NBA 2K13 Has Record-Breaking First Week

2K has announced a record-breaking launch for NBA 2K13. In its first week, the game sold 49% more copies than the previous top game in the franchise, NBA 2K11, and saw increased sales internationally compared to previous years. NBA 2K13 also saw a 127% increase in the number of online games played compared to last year.

"Our early sales figures are a validation of our ongoing efforts to push this franchise to new heights," said 2K Sports vice president of marketing Jason Argent. "We owe it to our great fans to continually improve our title - year in and year out - and that's exactly what we've done with NBA 2K13."

NBA 2K13 launched on October 2nd, and a Wii U version will follow on November 18th. 2K Sports hasn’t revealed specific sales figures just yet, but we’ve reached out and will update this story if they provide any additional info. Until then, be sure to read our NBA 2K13 review.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Hotel Transylvania, Looper Top the Weekend Box Office

It was a record-breaking weekend at the domestic box office as Hotel Transylvania dethroned Sweet Home Alabama as the best-ever September opening. It's also the biggest opening to date for a Sony Pictures Animation film. The acclaimed sci-fi thriller Looper also had a strong debut with a second place finish.

Fellow new release Won't Back Down flopped in 10th place, while fanboy fave Dredd 3D fell out of the Top 10 after just one week in cinemas.

Here are the weekend estimates via Rentrak:

1. Hotel Transylvania $43 million
2. Looper $21.2 million
3. End of Watch $8 million
4. Trouble With The Curve $7.5 million
5. House at the End of the Street $7.2 million
6. Pitch Perfect $5.2 million
7. Finding Nemo 3D $4.1 million
8. Resident Evil: Retribution 3D $3 million
9. The Master $2.7 million
10. Won't Back Down $2.7 million

Source : ign[dot]com

Sony Gets Serious about Cameras

It may not have the track-record of Canon or Nikon, but Sony's making a strong case with new digital cameras for everyone from serious hobbyists to picky pros. Here's a run-down of the company's latest offerings for shutterbugs at all levels of the rabbit-hole.

NEX-6

At $850 (or $1000 with three new lenses), the mirror-less NEX-6 is really just a happy medium between the lower-end NEX-5 and Sony's more more expensive flagship, the NEX-7. It's not a DSLR, but the NEX-6's 16.1 megapixels are nothing to scoff at, and it can shoot 1080p video at 60 fps.

On-board WiFi enables simple, wireless photo syncs, but there's no touch screen on the NEX-6. Instead, a DSLR-style dial for switching camera modes and a digital view-finder (striking a compromise between an LCD screen and a reflexive ocular view-finder) gives the NEX-6 that "real camera" feeling that's missing from more and more point-and-shoots.

RX1

Sony's RX1 is the smallest full-frame sensor camera ever. What that means is that a camera from Sony's Cyber-Shot point-and-shoot line, a camera that weighs one pound and isn't much larger than a deck of cards, has a pro DSLR-level 24-megapixel, 35.8 x 23.9 mm full-frame sensor.

The amazing size comes with trade-offs: the RX1's 35mm Carl Zeiss lens looks pretty sweet, but you won't be able to change it - and that's on a $2800 camera; so if you're just looking for a point-and-shoot that fits in your fanny-pack you might want to keep looking.

Alpha A99

The first thing you'll notice about Sony's new flagship pro-level camera is how light it is: at 25.9 ounces, the A99 is manifestly lighter than high-end DSLRs by Canon and Nikon. It's got a 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, slightly better than Canon's 5D Mark III, but not yet on par with Nikon's D800.

The A99 is fast: it can shoot 6 frames per second at full 6000 x 4000 resolution, or 60 fps 1080p video; and, what's more, its autofocus uses two detection sensors, boosting accuracy and speed. That autofocus even works continually while shooting video; that plus the A99's in-camera audio leveling and an XLR port should make this $2799 (body-only) camera a competitive option for pros who like to shoot video now and then.

Does Sony have what it takes to run with the DSLR big-dogs? Let us know in the comments.

Jon Fox is a Seattle hipster who loves polar bears and climbing trees. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN. 

Source : ign[dot]com