Grand Theft Auto V Makes $1 Billion In Three Days

Rockstar Games latest release in the Grand Theft Auto series has made $1 billion in just three days.

In a statement Take Two Interactive said: "Grand Theft Auto V, the critically acclaimed latest release from the iconic interactive entertainment series, has achieved worldwide retail sales of more than $1 billion during its first three days on sale, according to Company estimates. We believe this marks the fastest that any entertainment property, including video games and feature films, has reached this significant milestone."

Chairman and CEO of Take Two Strauss Zelnick said: "Grand Theft Auto is a cultural phenomenon and Rockstar Games continues to redefine what can be achieved in interactive entertainment. We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary critical and commercial response to Grand Theft Auto V."

Grand Theft Auto V allows gamers to play as three different characters called Michael, Franklin and Trevor in the fictional American city called Los Santos.

Gamers have to complete a number of different missions which involves shooting, driving, flying, stealing amongst other things as well doing other activities outside of missions such as playing tennis and golf.

The game released on Tuesday to critical acclaim with reviews of the game giving five stars and 10 out of 10 ratings.

More than 1.5 million copies were sold in the UK on its first day of release of a game which took more than five years to develop at a cost of around £170 million.

 

Ben Affleck To Play Batman In Man Of Steel Sequel

Ben Affleck has been cast as the new Batman for the sequel to Man of Steel which will see Batman and Superman in the same movie.

Warner Bros announced actor/director Affleck, 41, will succeed Christian Bale as the man wearing the famous cape and cowl.

Zack Snyder who directed Man of Steel will be directing the sequel which will also see Henry Cavill back wearing the famous red cape as Superman. 

"Ben provides  an interesting counter-balance to Henry's Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne" Snyder said.

Affleck isn't new to the superhero genre as he starred in Daredevil in 2003 playing the blind lawyer Matt Murdoch as well as his alter-ego Daredevil.

Affleck follows Bale as well as other actors such as Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney who have portrayed Batman on the big screen.

 

 

  

Royal Baby Named George Alexander Louis

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton have named their new born baby boy George Alexander Louis.

From now on the baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.

Prince George who is third in line to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and his father Prince William was born on Monday afternoon at 4.24pm weighed in at 8 pounds and 6 ounces.

In an official statement from Kensington Palace: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce they have named their son George Alexander Louis. The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge."

The announcement from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just two days after the baby was born was quick by royal standards.

Prince Charles and Diana took a week before deciding to name Williams' name and it took the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh a month before settling on Charles' name.

There have been six previous kings called George with the last one being the Queen's father George VI who died in 1952.

George was the bookies favourite name to be chosen ahead of other names like Henry, James and Arthur.

Sony Reveal The Playstation 4 For £349

Sony has announced that its next-gen console will be available later this year for the extremely reasonable price of £349.

This news comes off the back of Microsoft’s announcement that its own next-gen effort Xbox One would hit shelves for £429 in November.

Many had expected a high price point due to the decision to bundle the machine with the new Kinect sensor, though the upshot is that Sony’s significantly more powerful hardware will be £80 cheaper than its rival.

"This is a completely new platform and, in many ways, represents a completely new PlayStation," said Sony Computer Entertainment president Andrew House.

"We are more than ever capitalising on the vast network of Sony divisions."

The PS4 will launch with beefed up offerings at Sony online movie and music services as the console moves to expand into a complete home entertainment centre while remaining true to hardcore gamers.

Sony will use the technology of recently acquired cloud gaming company Gaikai to launch a service next year that lets people use PS3 or PS4 consoles to play blockbuster games in the cloud in real time.

More than 140 games are in development for the PS4, with at least 100 of the titles due out in the year following the consoles release, according to Sony Computer Entertainment US president Jack Tretton.

He promised that Sony had no plans to stop people from being able to play used games, and that PS4 consoles did not need to be connected to the internet if people preferred to go it solo.

"When a player buys a PS4 disk they have the right to use that game; trade it in; lend it to a friend, or keep it forever," Tretton said.

The official PS4 release date is currently pencilled in for "Holiday 2013", which most likely means Thanksgiving in America so a mid-November release is more than likely. The launch has been confirmed as worldwide, with the USA, Japan and European countries all getting the console on the same date.

Microsoft Announce The Xbox One

Microsoft unveiled it's eagerly awaited next generation games console called the Xbox One in Redmond, Washington today.

The Xbox One will be Microsoft's third games console after the Xbox was released in 2001 and the Xbox 360, which was released in 2005.

The new Xbox has been described as a "all-in-one" entertainment hub which will include a brand new Kinect sensor, a slightly revised controller with a redesigned D-Pad and other new features such as a blu-ray drive which isn't available in Microsoft's current games console, the Xbox 360.

"Today, we put you at the centre of a new generation in the living room," said Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business.

"This is the beginning of a new generation of games and entertainment and a new generation of smart TV," said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft entertainment unit executive.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will be bringing eight brand new franchises and seven other exclusive franchises to the Xbox One within the first year of release.

Forza Motorsport 5 which is an exclusive franchise to Microsoft will launch on the same day as the Xbox One along with a new game called Quantum Break.

A release date as well as a price for the next generation console wasn't announced but Don Mattrick did confirm the Xbox One will be arriving this year. Microsoft are likely to announce a release date and price at the upcoming E3 event next month.

   

Gran Turismo 6 Announced For PS3

Sony and Polyphony Digital held a 15th anniversary Gran Turismo celebration at the Silverstone race track in the UK to announce Gran Turismo 6 for the PS3.

The game will be launched this holiday season and it will have 1,200 cars, 33 locations and 71 different layouts to race those cars on.

Although an exact date hasn't been confirmed beyong holiday 2013, PS3 owners will only have to wait until July to play the game as Sony are going to release a demo.

Polyphony Digital president Kazunori Yamauchi stated that a PS4 version is "in mind for the future." Sony and Polyphony just decided to release the game on the PS3 first along with a load of DLC content, which they felt would work best.

This suggests that Gran Turismo 6 would be released on the PS4 when Sony and Polyphony release a Game of the Year Edition next year.

Sony has sold 70 million copies of its famous driving game, which first went on sale 15 years ago. 

Sir Alex Ferguson To Retire As Manchester United Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to retire at the end of the season after 26 years in charge at Manchester United Football Club.

Rumours surfaced on Tuesday that the Scot was considering retiring after learning that the hip replacement surgery he is to undergo in July is likely to force him to miss the start of next season.

In a statement on Manchester United’s official website Ferguson said:

“The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.

“It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.

“Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world.

“Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both Director and Ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future.

“I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career,providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.

“As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich.

“In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football team.

“Over the past decade, the Glazer family have provided me with the platform to manage Manchester United to the best of my ability and I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with a talented and trustworthy Chief Executive in David Gill. I am truly grateful to all of them.

“To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling. It has been an honour and an enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to lead your club and I have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United.”

Ferguson has enjoyed unprecedented success at Old Trafford since his arrival from Aberdeen in 1986, becoming the club’s most successful manager of all time.

Though it took the new United boss four years to seal his first trophy success, the 1989-90 FA Cup, that served as a springboard to the club, as they subsequently dominated the English football landscape for over 20 years.

The Scotsman has since added four further FA Cups, 13 Premier League titles, four League Cups and two UEFA Champions Leagues to the club’s major honours list. Manchester United’s title win this season was the 20th in their history, taking them two clear of arch rivals Liverpool.