Another EA press event means another Need for Speed game. This time, developer studio Criterion takes a shot at progressing the series from the ground-breaking addition of Autolog found in Hot Pursuit with Need for Speed: Most Wanted. EA says you can now “outdrive your friends, outrace your rivals and take down a city full of cops” in the most intense edition of the game to date.

The focus? Open world action where freedom is everything. No more scripted chases and sequences when trying to outrun the police. Now, you can do it however you want. If your car is of the off-road type, take the car into the mountain-side. Got a Porsche? Head down the interstate and blow past those roadblocks with ease. Drive where ever you want, go anywhere your car takes you, race your friends down the streets or mess with the cops. The choice is yours.

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Seemingly everyone on the planet knows who the Navy Seals are but did you know that most militarized nations have a “tier 1” elite squad? If you had no idea, then Medal of Honor: Warfighter is here to enlighten you. Danger Close, the studio behind this new title, will be bringing together the best of the best – 12 elite squadrons from 10 nations, to play in a modern, realistic shooter.

Unlike other modern shooters, this one takes all of its scenes and scenarios from real-life events and situations. In multiplayer mode, you are given the ability to choose which country, and by default, which unit you want to play as. Then, you are partnered with another player on your team to form a 2-man “fireteam.” These pairs are given special abilities, such as the ability to see each other on the map at any time from any distance. You also have the ability to revive a fallen partner by killing his killer. If that doesn’t happen, you serve as a mobile respawn point for your partner.

Crysis has been a household name since it first started melting processors many years back. Crytek, the company which started the game, is back with the third installment of the franchise. This game takes place 25 years after the last one and you get to play as Prophet.

Obviously you will still be fighting the Ceph, and you will get to do so in the overgrown ruins of what was once New York City. The city has become a sort of rainforest, with massive trees inhabiting familiar scenes. In addition, it has been taken over and put in a dome to try and contain the problem.

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

EA SPORTS Madden 13 Senior Designer Josh Looman took the stage at ADEA’ss press event to tell us something very profound:

For the first time in four years, I am actually excited about Madden and, for the first time in three years, it may end up in my game collection. How? From the presentation, to the gameplay, to the mechanics, to the audio, to Madden‘s new Connected Careers, Ultimate Team rehaul and Madden Social, this year’s football franchise could be the best one yet.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

With the things we saw at the E3 2011 EA press event with FIFA 12 I didn’t think the beautiful game could get any more impressive. Call me a suspension bridge, because I couldn’t be more wrong. EA SPORTS has figured out how to make this game even better than before and with Lionel Messi on the cover this year, arguably the world’s best football (soccer) player, it’s bound to attract even more fans to the stores to pick up a copy.

David Rutter, Executive Producer for the game, said,

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

One of the highlights of EA’s presser this year was the announcement of Dead Space 3. This is a franchise that has had lots of controversy, including the “your mom hates this game” ad campaign. Controversy leads to sales and sales usually translates into likes, especially when the games are as good as these. Getting to see gameplay from the next installment is enough to get anyone excited.

In the new game, you will be joined by a new companion: John Carver. The addition of Carver also means the addition of co-op play. The game is even smart enough to adapt the story to whether or not your companion is controlled by another human. A scene that might normally involve a conversation with the NPC Carver might become a fight scene with a co-op friend.

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

This year at E3, EA and DICE announced an expansion to Battlefield 3. When I say expansion, I mean they decided to stick with the game that brought them to the dance and enhance it like never before. Plus, it’s not just another map pack with no other exclusives and no added benefits, like their competitor.

With Battlefield Premium, you get a ton of new features and a bunch of spread-out expansion packs that include more things than just a map pack. $49.99 may seem like an expensive pricepoint, but here’s what you get:

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

What do Sony and books have to do with each other? No, they’re not releasing another eReader. Instead, Sony brought to the stage of their press event something that felt a little rushed. The company has teamed up with J.K. Rowling to produce Book of Spells, which is a game based on the Wonderbook platform that they also announced at the event.

What is Wonderbook? It’s actually a great little augmented reality piece of hardware and software. Using your PlayStation Eye camera and a special book you must purchase, kind of like the AR Cards from the 3DS, will make several different games and images appear on the screen. When you place the waterproof book on your floor, the book then shows up on the TV, where it animates to life. The images that appear have that Harry Potter feel to them and objects will randomly come out at you in 3D. You can also pick up the book, move it and do whatever you want, and then image on screen will follow suit. The good news is you’ll only need one Wonderbook for all future titles so you won’t have to buy any new “hardware.”

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

This week during LA gaming week 2012 Sony announced a new single-player game, Beyond: Two Souls. We are excited for this game which is estimated to be released in Spring 2013 for the PS3. The main character, Jodie Holmes, who is a young female with supernatural powers and a link with an invisible entity, will be played in a “unique way” by Ellen Page. “{She} is the most incredible Jodie Holmes I could dream of,” says David Gage from Quantic Dream.

Conversation by F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

The Microsoft press event was certainly something to write home about this year. At the briefing, Microsoft announced an addition to their growing catalog.

However, they first made it easier to access your favorite content. Bing search now has better Kinect voice controls that make it easy to find and watch content with all the new content partners and they have cleaned up the entire feel of it in the process.

If you like the NBA, NHL, ESPN, sitcoms, comedies, documentaries, cartoons or even telenovelas, then what lies in store for you is sure to be a treat. What are the new features and who is now on board with Xbox LIVE?

F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.

Yesterday I reported on the rumored Microsoft Smart Glass technology that was expected to be shown off today. All signs pointed to a product designed to compete with Apple’s living room business strategy. The service would give the capability of streaming a video from your phone or tablet to your television through your Xbox 360. It would have been a major head start on Apple and their desire to control your life. The service that was actually announced, however, was a little different and infinitely more useful.

Xbox SmartGlass, as the service will properly be called, is an extension and major enhancement of the Xbox LIVE Connector, the app on Windows Phone and Windows 8 that allows you to control certain aspects of your Xbox through your alternative devices. There are two aspects to the service: gaming and media (big surprise there). Let’s cover gaming first. SmartGlass will allow game developers to enhance the gaming experience in a way never quite explored. It is building on the concept of services like Call of Duty: Elite, but making them part of the game. One great example shown off during their press conference was an interaction with the new Halo 4. When a new waypoint is reached, your phone or tablet can light up and let you know information about where you are, such as maps or personnel. While the game is totally capable of being played without this, an enhancement of this type is a great way to make it feel more like you are IN the game world.

F5 Live for the TechPodcast Network.