GTA Online starts pushing user-created missions, mobile updates arrive for San Andreas and Chinatown Wars

Ready for a slew of Grand Theft Auto updates? We sure hope so. First up, developer Rockstar Games has put its stamp of approval on ten of the GTA Onlinecommunity's million-plus custom-match submissions. Because these races and deathmatches -- including a NASCAR-style circuit atop a skyscraper and a melee-weapon prison-yard fight -- are now Rockstar Verified, they're available on both PS3 and Xbox 360, regardless of which platform they originated from. If your magnum opus didn't make the first cut, relax: The outfit says there's more verified missions coming ahead of the multiplayer heists and single player DLC due next year.

If you fancy mobile mayhem however, GTA: San Andreas' Grove Street Familiesarrived on Android late last week. Check the reviews before clicking that buy button though, performance issues and glitches have been noted even on high-end flagships like the Galaxy S4. While San Andreas' appearance on Google's mobile OS may have been tardy (and buggy), it's still MIA on Windows Phone 8 despite the simultaneous release we were expecting. Last but not least, GTA: Chinatown Wars is back on iTunes, and now compatible with iOS 7 and your iPhone 4 or 4s' Retina display -- should you favor a Liberty City built specifically for mobile gameplay to SA's ported faux-SoCal. We've reached out to Rockstar about the Android issues plus a timetable for our WP8 ride with Big Smoke, and will update this post if we hear back. Until then, happy car-jacking. http://www.engadget.com

Read More...

Play Games Online? American intelligence Maybe your Monitor

American spy and England play the game online , not for entertainment but to search for secret communications , financial transactions and terrorist plans .
According to documents released by former NSA employee Edward J. Snowden , and reported by The New York Times and the Guardian , American and British intelligence activities collect data and messages sent by the players of online games , such as World of Warcraft and Second Life .
As often do the players , the agents create a false identity , or so-called avatars , and communicate through voice and text chat to retrieve information about the plans that violate the law . Law enforcement agencies are also using a false identity to combat human trafficking and child pornography .
In a confidential document from 2008 , the NSA claimed that online games that seem harmless can be used as a " communication network " for secret messages .
Both the newspaper reported that some online games are monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies are different so that made ​​the group coordinator to avoid conflict. (VOA)

Read More...

PlayStation 4 Sales Strong for Sony as Console Launches Around Globe

With the PlayStation 4 rolling out into more international territories, the videogame console continues to perform well for Sony, with the device having sold more than 2.1 million units worldwide since it first went on sale Nov. 15 in the U.S.

As of Dec. 1, the figure includes 700,000 PS4s Sony Computer Entertainment has sold in Europe, Australia and Asia since it launched in those regions on Nov. 29. It’s now also available in 32 countries, including those in Latin America.

Console topped the 1 million mark in its first 24 hours of release in North America.

“PS4 delivered the best launch in PlayStation history with the North American release and we’ve continued this incredibly successful start in Europe, Australasia and Latin America,” said Andrew House, president and group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Demand remains incredibly strong and continues to overwhelm the supply worldwide, but we are diligently working to meet those growing demands and to deliver additional PS4 units to our retail partners throughout the holiday season. We are extremely grateful for the passion of PlayStation fans and thank them for their continued support.”

Sony also announced that players have captured and uploaded 6.5 million videos using a share button on the new PS4 controller.

Microsoft’s Xbox One console also sold 1 million units in its first day of release. 

Reference: http://movies.yahoo.com/news/playstation-4-sales-strong-sony-console-launches-around-153644382.html

Read More...