Report: VR/AR company Leap Motion sold to UltraHaptics for $30 million
Newsbrief: Leap Motion, the AR and VR technology company behind the open-source North Star AR headset, has reportedly been purchased by the UK-based firm UltraHaptics for $30 million.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed the sale to The Wall Street Journal, though the acquisition has yet to be officially announced. Leap Motion’s engineering staff and co-founder Dave Holz will reportedly join UltraHaptics following the sale, while co-founder Michael Buckward is said to be leaving the company.
The Wall Street Journal also notes that Leap Motion’s $30 million price tag is roughly a tenth of the company’s valuation from only a few years back. Further back, Apple had reportedly tried to make an offer for the company as well. According to 9 to 5 Mac, the iPhone maker approached Leap Motion as recently as 2018 and offered between $30 million and $50 million for the company, but the deal fell through.
May 22nd : New Preview Beta Ring 1906 Update (19060.190516-1940)
Starting at 2:00 p.m. PST today, members of the Xbox One Preview Beta Ring will begin receiving the latest 1906 Xbox One system update (19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940).
DETAILS:
OS version released: 19H1_RELEASE_XBOX_DEV_1906\18362.4028.190516-1940
Available: 2:00PM PDT 5/22/19
Mandatory Date/Time: 3:00 AM PDT 5/23/19
New Features:
This first update is meant to lay the groundwork for what’s to come in 1906, so while you’ll find fixes and known issues listed below, please keep an eye out for feature announcements as they’re ready to be previewed. Thanks, as always, for your passion for helping make Xbox One system updates the best they can be prior to release to GA!
Mixer
Users can watch full-screen Mixer streams on the Mixer Twist. Simply navigate to the Mixer twist, select a stream and hit A. Please test out these new features and provide feedback.
Fixes:
Audio:
Fixes addressing the stability of audio when the console comes out of Instant on mode.
System
Fixes to narrator bugs in Settings.
Various UI alignment fixes to the Home and settings.
Localization fixes.
Known Issues:
Audio
Headsets are not being assigned to the users profiles and not working correctly.
Profile Color
Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.
My Games and Apps – Apps/Games taking too long to start error
Sometimes users may encounter this launch error and we are tracking a fix. Workaround – Hard reboot the console.
In a world ravaged by war and dominated by magic, you must rise up to face the Chaos hordes. Playing solo or with up to four players in local or online co-op, choose a hero from four character classes and prepare for epic battles wielding some of the most powerful artefacts of the Old World.
Pounce inside of your cozy armored mech and set off on a dangerous trek through an alien underworld full of irritable creatures and treacherous obstacles in a valiant effort to save your stranded captain and his crashed spaceship.
Update:Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's 3.1.0 update is now live. Along with the previously announced fighter adjustments, the patch introduces a new VR mode that's compatible with the Labo VR Goggles, as well as a few new Amiibo features. You can find the full patch notes here. The original story follows.
Nintendo is rolling out a new patch for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this week. All the company has said is the update will make an assortment of "fighter adjustments," but it appears there will be a few new features on the way as well, including Labo VR support.
The in-game notification for the 3.1.0 update was uncovered ahead of the patch's release (via Twitter). According to that, the update will roll out at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET today, May 30 (2 AM BST on May 31) and add a VR mode, which will give players "a whole new perspective on the Smash action." To play this mode, you'll need to have the Toy-Con VR Goggles from the Labo VR kit.
In addition to the VR mode, it appears the 3.1.0 update is adding some new Amiibo functionality. According to the leaked notification, players will be able to send their Amiibo fighters off on "journeys to train" and have them battle against other Amiibo fighters. Additionally, Amiibo fighters will now be able to join Battle Arenas.
Beyond the upcoming update, a new Spirit Board event has been announced. This week's event is called Super Smash Sisters, and it features heroines from an assortment of different games, including the Legendary Spirits Pyra, Mythra, and Krystal. On top of that, players will be able to unlock a brand-new Spirit Peachette. The Super Smash Sisters event runs from May 31 to June 5.
Talking Point: The Changing Definition Of ‘The Nintendo Difference’
“Can you play with your friends online?” you ask. Odd question, but… erm, well no. Because that would introduce a conflict of interest with the game’s online leaderboards, you see. – Nintendo, 2019
After making a design decision that had many a journalist double and triple checking sources, Nintendo confirmed this week that it is not possible to play with or against friends online in Super Mario Maker 2. As with so many aspects of the modern world, it seems that with every step forward, the Kyoto company takes two steps back. Or maybe its head is moving too fast for its body. Or perhaps the body is dragging the head along behind it…
Whatever analogy you care to employ, Nintendo’s slightly baffled replies to seemingly obvious questions used to play as charming, in a way. In the past you could brush off quirky implementations of industry-standard features with a smile. “Oh Nintendo!” you’d laugh, before diving into some incredible Mario game and forgetting about whatever it was that the company had borked this time round.
If you’re being generous, you could argue that there’s a childlike naivety to its thinking and it’s this that leads to the company’s unique ideas. There’s arguably no better example of ‘the Nintendo difference’ than the original Wii. We remember looking that TV remote controller and feeling perplexed. What is this thing, strange and yet reassuringly familiar? How is two GameCubes duct taped together supposed to topple the might of Sony and Microsoft’s offerings? Fortunately, Nintendo had clear and coherent answers to those questions and ended up reframing how people – gamers and non-gamers alike – viewed console gaming, expanding the definition to be more inclusive. Lovely.
Remember this? Probably best forgotten…
Other times the company fails to answer even the most basic questions to anybody’s satisfaction. Take Wii Speak, the room-wide microphone peripheral from 2008 that sat next to your telly and let everyone in the room converse with everyone in another room over the internet. Years after the wider console gaming community got comfortable with headsets, Wii Speak seemed like an anachronism to everybody but Nintendo. The inclusive philosophy was quaint – admirable, even – but to the majority of gamers the company sounded like your gramps recalling the first time he encountered telephony. “Look! You speak and the soundwaves travel across the world wide web as if you’re somewhere else!” Yep, got it.
The inclusive philosophy was quaint – admirable, even – but to the majority of gamers the company sounded like your gramps recalling the first time he encountered telephony.
We can forgive the developers the odd ill-conceived peripheral and chuckle at ‘crazy ol’ Nintendo’. Remember the Vitality Sensor? Ha! Only Nintendo,am I right?! It gets harder to chuckle heartily when it comes to key components and core services, though.
Remember the launch of the Wii U when we were all intrigued with the GamePad and the potential it brought? Nintendo fans the world over were dreaming of brilliant ways to interact with each other and the games using this new input method. What about two-player? Can you use a second GamePad to play golf with a mate? What about as a simple touch pad with party games?
These were obvious questions to people seeing the concept for the first time, but Nintendo’s response made it seem liked two GamePads had never been considered. The questions sent reps scrambling for senior team members. “Two of them? Yeah, seems plausible – there’s only one in the box. Let me just check that for you…” Confusion went on to characterise that entire console cycle.
Two? That would just be silly.
It’s getting harder for fans to give Nintendo the benefit of the doubt, too. Super Mario Maker for 3DS didn’t allow players to upload creations online, instead opting only for local sharing and cutting the legs off one of the brilliant original’s core concepts. Rather than find a solution to protect younger games, it seems features are simply cut out and then glossed over with a bit of marketing speak.
For every golden idea to come from ‘the Nintendo difference’, nowadays there seems to some backwards piece of thinking to negate it.
For every golden idea to come from ‘the Nintendo difference’, nowadays there seems to some backwards piece of thinking to negate it. The odd disconnect between simple solutions and Nintendo’s reluctance to follow the crowd creates a space which, on one hand enables the company to think outside the box and solve problems in new ways. Splatoon 2 reimagines the squad-based shooter, with ‘the Nintendo difference’ enabling even rubbish players to be useful to their team by inking the terrain.
All in the name of protecting the kids, eh? What about the ones who died tangled in this mess?
So, again, ‘the Nintendo difference’ becomes a negative. Where it once referred to the overall polish of a game or some genius spin on a mechanic that we’d never seen or even thought of before, it’s increasingly synonymous with some inexplicable decision or ungainly solution to a problem that’s already been solved.
The ‘problems’ introduced through playing with friends across the internet in Mario Maker 2 are easily remedied. Add an unranked option, for example, or allow for a team mode. Why is the co-op mode affected when that doesn’t even have leaderboards? These are choices. In the past you could imagine that the company simply didn’t consider the option, blundering down a path once the design doc was finished, but that isn’t believable anymore. It comes across as wilful ignorance and refusal to embrace the way we actually play games in the 21st century.
Yes, the local experience is usually optimal, but for some it’s simply not practical to go to a friend’s house, or meet up in the park with your Switch.
Yes, the local experience is usually optimal, but for some it’s simply not practical to go to a friend’s house, or meet up in the park with your Switch. What if you live miles away? What if you live in a dangerous neighbourhood? What if it’s raining? What if your friend isn’t allowed out past a certain time?
The internet has brought gamers together for decades now. Sure, there are grimy parts – and the mute button is a godsend – but if we’re already dealing with the cumbersome Friends list set-up Nintendo seems married to, it’s unthinkable that we can’t use it to, you know, play with friends.
None of this would be quite so perplexing or galling if Nintendo wasn’t now charging for its online service. Even at its lower price compared to online services on other consoles, paying for it raises expectations. Nintendo’s ineffectiveness in the online space might be expected given the company’s history, but it’s incredible that it seems content for “Oh, Nintendo is rubbish with online” to be a common refrain with even die-hard fans.
I don’t know any of these people.
Not supporting amiibo is one thing, but being able to play with your friends online should be a given in 2019. This isn’t blind, childlike naivety or a unique vision – this was a decision made and it was obviously the wrong one. Obvious, that is, to everyone except Nintendo, it would seem. We can hope for a patch, and we’re sure Super Mario Maker 2 will have plenty to make us smile, but it’s a shame that these fundamental mistakes take the sheen off what is otherwise shaping up to be a glistening jewel in Switch’s crown.
What does ‘The Nintendo Difference’ mean to you these days? Are you content with Nintendo’s approach to online gaming? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions below.
Shovel Knight Update Coming To Musical Bullet-Hell Game Just Shapes & Beats
Everyone’s favourite indie hero Shovel Knight is at it again, this time collaborating with the musical bullet-hell game, Just Shapes & Beats. Yes, Yacht Club’s fearless knight will soon appear in his very own update for Berzerk Studio’s game, fittingly titled: Just Shovels & Knights.
This update was revealed during Nintendo’s Japanese Indie World presentation. Based on what was on display, you’ll be able to bop along to the songs from Shovel Knight’s side-scrolling adventure, including the theme songs for King Knight and Plague Knight. Shovel Knight’s music was originally handled by the talented American composer, Jake Kaufman.
This future update will follow on from the recently released ‘Hardcore’ mode, celebrating Just Shapes & Beats first birthday. If you haven’t tried out this game yet, we highly recommend it. Learn more about it in our review.
Are you excited about Yacht Club’s indie hero appearing in Just Shapes & Beats? Have you tried out the new mode? Tell us below.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-01-2019, 05:07 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
Apex Legends Event Starts Soon, Before Season 2 Reveal
Apex Legends has been facing numerous issues since launch, including dealing with cheaters, but Respawn Entertainment is committed to improving the game and providing enough content to keep returning players satisfied. The California-based company isn't divulging too many details yet, but it has teased what's to come in Season 2 and announced an upcoming, limited-time event that will begin in the free-to-play battle royale game just before E3.
Full details on Season 2 will be shared during the EA Play livestream on Saturday, June 8. Ahead of that reveal, Respawn's lead product manager, Lee Horn, posted a blog on EA's website to discuss what's to come next week.
The headliner is the beginning of the new Legendary Hunt limited-time event. It will last a full two weeks and kicks off on Tuesday, June 6. The event will add an Apex Elite queue (where those who make it into the top five in any match will continue to play against other top fivers), Legendary Hunt rewards (including skins for Bloodhound, Wraith, various weapons, and more), and Battle Pass bonus experience for top fivers in any match. Additionally, double experience weekend returns, starting on Friday, June 7 at 10 AM PT and ending on Monday, June 10 at 10 AM PT.
We've heard a few rumblings about the Season 2 Battle Pass for Apex Legends. Though Respawn wants to keep the information as close to the chest as possible, Horn did give some minor details about what to expect from Season 2 of Apex Legends.
To start, daily and weekly challenges will allow you to level up easier. Should you miss any challenges or start late, weekly challenges will remain available to complete and can be completed all at once. Three new Legendary items have been added and one Legendary item will unlock at every 25 Battle Pass levels in the premium pack. Those that reach Battle Pass level 100 will receive an evolving weapon skin, and those that reach Battle Pass level 110 will receive a special recolor version of the skin. Badges and basic stat trackers have been removed from the premium track, while seasonal win trackers will remain in the free track but will be earnable in the first 10 levels. Lastly, voice lines have been replaced by crafting metal. The Season 2 Battle Pass should make earning crafting metal easier and quicker so you can craft that item you've been eyeballing.
E3 2019 is just around the corner. With Respawn set to present more information during the EA Play livestream at 10 AM PT on Saturday, June 8, we should walk away from the presentation with a greater understanding of what Respawn's ideas are for the upcoming season of Apex Legends.
Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights And More D&D Classics Coming To Switch
Fans of classic Dungeons & Dragons RPGs are in for a treat: Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate II, Planescape Torment, Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights are all coming to Switch and other consoles for the first time later this year in their Enhanced Edition guises.
Publisher Skybound Games is releasing the games in three bundles (well, two plus Neverwinter Nights) featuring all DLC and expansions, plus restored and even brand new content in the case of the Baldur’s Gate pack.
Here’s a more thorough breakdown of the contents from the official PR blurb:
● The Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Pack: Celebrating the series’ 20th anniversary, the original Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition and its sequel, Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition, return with all DLC and restored quest content, as well as the Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear expansion, featuring new original content developed by Beamdog to bridge the two games. ● Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition / Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition: Two must-play games and all their DLC in one package – the chilling Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition, plus its expansions, and the enhanced edition of 1999’s RPG of the Year, Planescape: Torment. ● Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition: The 2002 Computer RPG of the Year and all its DLC deliver 10 standalone D&D-based adventures featuring co-op and online multiplayer.
Developed by Beamdog, a studio with experience bringing these specific games to more modern platforms, these editions have apparently been ‘tailored for a natural gameplay experience on consoles’, including optimisation for controllers and redesigned UI, so hopefully they’ll feel good while playing on-the-go.
As you can see in the trailer above, two of the bundles arrive in the autumn on 27th September with Neverwinter Nights bringing up the rear on 6th December.
Fans of physical carts should also celebrate the fact that these games will also be available in a box with a bitter-tasting cartridge nestled inside:
Are you a fan of these classic games or will this be your first time dipping your toe into the D&D pool? Feel free to share your thoughts with a comment in the usual place.
