ACR-X models. The Rauhs own over 100 cars so we know that they enjoy other models as well.

Oddly, they only purchased their first Viper as recently as 2006, though Wayne admits that he first started thinking about purchasing one as far back as 2000. In the video above, D’Ann says she never stops thinking about their next purchase. Something tells us number 80 may just be the latest Viper ACR.

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2016 Dodge Viper ACR Tech Overview Video

Even five years after its launch, the previous-generation Dodge Viper ACR is still one of the fastest production cars around a track, with only the all-wheel-drive Nissan GT-R NISMO and Porsche 918 Spyder managing to upset the car’s 7:12.13 Nürburgring lap time , set in 2011.

Now there’s a new American Club Racer, based on the fifth-generation Viper, and in addition to packing more power and loads more downforce the car is also filled with serious tech upgrades.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Dodge Viper ACR Street-Legal Racer Revealed: Video

Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis outlines many of the upgrades in this official video, and—crucially—he reiterates Dodge’s promise that the new Viper ACR will be the fastest road-going Viper the men and women at the car’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant have built yet. How fast is it? Dodge isn’t saying yet as the car’s still being benchmarked at test tracks all around the world, but hopefully we find out soon.

There’s no extra power in the new Viper ACR, which means the car’s 8.4-liter V-10 churns out the same 645 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque as the other Viper models, with drive sent rearward via a six-speed manual gearbox. Instead, the engineers focused on honing the aerodynamics, brakes and tires. For example, the car produces up to 2,000 lbs of downforce and is capable of sustaining more than 1.5 g on high-speed turns.

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The new Viper ACR goes on sale this fall, as a 2016 model. Key rivals include the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Nissan GT-R NISMO and Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Regardless of which of these track specials post the quickest times, the real winners will be those lucky enough to park any one of them in their garage.

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