2013-09-30

This Week in Gaming (TWIG) is a new weekly series highlighting gaming news from around the web. This week brings us the big announcements from Valve, Battlefield 4 news and updates, the last DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Ghosts news, and much much more. Take a look inside for this weeks TWIG!

Valve Announces the Steam Machine and a Funky New Controller

When Valve announces something we all wait with bated breathe praying to the gaming gods for another episode of Half Life. Unfortunately this isn’t it. They did finally announce that they are starting to beta their new Valve Console named: Steam Machine and introduced a new controller that looks like nothing you’ve seen before! Take a look at the info below!

Steam Machine



Valve Steam Machine

You can check out the Steam Machine page. Although you can see the prototype they displayed from E3. Valve announced it will be running the new SteamOS which was announced in last weeks TWIG – a linux based OS that will run a tweaked version of Steam. Hardware is essentially a dedicated mid-range gaming computer for running Steam Games in some type of small box that will fit in your TV’s Entertainment Center. Also Valve has stated it will be a LOT smaller than the VCR like Xbox One.

Try and Enter The Steam Machine Beta?

Did you know you can try and opt in for the Steam Machine Beta? You could be one of the lucky individuals that actually gets a Steam Machine to help Valve decide which hardware manufacturers and different hardware setups they want to use. Of course this means signing an NDA and actually playing with the Steam Machine and not telling a soul about it!

Steam Controller



Synaptic Pads instead of D-Pads?

I’m sure you’ve seen this crazy bit of hardware? No? Valve announced their latest crazy creation too. The Steam Controller. With two synaptic pads and a LCD screen this is probably the most advanced design in controllers that blows away the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Of course actually seeing if it works and if you can get used to its crazy design is another thing…. Of course you don’t actually NEED anything like this. If your Computer and TV support it you can just use Steam’s current “Big Screen” option and have it project on your TV through the use of an HDMI cord and pairing a PS3 Controller or Xbox Controller to your Computer.  Just something to think about.

This all makes more sense if you watch Gabe Newell’s Speech from this year’s Linux Con 2013:

Battlefield 4 News from Around the Web

Battlefield 4 is going to be released on October 29th! So it isn’t surprising that EA and Dice are starting to spill all the beans and get their Exclusive Beta rolling to try and work out any of the final kinks the game might have. They are doing things a bit different then that other shooter whom shall not be mentioned here. It is most likely to bring some of “those guys” into the BF camp lol.  Below are some links to what you might have missed that you’ll be interested in reading.

EA Blog – All Battlefield 4 Multiplayer Game Modes Revealed - If you are curious about what game modes are going to be available to you? Then you can go directly to their blog to learn about them!

EA Blog – All Battlefield 4 Multiplayer Maps Revealed - If you’re curious about the Multiplayer maps that are revealed with the link? Um.. don’t. Its just a LIST of them with no pictures or links to give you an idea of what they even look like.

GameSpot – DICE defends timing of Battlefield 4 Beta – I know if I had pre-ordered the game for the next-gen consoles and wanted to play in the exclusive beta that starting on Oct 1rst – I’d be pissed off too. Dice talks with GameSpot to defend it. And unfortunately I agree – they couldn’t bump the timeline due to the Call of Duty: Ghosts release happening a week later, nor could they wait for the new consoles to come out as SONY didn’t even give us a date until very recently. Take a look at the article and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Special Offer From Origin:Preorder BF4 Digital Deluxe today from EA/Origin! All users who pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition on Origin before 10/2 will get to play the Exclusive Beta from 10/1 at 1:00am until 10/4 at 1:00am!

Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Apocalypse DLC Released for PC/PS3

The final DLC installment for Call of Duty: Black Ops II was released last Thursday for PlayStation 3 and PC. It introduced 4 new(ish) multiplayer maps: Dig, Takeoff, Pods, and  Fost. Plus COD players also received Zombies Origins. This is the last DLC pack to wrap up the season and get ready for Call of Duty: Ghosts. If you want more info about this DLC? You can read the link below:

Read More: Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Updates | Apocalypse DLC for Xbox Announced

Call of Duty: Ghosts News

Last week we got to see Infinity Ward show us what you get in the Prestige and Hardened Editions of Ghosts. You can check out the YouTube link here. And you can see from the picture (affiliate link to Amazon) below on what you can get with the Prestige edition. I suggest if your a hardcore Call of Duty player? Just stick with the Hardened edition to get the Season Pass and save a few bucks.

Additional Gaming News from Around the Web

Want to Test Drive the Xbox One? Xbox.com announced that it will be traveling around the U.S. and Europe to give people a chance to get their hands on the Xbox One to check it out. Take a look at the link to find out if you live close enough to maybe go and check it out for yourself!

League of Legends New Champion Revealed – Jinx the Loose Cannon - Now I can’t say I’m a huge League of Legends fan. But if you are one of the millions of fanatical fans who do play the game? Your getting a new Champion: Jinx! A Marksman class you get to play this psychotic gun girl. Check out the link for details and back story for more information.

Thief  Q&A – Dualshock 4 Secrets Revealed – PlayStation Blog - Want a sneak peak on how that new DualShock 4 controller is going to work? Then I suggest reading this article.

Multiplayer-Free Wii U Version of Batman: Arkham Origins Will Cost Less - Kotaku reported that the WiiU version of Batman: Arkham Origins – Nintendo Wii U (affiliate link) isn’t going to have the Multiplayer element in it. So to give you Nintendo owners a break they are going to chop $10.00 off the price. Right now its listed on Amazon for that $49.99 price tag.

JoyStiq: Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag for PC Release Date Announced – If your a PC Gamer? Your going to have to wait until Nov 19th to get it. Otherwise it will be out on Oct 29th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Of course it will be available on Release Day for both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as well.

Last Chance to Pre-Order Beyond: Two Souls – The PlayStation Blog announced that if you pre-order through GameStop (and yes ONLY GameStop) you can get the Special Edition upgrade for free. This means you can get a free dynamic theme, 30 minutes extra of game play, and a steel box. Of course you can still pre-order it from Amazon (affiliate link) and then you can at least get the game by its release date of October 8th. Oh… and you can download the Demo tomorrow Oct 1rst! Want to learn more about it an other games? Then take a look at the link below:

Read More: Top 10 Most Anticipated PlayStation Games of 2013

New Releases for This Upcoming Week

This is what is going to be hitting the shelves this week just in case you might have missed it. All links go to Amazon (affiliate) where you can pre-order or check out additional information about the titles listed below.

NBA 2K14 – Xbox 360/PlayStation 3/PC – Oct 1rst

Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl  – 3DS – Oct 1rst

Rain – PlayStation 3 – Oct 1rst – Only available at the PlayStation Store

Rune Factory 4  – 3DS – Oct 1rst

Make Sure to Share!

If you liked what you read. Please take a moment to share this with your friends! I really like putting these together for you and would love to continue doing so. But I can’t do it without your help!

So what do you think? With what I’ve been reading it seems like the major blockbusters are trying to milk it for all they are worth. But there are a few that stand out. Leave me a comment below with your thoughts.

Related Posts:

TWIG | GTA V Released | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One News and More! 9/23/2013

Call of Duty Ghosts | The Next Official Call of Duty Game

Battlefield 4 Pre Order and 17 Minute Gameplay Video

Battlefield 3 or Call of Duty MW3? Why they BOTH Suck – Part 1

5 Exciting Games Still To Come In 2013

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