News Roundup 20th March 2012

Here is a collection of some of the biggest stories from today in gaming.

BBC iPlayer now live on Xbox

The BBC iPlayer launches today for Xbox 360. It is expected to be available to all UK Xbox owners by the end of the day. The iPlayer has been available for both the Wii and PlayStation 3 for some time, but is now debuting on Microsoft’s home console. In an interview with Eurogamer, head of BBC iPlayer David Price explained why it has taken so long to arrive on Xbox. “Microsoft fully understood in order to make the service available, it had to be available to all Xbox users. That was something that was very much clear, and it’s great Microsoft supported us to ensure we are available to all the millions of Xbox users.” This means that all Xbox users will be able to access the service.

This is the latest video service to be offered via Xbox Live. Sky TV, 4OD, ITV Player, Youtube, Blinkbox and HBO Go (US only) have all been released for the 360.

The iPlayer will use both standard controls and Microsoft’s Kinect functionality to navigate menus.

Microsoft Patent Gaming Helmet

Yes, you read that right. Microsoft has patented the rights to develop video headsets for Xbox. It also patented videogame sunglasses to work with mobile devices and smartphones.

According to Patentbolt, who discovered the patent, miniature displays may be inserted into the goggles, one for each eye. Think Robert Downey Jr’s helmet in Iron Man, only less cool. The displays could be capable of producing stereoscopic 3D images, meaning there is potential for virtual reality applications.

There is a lot of technical jargon used in the discussion, but basically, the screens will project in 16:9 and appear much larger than they actually are (science, eh?).

What do you think? Does this sound cooler than Sony’s personal 3D viewer? Or Nintendo’s Virtual Boy?

Soul Reaver Reboot in the Works

According to VG24/7, Crystal Dynamics, developers of the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot, are working on a new Soul Reaver. Details on the game are scarce, but VG24/7’s source claims that is a full reboot of the franchise. It has been nearly a decade since the last Soul Reaver game, Legacy of Kain: Defiance, which arrived in 2003.

It is also unclear whether Raziel or Kain, the lead characters from previous entries in the series, will play a part in this new game.

Dragon’s Lair Coming to Xbox Live Arcade

IGN.com has discovered a listing on the PEGI website, which rates videogames for consumers, for the 1980’s classic Dragon’s Lair. There have been no other platform listings for the game, but it is expected that the game will arrive on XBLA.

Dragon’s Lair has received multiple reboots for iOS, Nintendo DS and PC, and it now looks like it will undergo another makeover for Xbox.