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The Besties Podcast

The Besties Podcast 46 - Crysis 3 and Bit.Trip Runner 2

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From Dead Space to Destiny: Joe Cross' Dead Space 3 concept art

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Sandy Hook arcade practices healing through gaming

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Wasteland 2 developers respond to system questions in latest update

By Megan Farokhmanesh at 11:30a 02.23.13

InXile Entertainment, the developer behind upcoming apocalyptic role-playing game Wasteland 2, addressed several concerns in its latest update about game systems "that seemed to receive the most comments" during a recent gameplay video. "Our goal with all of our systems is to allow you to customize them, including their keyboard short cuts, to get the exact input system you want," the update reads. "For all systems we have a default setting that we feel provides the best experience, but knowing that everybody has their own preferences we have implemented a robust settings menu." The update includes information on the game's camera, heads up display and keyword dialog system. Camera settings will have changeable elements: zoom level, tracking and rotation. Players will be able to...
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The opposite of a success story.

Civil War: The Public Death of Mad Minute Games

By Rob Zacny on Feb 21, 2013 02.21.13

There's no politics." Norb Timpko was writing a developer diary for Tacticular Cancer, a popular wargaming site, sharing the secrets behind his version of the quintessential indie success story. He and his partner, Adam Bryant, had started their own company, Mad Minute Games, and created two of the best war games since Sid Meier's Gettysburg. They were just two close friends chasing their shared dream. They'd made something great, and more was on the way. That was their secret: no politics. Timpko was sure of it. "I worked nine years for non-game companies and worked in a game company office for three years, there is always politics. We have none of that. Everything is up front and worked out right away. It has to be,” he continued in the diary. “We have both given up a major part...
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PlayStation 4 reveal is the start of a 'buzz building' year

By Megan Farokhmanesh at 10:30a 02.23.13

During a video segment from a Motley Fool Money roundtable discussion on the recent PlayStation 4 unveling, biotechnology analyst Charly Travers called it a "bizarre" reveal and the "beginning to a year of buzz building." According to host Chris Hill, video games stocks have been on the rise for many companies thanks to the PlayStation 4 unveiling, including Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Activision Blizzard and GameStop. When Hill asked Travers about the PlayStation 4, which was not physically shown at the Sony PlayStation Meeting 2013, Travers replied that it was "a pretty bizarre product launch." "The PlayStation 3 launched in 2006, so a new PlayStation is long overdue," Travers said. "This PlayStation 4 has been highly anticipated by gamers like myself for quite some time. ...
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Bungie explains the hand dilemma at PS4 reveal

By Megan Farokhmanesh at 9:30a 02.23.13

In a recent Bungie blog post, community manager Deej took a moment to respond to "everyone on the internet" about Bungie's recent appearance at the Sony PlayStation Meeting 2013 on Feb. 20. The moment in question focuses on four Bungie employees who look clueless about what to do with their hands on stage. According to Deej, this might not be too far off. "Details are still murky, but from what we can gather Marty may have instructed our four friends to 'keep their hands out of their pockets,'" Deej wrote. "We also may or may not have a Men's Warehouse directly below our studio." "From their idle hands ushered forth an invitation to a new community of gamers," Deej continued. "Though this foursome clearly didn't appear enthusiastic — or capable of experiencing any human emotion —...
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Torment: Tides of Numenera website live, promises crowdfunding

By Megan Farokhmanesh at 9:06a 02.23.13

The website for Planescape: Torment's sequel, Torment: Tides of Numenera, is now live and promises a future fundraising campaign. According to the website's description page, Tides of Numenera will continue the "thematic legacy" of the first title. The story takes place in the Ninth World, where many civilizations have already risen and fallen, leaving behind different artifacts called numenera. "One of these humans discovers a way to use the numenera to grow strong, cheat death, to skip across the face of centuries in a succession of bodies," the site reads. "But he discovers an unexpected side effect: You." Tides of Numenera will feature choice and consequence, attainable companions and more. The game will be available for Windows PC and Mac, with a possibility for Linux. A...
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MechWarrior Online gets its largest map yet and enormous content update

By Tracey Lien on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

MechWarrior Online's latest content and map update is now live, with the new Alphine Peaks map being the largest in the game to date with mountains, hills, vertical and horizontal fireflights and the opportunity to use long-range weapons. In addition to the new map, the action simulation game is also receiving five versions of the Trebuchet, all of which can be viewed here along with their basic stats. The content update also features Phase 3 of MatchMaking, which will create balanced matches based on the skills and Mech classes of the players involved. MechWarrior Online is free-to-play now. For this weekend only, all Founders' Mechs will generate an additional 25 percent C-Bills (the primary currency in the game) while Hero Mechs will generate an additional 20 percent C-Bills.
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PS4: What We Know

By Russ Pitts on February 20, 2013 8:59p EST 02.20.13

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ZombiU, Assassin's Creed 3 and other Ubisoft games 30 percent off in Wii U eShop

By Michael McWhertor on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Six Ubisoft titles for Wii U — Assassin's Creed 3, ZombiU, Rabbids Land, Just Dance 4, ESPN Sports Connection and Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013 — are now 30 percent off their regular price through Nintendo's eShop. The promotion, which is exclusive to Nintendo's online store, runs until Tuesday, Feb. 26, Nintendo said in an email. Other Wii U games on sale through the eShop include Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition and Trine 2: Director's Cut. Wii U owners can also get another game on the cheap for a limited time through Nintendo's eShop: classic SNES racing game F-Zero. The Virtual Console title is currently $0.30.
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PlayStation 4: All the news, collected

49 Updates

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Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate producer talks local multiplayer and shared game files

By Tracey Lien on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

The latest Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate video from Nintendo features game producer Ryozo Tsujimoto demonstrating ways the game can be played on both the Wii U and the 3DS. In the short video, Tsujimoto shows that the Wii U and 3DS can share the same data saves, which means a player can begin a game on their Wii U and resume it elsewhere on their 3DS. He also runs viewers through local multiplayer, which can be achieved by wirelessly connecting several 3DS handheld consoles with the Wii U. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will release on Wii U and 3DS in March.
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IGN hit with layoffs, 1UP, UGO and GameSpy shutting down

By Michael McWhertor on Feb 21, 2013 02.21.13

IGN has laid off an unspecified number of editorial employees today, Polygon has learned, and plans to shutter sites 1up.com, GameSpy.com and UGO.com. According to an internal memo from Ziff Davis CEO Vivek Shah, "Our goal is to do fewer things and to do them exceptionally well. In that vein, we want to direct all of our energy and work behind our two flagship brands: IGN and AskMen." Shah writes that Ziff Davis, which recently acquired the IGN network of websites, will be "winding down" 1UP, UGO and GameSpy. 1UP editor-in-chief Jeremy Parish tweeted, "We won't be killing the site today; I'll post more thoughts later. On 1UP!" UGO editor-in-chief Chris Radtke wrote in a goodbye letter to readers, "UGO is dead." While editorial staffers for some of the IGN-owned shuttered sites have...
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Armored Core: Verdict Day coming to Americas this fall

By Michael McWhertor on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Namco Bandai will bring From Software's next mech combat action game, Armored Core: Verdict Day, to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the Americas this fall. Revealed earlier this week in Japan's Famitsu magazine, Verdict Day is a continuation of 2012's Armored Core 5, featuring updated, streamlined multiplayer and all-new mech customization options. Armored Core 5 players will be able to import their save data into the follow-up. In an announcement, publisher Namco Bandai explains the return of Operator Mode, which lets players tactically command a squad of mechs from a tactical top-down point-of-view in real-time. Armored Core: Verdict Day also lets players recruit AI-controlled mechs, so solo players can experience the features of the game's co-op and multiplayer modes. Namco Bandai...
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BioShock Infinite Steam pre-orders will unlock tiered rewards like TF2 items and more

By Tracey Lien on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Irrational Games' BioShock Infinite is now available for pre-order on Steam and will come with tiered pre-order bonuses. The base reward offered to everyone who pre-orders BioShock Infinite is the Industrial Revolution Pack, which includes three gear items, 500 bonus in-game currency, five lock picks and the Industrial Revolution puzzle game. The first tiered reward, which was recently unlocked, is a free copy of the original BioShock. Those who already own a copy on Steam can gift it to a friend for free. The second tier, which is only two percent unlocked at the time of writing, includes the above rewards as well as exclusive BioShock Infinite Team Fortress 2 items like the Steel Songbird, the Sydney Straw Boat, the Doe-Boy, the Person in the Iron Mask, Blind Justice, Vox Diabolus...
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Xbox Live downtime affecting Cloud Save Games, ESPN, Karaoke and SmartGlass

By Michael McWhertor on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Xbox 360 owners may experience trouble connecting to Xbox Live and various services, Microsoft's support services say. Users may experience difficulties connecting to Live through Xbox 360, Windows 8 and Xbox.com, according to Xbox Live's service status page. Those difficulties extend to players accessing save games and data stored in the cloud, and online services like the ESPN, Karaoke and Xbox SmartGlass apps. Popular apps like Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go and others do not appear to be affected.
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Soul Sacrifice trailer contains nearly four minutes of 'magic battle action'

By Dave Tach on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

A new trailer for Soul Sacrifice, Marvelous AQL's upcoming action role-playing game, contains vignettes of epic battles, characters options and multiplayer. Check out the trailer above, which was released yesterday on the Japanese PlayStation YouTube channel with a title that translates to "magic battle action." Soul Sacrifice, the latest game from Mega Man, Resident Evil and Dead Rising veteran Keiji Inafune, is scheduled for release in North America on April 30. Pre-orders bonuses announced last month include character costumes, magic items and Japanese audio.
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Capcom says it has no Captivate event planned for 2013

By Michael McWhertor on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Capcom's annual Captivate event, where the publisher showcases new and upcoming video games, will be taking a year off, says Capcom senior vice president Christian Svensson. "This year we're likely to be looking at announcements around other events or not at events at all," Svensson wrote on the publisher's Ask Capcom forums. "So there isn't a Captivate planned this year." Svensson says Capcom plans to attend major industry events like E3, PAX and San Diego Comic-Con, but offered no specifics. At last year's Captivate event in Rome, Capcom offered a new look at Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, DmC: Devil May Cry, Lost Planet 3, Resident Evil 6, Dragon's Dogma and the PlayStation Vita version of Street Fighter X Tekken. Capcom recently previewed a handful of announced but unreleased...

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Nostalgia vs. narrative: A series of adventure game letters

by Leigh Alexander

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Neverwinter: From top-down RPG to action MMO

by Griffin McElroy

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PlayStation 4: It's ok.

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The super-mega-awesome Xbox games on demand sale

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Hey, you. Games that need remakes - what are they?

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Polygon Daily: Off Topic Pingu Toots (Sat 23-24/2)

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BURNOUT PARADISE PLAY DATE THIS SUNDAY! (EDIT!)

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Guild Wars 2 discounted by 30 percent for a limited time

By Tracey Lien on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 is being discounted by 30 percent for a limited time, with the Digital Edition reduced from $59.99 to $39.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition going from $79.99 to $54.99. The standard Digital Edition of Guild Wars 2 comes with a copy of the game and no extras. The Digital Deluxe Edition comes with the game as well as the following in-game items: the Summon Mistfire Wolf Elite Skill, the Miniature Rytlock, the Golem Banker, the Chalice of Glory and the Tome of Influence. Guild Wars 2 is currently available on Windows PC and Mac. The deal runs until Feb. 25.
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Alien vs. Predator: Evolution hits iOS and Android on Feb. 28

By Alexa Ray Corriea on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Alien vs. Predator: Evolution is coming to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets on Feb. 28, developer Angry Mob Games and Fox Digital Entertainment announced today. The title combines third-person shooter and melee combat elements in the melded sci-fi worlds of the Alien and Predator franchises. Players will become a member of either species, upgrade and equip weapons and enter the fray against members of the opposing race. You begin the game as a Young Blood or Facehugger and stalk down your prey, evolving into the terrors both series are known for. Alien vs. Predator: Evolution was announced last month and will be available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play. The title borrows from the combined Alien vs. Predator universe, based on the 2004 and 2007 films Alien vs. Predator...
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Five Lego games discounted by 75 percent on GameFly

By Samit Sarkar on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

The PC download versions of five recent Lego video games are available at a 75 percent discount this weekend on GameFly. Here are the games on sale: Lego Batman: The Videogame (2008): $4.99, regularly $19.99 Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (2010): $4.99, reg. $19.99 Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (2011): $4.99, reg. $19.99 Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012): $7.49, reg. $29.99 Lego The Lord of the Rings (2012): $7.49, reg. $29.99 The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, Feb. 24.
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Injustice Battle Arena continues with Aquaman vs. Cyborg and Green Lantern vs. Solomon Grundy

By Dave Tach on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

The Battle Arena tournament bracket for Injustice: Gods Among Us narrows a bit more this week as it heads into the quarterfinals with brawls featuring Aquaman taking on Cyborg and Green Lantern battling Solomon Grundy. Check out the video above to see Aquaman, who was revealed as the latest combatant earlier this month, take his trident to Cyborg. In the video below you can see Green Lantern and his ring fighting Solomon Grundy, who sources tell us was born on a Monday. You can vote for next week's skirmishes through the Battle Arena website. Last week's rumbles featured Flash vs. Shazam and Joker vs. Lex Luthor. The previous week brought Harley Quinn vs. Wonder Woman and Batman vs. Bane. Injustice: Gods Among Us begins battling in North America April 16 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3...
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Capcom and Nvidia release PC benchmark app for Resident Evil 6

By Dave Tach on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Nvidia and Capcom released the official Resident Evil 6 benchmark program, which will tell potential players how the just-released PC version will run on their Windows machines. The minimum system requirements include a Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 2.8 Ghz processor with 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of free hard drive space and an Nvidia GeForce 8800GTS. You can download the app from Nvidia's Resident Evil 6 website. Capcom revealed the program last month in a press release that also detailed the PC version's exclusive mode called The Mercenaries: No Mercy, which includes extra enemies and more opportunities to earn higher scores than its console counterparts. It also comes with a multiplayer mode called Siege, which pits two teams against each other with an AI-controlled agent...
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Time and Eternity coming to North America and Europe this summer

By Alexa Ray Corriea on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Luminous Arc developer Imageepooch's Time and Eternity will be localized for North America and Europe this summer, western publisher NIS America announced today. The animated role-playing game, known as Toki to Towa in Japan, will be a PlayStation 3 exclusive and will receive additional downloadable content post-launch. The game features 3D backgrounds and hand-drawn cel-animated characters in 2D, both in cutscenes and during real-time combat, and a time-travel mechanic. Time and Eternity tells the tale of a knight who is murdered during his wedding to a princess, who reveals her body is inhabited by two souls. She and her companions must go back in time and uncover the murder plot in order to prevent it and save the kingdom. Players can switch between the princess' two personalities,...
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BioShock Infinite PC download pre-orders on Amazon get $30 credit for 2K Games titles

By Samit Sarkar on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Fans of 2K Games who are interested in pre-ordering the PC download version of BioShock Infinite will likely want to do so at Amazon, since the online retailer is offering $30 in credit toward 2K Games-published titles. If you pre-order a digital copy of BioShock Infinite on Amazon, you'll receive two $15 credits — one shortly after placing your order, and the other upon the game's release on March 26. The credits, which must be used within a year of Infinite's launch, are valid for any content from 2K Games on Amazon aside from pre-orders and the BioShock Infinite season pass. In addition, as part of Amazon's ongoing "Farewell to February" sale, you can get use the first $15 credit and also get 25 percent off discounted games with the coupon code "CAGROCKS." The sale, which is...
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Kentucky Route Zero now available on Steam

By Dave Tach on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Kentucky Route Zero, Cardboard Computer's atmospheric adventure game, is now available on Steam and on sale until March 1. Steam users can grab the entire five-episode run for Windows, Mac and Linux for $22.49, a 10 percent discount on its regular price of $24.99. The release was made possible by Steam Greenlight, a service that lets users vote for the games they'd like to see on Valve's digital distribution service. Cardboard Computer released Act 1 in early January through its website, where you can get a DRM-free version and a Steam key. Act 2 is expected "around April 2013," according to game's listing on Steam. For more on what the developer describes as an "magical realist adventure game," you can watch a recent episode of Cooperatives or listen to episode 42 of the Besties.
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Painkiller Hell & Damnation's second add-on available now, five more on the way

By Samit Sarkar on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Painkiller Hell & Damnation's second DLC pack, The Clock Strikes Meat Night, launched today for $6.99, and developer The Farm 51 is working on five more add-ons, the studio and publisher Nordic Games announced today. Nordic Games and The Farm 51 are also working together on an unannounced new project, they said today. The Clock Strikes Meat Night contains one new single-player map and expansions of two existing maps, as well as new enemies, characters and weapons. The Farm 51 also expanded Hell & Damnation's single-player and co-op gameplay, adding secret areas and increasing the enemy variety. Over the course of the next year, The Farm 51 plans to develop five additional pieces of DLC for Hell & Damnation. The game's first DLC pack, Medieval Horror, was released last month. "The...
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Usagi Yojimbo: Way of the Ronin now available on iOS, coming soon to Android and PC

By Samit Sarkar on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Usagi Yojimbo: Way of the Ronin, a 2D beat-'em-up based on Stan Sakai's renowned comic book series, launched yesterday on iOS for $1.99 and is coming soon to Android devices and Windows PC, book publisher Dark Horse Comics announced today. The hack-and-slash title was developed by HappyGiant Media and stars the titular rabbit ronin. Players control Usagi and his sword, Grasscutter, as he takes down all kinds of enemies through 13 levels of side-scrolling action. HappyGiant told Polygon in an interview during New York Comic Con 2012 that the design was inspired by Castle Crashers, the co-op beat-'em-up from indie studio The Behemoth. Way of the Ronin is the first Usagi Yojimbo video game since the 1988 Commodore 64 title Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo. Check out Way of...

Cooperatives

Cooperatives: Kentucky Route Zero

by Chris Plante

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Microsoft discounting over 60 Xbox 360 games in the Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sale

By Dave Tach on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Microsoft will kick off its Xbox Live Ultimate Game Sale next Tuesday, Feb. 26, offering discounts of up to 80 percent on over 60 Xbox 360 Games on Demand, according to a post on Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's blog. The sale will last through Monday, March 4. Major Nelson will reveal each day's deals, which are available to both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members, through his Twitter account. Games set to be discounted include: Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed 2 Batman: Arkham Asylum Batman: Arkham City BioShock Borderlands Borderlands 2 Call of Juarez Call of Duty 2 Call of Duty 3 Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 C...
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Kojima 'may make more spinoffs' of Metal Gear, 'possibly with The Boss'

By Samit Sarkar on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Hideo Kojima is considering making Metal Gear spinoffs, with Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater's The Boss potentially next in line for a starring role, reports VG247. "I may make more spin-offs," said Kojima. The Boss (above right), an antagonist in Snake Eater, is a possible candidate for her own game, a title Kojima said he "personally [wants] to do. "But it's not something I will make a habit of," he added. Kojima served as executive producer on the Platinum Games-developed Metal Gear spinoff Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, which launched earlier this week on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa attended the game's U.K. launch event at a GAME location in London last night.
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Star Wars Pinball's Boba Fett trailer rewrites film canon

By Griffin McElroy on Feb 22, 2013 02.22.13

Star Wars Pinball's Boba Fett table showcases some of the features players can expect from the DLC — namely, explosions, multiball bonuses and a perplexing showdown between the bounty hunter and Darth Vader. The Boba Fett table, one of three included in the Star Wars Pinball DLC for Zen Pinball 2 and Pinball FX 2, has all the bells and whistles of a real-world table. It also has a few unique interactive elements that are really only possible in a video game; a side-scrolling segment featuring Fett's ship, Slave I, and a "Sharp Shooting" sequence starring Boba himself. There's also an apparent fight between Boba Fett and Darth Vader; something we don't really remember from the films. Check out the trailer above to watch the canon-bending action unfold. The DLC will begin landing on...