Episode 15 – The E3 special
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Welcome to another episode of Geek Bytes Podcast. The podcast that brings you all this week’s tech and geek news.
I’m Ramon Mejia…….I’m Edgar Acosta
Remember to follow us on Twitter @geekbytespod and Follow us on Facebook
This Week in Geek News we talk about why AT&T Must Pay $100 Million, Dropbox’s newest feature, Sony’s A La Carte TV Service, California says Uber Drivers are employees, Microsoft Hardware announcements, the ‘Jurassic World’ Record, Trailers of the Week, and more
In Discussions we’ll talk about all the great E3 announcements this week
We Begin our show with Geek News
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Geek News
AT&T Must Pay $100 Million for Supposedly Slowing "Unlimited" Data
· The Federal Communications Commission hit AT&T with one of its biggest fines in history today.
· The FCC found out that AT&T throttled net speeds for people who used up a particular amount of data, slowing the internet speeds way down.
· http://gizmodo.com/at-t-must-pay-100-million-for-supposedly-slowing-unli-1711980185
Dropbox’s New Requests Feature Lets Anyone Upload Files To Your Account
· Dropbox rolled out a new feature that will allow those without an account to share files with Dropbox users.
· Called “File Requests,” the option gives anyone you ask the ability to upload files into your Dropbox account, into a folder of your choosing.
You can now reserve the Apple Watch in store
· The Apple Store website now supports online reservations of the Watch, letting you see if models are available in any stores near you and ensuring that if the model you’re after is there, staff will set it aside and have one waiting for you when you can come in.
California says Uber Drivers are employees and Not independent Contractors
· The California Labor Commission has ruled that at least one Uber driver is an employee.
· Currently Uber employs its drivers as third-party contractors.
o Uber has argued repeatedly in various courts that it is not a transportation or taxi company, but rather a software platform that matches customer demand with supply.
· This ruling changes all that, turning Uber into a transportation startup instead of a logistics software company.
· That puts the company in a position to face a number of legal obstacles, as well as rising costs of employing those drivers directly and offering them benefits, etc.
· http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/17/uber-drivers-deemed-employees-by-california-labor-commission/
Sony Offers an A La Carte TV Service with The PlayStation Vue
· At Sony’s E3 2015 press conference the company announced that it will unbundle its Vue streaming channels and offer the stations a la carte.
· In doing so, Sony becomes the first provider to offer (at least some) TV stations to the American consumer without bundles.
Microsoft Hardware announcements
· Microsoft Adds backwards compatibility to the Xbox One
o At their E3 press conference Microsoft revealed that this fall the Xbox One will be able to play Xbox 360 games.
o At first this will apply to a select number of games in digital and disc format.
· New Elite Game Controller
o four interchangeable paddles around back
o Hair Trigger Locks for precise control in shooters,
o Remappable buttons, and
o Completely swappable components.
o Cost $150
o http://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/accessories/controllers/elite-wireless-controller
‘Jurassic World’ Sets Global Record with $511.8 Million Debut
· It marks the first time a film has ever grossed more than $500 million in a single weekend.
· The dinosaur thriller is the top-ranking film from sea to shining sea, after opening in first place in North America and across all 66 international territories where it debuted.
· https://variety.com/2015/film/news/jurassic-world-global-box-office-record-1201519430/
Neil Gaiman's American Gods Greenlit By STARZ
· "American Gods" tells the story of Shadow, an ex-con who finds himself thrown into a unbelievable war between the gods of new and old.
· As biblical and mythological gods clash with the new gods powered by media, money and vice, the fate of godhood hangs in the balance.
· The book has earned the Hugo, Nebula, and Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel, and has been translated into more than 30 languages.
· http://comicbook.com/2015/06/16/neil-gaimans-american-gods-greenlit-by-starz/
Trailers of the Week
· Hotel Transylvania 2
o Dracula’s rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening up its doors to human guests.
o But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire.
o http://comicbook.com/2015/06/17/new-hotel-transylvania-2-trailer-released/
· The Peanut Movie 2015
o http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/6/17/new-trailer-for-the-peanuts-movie
· The Secret Lives of Pets
o http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/6/17/first-look-at-the-secret-life-of-pets-trailer
· Kung Fu Panda 3
o When Po's long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters.
o http://www.geekbytespodcast.com/news/2015/6/18/rock-out-with-the-kung-fu-panda-3-trailer
For a review of the topics we covered and any of the links in show notes for this episode visit our site geekbytespodcast.com
If you have any comments or suggestions for us, please e-mail us at feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Onto our Discussion section
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Discussion
E3 happened this week and there were tons of announcements from all the major consoles and game makers. We have all 8 press events on video and summaries of all the announcements and game trailers at geekbytespodcast.com. We’re just going to discuss the announcements we are most excited about. If there is something you think we missed or that you’re also excited about you can comment on the podcast page, let us know on Twitter @geekbytespod, or e-mail us at feedback@geekbytespodcast.com
Bethesda ( sounds like Beth-aye-sss-duh)
· Doom
o Spring 2016 on all platforms
· Elder Scrolls Legends, Card game
· Fallout 4
o Real Pip Boy to create 2nd screen experience
o Mobile game Fallout Shelter- on ios now
o Crafting system to build your own settlements
o November 10th, 2015
Xbox
· Halo 5-Gaurdians release date October 27, 2015
o Other Spartans hunt down Master Chief, Nathan Fillion is one of them.
· Online pirate game-Sea of Thieves
· Gears of War 4- Sometime this Holiday 2015
· Backwards Compatibility
· Elite Game Controller
· Indie Game, Cup Head- 1920’s are style
Sony
· The Last Guardian set to premier 2016 –Big crowd pleaser
· Shenmue 3- Announced Kickstarter at E3, already has $2 million in funding
· Street Fighter 5- Sony PS4 and PC exclusive. Get Beta access if you pre-order.
· Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate – Play as Jacob or his twin Evie Frye, female assassin. She has a stylish cane sword and throwing knives.
· World of Final Fantasy- Exclusive to Sony. Cute Final Fantasy characters explore the world and add famous characters while exploring the story
· Final Fantasy 7 remake- One of the most beloved Final Fantasy games is getting a remake exclusive to Sony first.
· Batman: Arkham Knight- Teases the death of the Batman
· Call of Duty Black Ops 3-Set in the year 2065 players can work together to complete story missions in 5 player Co-op. Configure your load out before you start the mission. Multiplayer shown off. Available Nov. 6, 2015.
· Star Wars will appear on Disney Infinity 3.0 along with Marvel, and Pixar. Twilight of the Republic Playset Episode 3. Rise against the Empire, set in the original trilogy. Exclusive limited edition Star Wars starter pack for PS4 including the Boba Fett figure.
· Horizon: Zero Dawn- Hunt down robot animals
· Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End- One action packed game. Holy Toledo was that gameplay amazing.
Nintendo – Weird puppet intro
· StarFox: Zero
· Yoshi’s Wooly World
· Super Mario Maker
· Mario & Luigi Paper Jam
· Amiibo- Sky Lander Superchargers adds vehicles to the game and special ability trees. Compatible with Skylander and Amiibo but only on Nintendo
· **Xenoblade Chronicles- Release in the U.S. on 12/4/15
Square Enix
· Lara Croft-Rise of the Tomb Raider. Nov 10, 2015
· Final Fantasy XII remake-more to come this winter
· World of Final Fantasy- Cute Mii looking characters that combines character pet collection and RPG action. Set in a new universe Grimoire.
· Final Fantasy XV-Brief teaser, no new info
· Kingdom Hearts Unchained- On mobile devices. Sweet. Links to Kingdom Hearts 3.
· Kingdom Hearts 3-Open exportable world. Great trailer. Liked the Light Parade powers. Xbox One and PS4. No release date.
· Hitman-Reboot of the franchise. Expandable game through regular updates that add new missions and locations. Timed (in real world) missions that multiple people around the world work together on or against each other simultaneously. December 8th release date.
· Deus Ex: Mankind Divided-The augmented are turned into second class citizens and put into ghettoes. Teams up with hacker activist to bring down the Corporations. New tools. Improved graphics. Choices matter and determine the game ending. Q1 2016 release.
EA
· Plants Versus Zombies Garden Warfare 2 announced.
· Metal Gear Solid 5 trailer
· Mass Effect Andromeda- release Holiday 2016
· Unravel- The cutest Yarn cat physics based platformer
· Star Wars Battlefront-Using the Frostbite game engine
o Walker Assault-ATAT fight on Hoth
o Fight on the ground, in the air, or as a Luke or Darth Vader
o November 17th release
Ubisoft
· South park- The Fractured But Whole
· The revamped Hitman
· Tom Clancy’s The Division-March 8, 2016
o Multiplayer betrayal
PC
· Announcement that Gears of War Ultimate Edition coming to PC. Updated graphics. Rebuilt game assets to optimize for PC. 4K resolution support. Support new Elite wireless controller. Supports Xbox live game DVR to record your play sessions.
· Newly Announced Arma 3 expansion- Trailer shows of large island terrains called Tanoa. Improved texture graphics with Direct X 12.
· Dirty Bomb-Team based multiplayer shooter. Two teams fight each other and Ai to accomplish a mission. Available now on Steam. Free to play.
· Project Blue Screen- Cliff Bleszinski talks about the new game studio he started, Boss Key Productions, after leaving the Gears of War franchise. Beautiful Alpha footage shown using unreal 4 from Boss Key productions.
· Enter the Dungeon- Indie bullet hell dungeon crawler. Procedural generated levels in the 8-bit style. Awesome gameplay with Co-Op available. Over 200 weapons available.
· Blizzard Entertainment
o Talk about Heroes of the Storm, their new MOBA, and the first expansion Eternal Conflict. Trailer looks neat.
§ New Heroes from Diablo like the Skeleton King. He has an Entomb ability to trap enemies, great Wide swing ability, and a passive Wraith mode that is used to haunt the enemy when he dies.
§ Monk gets to choose his own traits at begging of game.
§ Available June 30th.
o Star Craft 2-Legacy of the Void is going to end the story began in the original Star Craft.
§ Three missions called Whispers of Oblivion will bridge the gap between Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void.
§ Whispers of Oblivion will be available free to all everyone, but early access goes to those who pre-purchase Legacy of the Void.
§ The beta starts July 2015.
Recommendations
Steam Summer Sale is great for PC gamers. Great Games are 30% - 80% off. Plus any games you don’t like or can’t play on your older PC you can now return.
· Purchased two great games that have been on my wish list for at least a year.
· Transistor- From the creators of Bastion, Transistor is a sci-fi themed action RPG that lets you upgrade powers.
o Short 10 hour game I could never justify paying $20 for but on sale for $4
o http://store.steampowered.com/app/237930/
· Wasteland 2- Awarded Game of the Year by PC World, Wasteland post-apocalyptic computer RPG.
o Allows players to control and command individual party members for tactical purposes or given them the chance to make moral choices that would directly affect the world around them.
o Usually $40 but it was on sale for $10
o http://store.steampowered.com/app/240760/
That will be it for us this week.
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Thanks for listening folks. Now Go Geek out about something.
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Music Credits
"Happy Bee", "Movement Proposition", "Theme for Harold (var.3) ", "Take the Lead"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/