Briefly: Pretty much every time a huge game release gets delayed (which I believe is more often than not at this point), I ask myself why games even have release dates these days.

I sure hope that Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst’s delay wasn’t intended to get it out of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided‘s way, as the highly anticipated title (with the controversial pre-order campaign) has just been pushed back further into 2016.

Eidos-Montreal Head of Studio David Anfossi announced the ‘no compromise on quality’ delay today. Here’s the full statement:

As you may have already seen by reading and watching the many previews for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, our aim is for it to be a worthy successor to Human Revolution, and to improve upon that game in every way possible. I know that expectations are extremely high, and we not only want to meet those expectations, but exceed them.

 

We’re confident and proud of the game so far. However, as we are now playing through the game in full we can see that it will require more time in post-production for tuning, iterations, and refinement to meet our high standards. In order to achieve this, we need to move the release of the game to August 23rd, 2016.

 

We are sorry to disappoint you with this news, and also thank you for all of your support and comments. This game is a huge part of our lives, and we don’t want to compromise on its quality.

 

So please be patient with us a little longer, and thanks as always for your passion and support – through thick and thin. It’s a huge responsibility to work on Deus Ex Mankind Divided – we know, but also a huge privilege. We’re determined to deliver the best game we can.

The game was originally set to release along with Ubisoft’s Far Cry: Primal on February 23rd. This marks an entire half-year push, which should give the team plenty of time to polish the game, as well as another E3 to build even more astronomical hype for it.

I’m a huge Deus Ex fan, and I just want the game to be as good as it can be. If that means playing it six months later, so be it (though again, it feels like these release dates are never hit).

Briefly: Well this is damned cool.

The original Deus Ex is one of my favourite games of all time. It was one of the first games that I’d every played that truly made me feel as though the choices that I was making, and the stats that I was developing, made a difference to the overall game and the outcome of the story.

I’ve replayed the title a few times over the years, but being that Deus Ex is now a 15 year-old game, it’s getting so long in the tooth that it’s hard to pick up and play. It’s still amazing, but level design, graphics, and the audio just cannot hold up to anything even remotely contemporary.

Well, Square-Enix and Eidos have just revealed that they’ve authorized a fan-created mod for the game titled Deus Ex Revision, which aims to change the game at its core. According to the Steam page, “it also bundles in some of the best modifications that the fanbase has made over the years, including Direct3D 9 rendering, high-resolution textures, high-detail 3D models, and alternative gameplay modes.”

John French, Creative Director at Caustic Creative, said that “Where other projects fill in detail around the edges of the game by tuning gameplay mechanics or improving textures, we focus on the visceral core of the Deus Ex experience, bringing new level design, aesthetic direction and world-building detail.”

David Anfossi, Head of Studio at Eidos-Montreal adds that “One of the reasons that Deus Ex has been so popular for 15 years is the way in which the gaming community has embraced the ground-breaking gameplay and a narrative that looks to the future but is inspired by real-world events. Revision’ from Caustic Creative is a fantastic way for fans new and old to experience the original Deus Ex in a whole new way before Deus Ex: Mankind Divided® raises the bar once again.”

It’s a pretty cool idea, and it’s available right now, for free, for Steam owners of the game! Watch the trailer below, head here to give it a download, and let us know if you’re looking forward to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided!

Join Derek, Josh, Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided announced/leaked.

Square’s failed Deus Ex ARG.

Derek weaves a tail of using On Live.

Acronym Clothing.

FTC says Sony misrepresented the features of the Vita and are offering class action rewards.

Mega64 Beyond Two Souls.

Professor Layton mob‎ile sequel.

Fantasy Life 2.

WoW tokens launch.

Derek is TERRIFIED of Amiibo preorders.

Puzzles and Dragons Super Mario Bros. Edition.

Splatoon.

Mario Party 10.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Homeworld Remastered.

This Week’s Listener Mission Objective:

If you could forget, and relive one game for the first time what would it be and why?

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Briefly: After a timely leak yesterday, Square-Enix has officially revealed the next game in the Deus Ex series, titled Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

The game is set two years after the events of Human Revolution, and is set to release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (though it’s still without a release date, which is far preferable to it simply being delayed).

According to Square-Enix, the game’s plot is as follows:

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided takes place in 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution and the infamous ‘Aug Incident’ in Panchaea that resulted in the death of millions at the hands of those who had installed augmentations. This event has created a huge divide between those who have augmentations, and those who do not. Amongst this emotional turmoil are various factions looking to manipulate the public by twisting public opinion of augmentation to further their own agenda and hide the truth of what really happened.

 

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also continues the story of Adam Jensen, a former biotech company security chief turned super-augmented, anti-terrorist agent playing by his own rules. Jensen has been empowered with all new augmentations, enabling him and the player a greater sense of self-control as they explore all new locations in-game. As social and political tensions reach a major turning point, Jensen and conspiracies surrounding the Illuminati continue toward an inevitable crossroads … and possibly, an epic showdown.

I was a huge fan of Human Revolution, and Deus Ex before it (Invisible War… not so much), so you better believe I’m excited to learn more about Mankind Divided. The just-released announcement trailer looks cool, but it does little to excite me. It’s entirely CGI, and if the series’ last game is any indication, the game likely won’t look like this.

Square-Enix also notes that “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will also mark a new era in Eidos-Montréal’s technology, utilizing the advanced visual and immersive capabilities of the Dawn Engine™, specifically built for the recent generation of consoles and PC. Under the umbrella of the Gaming Evolved program, AMD and Eidos-Montréal have been collaborating on Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and the game will feature Microsoft’s DirectX® 12 support as well as AMD’s TressFX™. These features will not only raise the bar in game performance but bring unrivalled visual fidelity to the Deus Ex franchise.”

So, it’ll be very pretty. But I still doubt it’ll be as pretty as this trailer is. Take a look below, and let us know what you think!

Briefly: While it was announced that a Deus Ex: Human Revolution feature film was in the works all the way back in 2012, we haven’t heard any news of the film since (though a new Deus Ex game has been announced).

A short film that was just released by Machinima should be able to fill that void for some time, because it’s freaking awesome. I’ve been a big fan of the Deus Ex series since playing the first game for Playstation 2 in my early teens, and I feel as though this short is a fantastic representation of what a feature could look like.

The video describes itself as:

Based on the video game Deus Ex Human Revolution, the film dives into the world of Adam Jensen, a serif industries’ security consultant that gets augmented after an incident that almost took his life away. Although the film doesn’t follow the narrative of the game exactly, it remains true to the theme while focusing on the relationship between Adam Jensen, and his ex girlfriend Megan Reed, a scientist hand picked by Serif Industries to head Cybernetic Augmentations. Megan is taken by the Illuminati and is asked to assist them in turning on a mysterious device but she refuses to cooperate. Jensen has been looking for Megan since she was kidnapped and has finally pinpointed her location. Adam faces a complication that he did not account for; Yelena Federova, an Augmented assassin is at the facility where Megan is being held. The film also taps, even if briefly, into Adam’s mind and the struggle he must face on daily basis.

The short was directed by Moe Charif, who you’ll also see in the video as Adam Jensen. Take a look at Human Revolution – Deus Ex below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/LO2Rx8YlSWY

Briefly: Eidos has just announced the next chapter in the incredible Deus Ex saga.

It’s called Deus Ex: Universe, and it’s actually not just one game. As Head of Studio David Anfossi describes it, the idea behind Deus Ex: Universe “is to create an ongoing, expanding and connected game world built across a generation of core games. It’s a commitment on our part to deliver meaningful content that expands the franchise on a regular basis and to deliver a deep conspiracy that will span several connected Deus Ex games, creating a more immersive and richer experience than ever before. Deus Ex: Universe will include PC and console games, but also additional Deus Ex games and experiences available in other media such as tablets, smartphones, books, graphic novels, etc…”

Deus Ex is a universe with countless stories to be told, and essentially infinite room for expansion. I’m a huge fan of the franchise (I remember playing the first title as a 12 year old boy on the first day that it hit the PS2). The idea behind Universe is one that’s a perfect fit for the franchise.

Anfossi continues:

I’m pleased to confirm that we are already into production of the starting point for Deus Ex: Universe with a new game for PC and next-generation consoles. We’re very excited about it at the studio and I wanted to let you know that most of the team behind Deus Ex: Human Revolution is already working hard on this new game. It took us four years to learn how to create a unique Deus Ex experience with Human Revolution and it was important for me to keep this knowledge within the franchise.

If you haven’t yet experienced 2011’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution, I implore you to do so. It’s definitely one of the highlights of this generation. Take a peek at some Deus Ex: Universe concept art below, and let us know what you think of the announcement!

Golem_DeusExUniverse

Since Square-Enix took over many of Eidos’ properties, few have had as much critical success as Deus Ex: Human Revolution when it was released in 2011. This revival of the influential series brought non liner action back to a first person genre that’s used to being about shooting first and asking questions later. Adding the expertly woven story and the customizable abilities, and you had a game that pleased many of the gamers who played it. When a director’s cut was announced, I knew this wouldn’t be a game to miss, so I hacked into Square Enix’s system to see what this Wii U offering brought to the table.

As you would expect from a director’s cut, the game itself is relatively unchanged. As Adam Jensen, an officer who has been enhanced with numerous augmentations, he is tasked with taking down a terrorist organization by any means necessary. Players will still be able to use stealth, guns or a mix of both to accomplish their mission while aided by upgradable augmentations to make Adam unique. With so many options, it’s very likely that one person’s character will be completely different from another’s.

Deus Ex DC Screen 1

New to the director’s cut are a slew of abilities and features. Playing with the Wii U tablet made the menus much easier to access, so being forced to flip through pages of options has been simplified to a simple tap of the screen. Adam can now throw back grenades, scan the area by lifting the Wii U game pad and pointing it at the screen, (making it easier to find items and enemies,) and tackle new stealth and hacking challenges. The extra missions from the DLC have been seamlessly implemented into the story, making the overall experience longer. These are accompanied by new achievements and eight hours of developer commentary that are scattered throughout the game. Even veterans of Human Revolution will be caught off guard by the reworked maps and boss fights, hoping to keep even the most seasoned players on their toes. And if you suck at the game? Well you’re covered too, because a digital version of the strategy guide is built into the game! The best news? You’ll be able to go back with all of your upgrades with the added New Game Plus, letting players blast through for alternate endings like a super powered boss!

Deus Ex DC Screen 2

During E3, it was announced that Human Revlolution Director’s Cut will also be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3, so there’s no excuse not to give this game a try, especially if you missed it the first time. I was pleasantly surprised by the original release, and I can’t wait to see how well these new features play out in the full game!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut is scheduled to be released later this year.

We could all try to read a little more in our lives. Though not sure that too much TV rots the brain, it’s nice to sit in a comfy chair to escape into our oft forgotten imaginations that books tend to nourish. Well, I have a deal for you that will not only get you to go back to those imaginations, it’s also free.

Big Jack is Dead - Cover

Starting today and continuing until tomorrow, Harvey Smith‘s new novel, Big Jack is Dead, will be free on the Amazon Kindle store for two days only starting today, May 29th. Mr. Smith is known recently for co-creating Dishonored as well as past endeavors like Lead Designer of Deus Ex and Creative Director of the sequel, Invisible War. Describing Big Jack is Dead as a “semi-autobiographical, Southern Gothic novel that depicts inherited behaviors we cannot escape” definitely has my interests peaked already. Being free, it can’t hurt to give in to curiosity and read Big Jack is Dead either.

If you need a little more than just my stupid words to get you intrigued, here is an excerpt from the book:

Excerpt from Big Jack is Dead

I flew to Houston first class. Why not? Your dad only kills himself once. The seat next to me was empty, which was great since I didn’t feel like talking to anyone. So what brings you to Texas?

Slumping back in the seat, I turned my head and pressed my cheek against the cool leather. The plane wobbled and dipped, rattling a tray nearby. Two men across the aisle stopped talking briefly and the seat belt reminder chimed and lit up. We jerked around then hit smooth air, leveling out. An airline attendant passed, offering blankets. I closed my eyes to erase the people around me, cupping a glass of ice in my left hand. The whiskey was gone, but the smell was still strong and the ice cubes still carried the flavor. I struggled to unwind even as the warmth of the drink spread through me.

It would be impossible to relax around my family. They would come up with stunts I couldn’t predict, guided by unknowable winds that resulted in improbable acts.

 

This week on the show we’ve got Adrian Askarieh, producer of the film versions of ‘Hitman’ and the upcoming ‘Deus Ex’! We’ll talk about returning to the Hitman franchise, what it takes to make a solid adaptation and whether or not the future of Hollywood lies in video game properties! We’ll also discuss ‘Iron Man 3’ and what films this summer look to be the biggest at the Box Office! Ian Kerner also calls in to opine the destruction (or lack thereof of Krypton! Plus, are comic book adaptations drying up the source material and how is the landscape of Hollywood becoming more homogenized? PLUS! I revisit memories from my earliest days in broadcasting!

 

This is some freaking exciting news.

One of my favourite games last year was Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Square-Enix developed an insanely awesome FPS-RPG that turned out to be one of the best shooters in recent memory. It also made me completely forget the mediocre mess that was Deus Ex: Invisible War.

CBS Films announced today that they’re developing a movie based on Human Revolution. Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose) will write and direct the film, with Roy Lee, Adrian Askarieh, and John P. Middleton producing. While the Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the third game in the series, the title will serve as the template for this first movie. The game won over 100 industry awards last year, so let’s hope the film doesn’t follow the typical video game movie trend.

What do you think of the news? Excited? Who would you like to see in the role of Adam?

In a stunning “out-of-left-field” move, CBS Films has optioned the phenomenally successful “Deus Ex” series of video games and are actually involving the Square team in the development of the film. Roy Lee and Geekscape friend Adrian Askarieh are attached to produce with John P. Middleton executive producing.

CBS Films C0-President, Terry Press was quoted:

As is clear from the wild success of the game, Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal know how to exceed their audience’s expectations by engineering incredible worlds, No one knows Human Revolution like the team that created it and we look forward to working with them from day one to make a film adaptation worthy of the Deus Ex name.

So they’re bringing the whole Square team on board. That is one of the smartest decisions a film studio can make in wanting to do a video game adaptation. It is a trend that is starting to make sense (just look at ‘Marvel’). The people who create these worlds know what should go into the story and characters from a fan perspective. Deus Ex is one of the most powerful narrative driven games out there so I for one am very excited to see what comes of this.

Source: Deadline

Crowdfunding has been making a big impact in the realm of video games, with the most famous being the Double Fine Adventure kickstarter started by Tim Schafer, which raised nearly $3.5 million dollars to fund development for their new game. It’s a model of funding that could become really big in the future, although I’m personally waiting to see when the 1st real failure of crowd-funding occurs, just so we can analyze and improve on the process of crowd-funding, enabling a better service for fans, consumers, and developers alike.

I am a huge fan of the SNES-era Shadowrun game, and to be able to play this game on the PC, with a level editor built into the game, does sound like a real treat, especially for fans of the Blade Runner/Deus Ex: Human Revolution aesthetic. And now we’ll hopefully get a chance, as the experience I’ve just described, entitled “Shadowrun Returns”, has successfully hit its Kickstarter goals! Well done, internet!

For more information, visit the official Kickstarer page here.

Source: http://venturebeat.com/2012/04/29/shadowrun-returns-raises-1-8m-in-kickstarter-campaign/