LO1: script for news

EPISODE 1

Introduction to News Section:

Vicky: Now for the news section of the show.

Jordan: In this section of the show we'll be looking at all the fresh releases, new games, consoles and the most recent tech news internationally across the gaming community.

Vicky: And we'll be asking for your opinions and speaking to people in the industry about all the latest gaming gossip. Let's take a look...
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Mass Effect 4

Intro: Vicky
Firstly, we're going to talk about Mass Effect 4. Believe it or not, it's been two years since the last instalment of the series was released. The developer, BioWare are said to be "somewhere in the middle of the development" of the new game according to studio director Yanick Roy. So what's keeping us eager fans waiting? (20 Seconds approx)

Narrative: Jordan
BioWare are keeping their cards close to their chests, however they have released a couple of teasers to wet our appetites. They've already told us that the narrative will focus on a fresh, new protagonist and although the new hero won't be directly related to Commander Shepard, the main character in past instalments, there will be nods to past adventures. (20 Seconds approx)

New Features: Vicky
Additionally, there are a few new exciting additions to the new game. Mass Effect 4 will see the return of The Mako; a remodel of the original which featured heavily in the first game in the series. BioWare have clearly had fun playing with the game physics. The new Mako is agile and speedy, allowing players to efficiently enjoy exploring new environments. We've also been teased by a series of hyped up tweets sent by some of the developing team featuring images of them working on the graphics, but in true developer style, the pictures don't reveal a lot about the new game. (30 Seconds approx)

Release Date & Conclusion: Jordan
So in terms of release date, well, we're not entirely sure, and neither are BioWare. Mass Effect 4, although definitely in production, is still unfortunately years in the making. It has been estimated that the game may not be released until this time next year, and that's still pushing it. So for now, us Mass Effecter's will just have to hang on BioWare's taunts and teases until the game is released. (20 Seconds approx)

Approximate Time of Section: 1 Minute 30 Seconds.

Prompt: Vicky
So what other upcoming releases have you been looking at this week Jordan? (5 Seconds approx)
________________________________________________________________________ Halo 5: Guardians

Intro: Jordan
Well I've been checking out the sequel to Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians. 

Narrative: Jordan

As we all know, Cortana got the ending she deserved in Halo 4, the penultimate moments showing her giving everything to protect Master Chief from the Didact and ensure John survived and the ultimate moments showing John-117 mourning Cortana in his own stoic way aboard UNSC Infinity.

Now the question looms on the horizon. Was Cortana’s death simply catharsis for the ending of the Bungie Halo Trilogy? A closing of the wounds caused by the transfer between Halo 3 and Halo 4? Or will Master Chief’s new mission be to restore Cortana using her AI Data Chip, perhaps to imprint a new Cortana using Dr. Halsey’s conscious? Or perhaps Master Chief is searching for the Composer; the piece of Forerunner technology used to build digital life and organic life, to create a human Cortana from her AI Chip.  It’s clear there is a lot to explore in Halo 5: Guardians, and with details thin on the ground we cannot know for certain. However, 343 Industries Bonnie Ross has said Halo 5 will be “a deeply personal journey” and Chief will be searching for answers, “this is about his past and his future.”

From powerful battlefield behemoth in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, through to the hunted lone wolf of Halo 4 Master Chief has experienced plenty of diversity on the battlefield but Halo 5: Guardians could see Master Chief in a completely new role. On what is assumed to be the games box art Master Chief has been relegated to the second position, prime real estate being given to the new mysterious character Agent Locke. Is it unreasonable to assume that now Master Chief has gone AWOL from the UNSC, Agent Locke has been ordered to either retrieve Master Chief for trial or execute him for desertion?

Some CSI level detective work over at teambeyond.net revealed that Agent Locke has a small ONI logo built into his armour on the cover of Halo 5: Guardians. The Office Of Navel Intelligence are well known for being the shadowy organisation that operate throughout human space almost completely unregulated, often committing crimes and human rights infractions to obtain their objectives. It may not be too much of a leap to assume that ONI have been developing their own Spartan programme, however limited, and the result is Agent Locke; a formidable opponent for Master Chief and his aging Mark V Mjolnir Armour.

New Features: Jordan

A completely fresh start for the first outing on Xbox One, which means we are almost certainly guaranteed brand new mechanics, vehicles and ways to interact with the game world. After learning how to push buttons in Halo 4, admittedly sometimes with a whole fist rather than a single index finger, it seems John-117 is looking to stretch his proverbial field skills into new territories as he takes to the fight in his own way in upcoming Halo 5: Guardians.

Bonnie Ross, the general manager of 343 Industries announced on Xbox Wire that ““Halo 5: Guardians” is a bigger effort than “Halo 4.” That applies to the content and scope of the game, as well as the technology in what’s now a brand new and more powerful engine. Certainly there are some core elements carried over from prior games, but we’ve invested a huge effort in retooling our tech to take full advantage of the Xbox One’s hardware and ecosystem to create worlds and experiences worthy of next-gen.”.

With a brand new Halo title comes a brand new multiplayer masterpiece, and Halo 5: Guardians looks to be no different. There will certainly be a lot of changes to the way multiplayer works in Halo 5, and perhaps some call backs to previous multiplayer endeavours from the Halo franchise?

From Microsoft’s 2014 E3 Media Briefing we have a brand new trailer for the upcoming multiplayer beta for Halo 5: Guardians which is packed with details for the keen eyed observer. The multiplayer beta will be coming with Halo: The Master Chief Collection arriving November 11th 2014, with the multiplayer beta running December 27th through to January 17th.

So here are the changes we suspect to be hidden away within the Halo 5 multiplayer beta trailer. First off, the trailer is entirely computer generated, which means that not everything we see can be believed. However, we clearly see Spartans using what look to be Armour Abilities, but are in fact Spartan Abilities. Where as Armour Abilities could be applied to any Spartan Armour loadout in Halo 4, it looks to be that Spartan Abilities are inherent skills that all Spartans take onto the battlefield. When reached for comment on Twitter, 343’s design director Bradford Welch said “Spartan abilities are player mechanics not load-out AAs.” These abilities are “things that every player can do inherently with their Spartan.” Extremely intriguing.

Concept art 1 released via blog post by production company 343's Josh Holmes on 9th Jan 2014. 

Concept art 2 released via blog post by franchise director Frank O'Connor on 16th May 2014. 

Release Date & Conclusion: Jordan
It seems Halo 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5: Guardians are already out of fashion over at 343 Industries, which is remarkable as Halo 5: Guardians doesn’t even have a confirmed release date yet. 

Sources: http://whatculture.com/gaming/10-rumours-need-hear-halo-5.php/9