The Kickstarter-funded System Shock remake from Nightdive Studios is coming along swimmingly, having already reached its funding goal of $900,000 with 7 days to go in its campaign. Because of the huge demand from fans, it's now coming to an additional platform: PlayStation 4.
Source: Kickstarter
Recently, some high-profile video game streamers have been exposed as owning third-party gambling sites where players can bet on the outcome of matches for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive — an obvious conflict of interest. Last week, Twitch announced that anyone violating a game's terms of service would be prohibited from broadcasting, and they've followed up by banning a prominent streamer who had 1.3 million followers.
Source: Eurogamer
Mobile puzzle game Two Dots (from developer Dots) did a ton of things right when it was released in 2014. The game took a simple mechanic -- matching two or more dots of the same color -- and added a bunch of great power-ups, varying goals, constant content updates, new mechanics as you progress and a great visual style. It was a huge improvement over the original Dots and was one of the best examples of a free-to-play game that doesn't nickel-and-dime you to death. It's easy to play and succeed in the game without ever spending a dollar, if that's what you want to do.
After releasing more than 700 Two Dots levels, the game's developer is ready to unveil the next evolution in the series: Dots & Co. is out today for iOS and Android. If you've played earlier Dots games, the new one will feel pleasantly familiar: Your job is still to connect same-colored dots, and making a square will clear all of that color off the board. Each level has an objective to be accomplished in limited moves (clear a certain number of specific colored dots, or break all of the "ice" on the board, for example), and you'll still get up to three stars based on how many points you get. The new game is not the radical change that we saw between the initial Dots and Two Dots. But Dots & Co. is still a fresh and refined experience that introduces a bunch of new gameplay features, and that is definitely a good thing.
Source: iTunes Store, Google Play
If you've been looking for a lower-cost alternative to the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive that doesn't skimp on hardware, you're in luck. Razer has officially started taking pre-orders for the OSVR HDK2: its second generation Open-Source Virtual Reality hardware development kit. The company announced this upgrade last month at E3. It features a higher resolution 2,160 x 1,200 low-persistence OLED 441 PPI display, a winder, 110-degree field of view and a 90Hz refresh-rate -- specs on par with what you'll find in other commercial VR headsets.
Via: VRFocus
Source: Razer
A few years ago, Bandai Namco figured out the key to reviving the Pac-Man: just make the original top down dot-chomper faster, brighter and more competitive. Pac-Man Championship Edition and Championship Edition DX+ changed just enough of the classic game to make it fresh and exciting. Now, the company is going to try it one more time. Today Bandai Namco announced Pac-man Championship Edition 2, a remix that promises new rules, bigger ghosts and new direction in level design
Animal Crossing and Amiibo seem like a match made in heaven: cute characters, and collectable toys. Sadly, the duo's first pairing turned out to be a shallow, dull board game without much replay value. Fans longed for a full Animal Crossing toys-to-life experience -- and this year, they're going to get it. Sort of. This fall, Nintendo will be updating the 3DS' 4-year-old Animal Crossing: New Leaf with Amiibo support.
Source: Nintendo
The first episode of the narrative adventure game Life is Strange will be free to download across platforms from tomorrow. Publisher Square Enix says the change is indefinite. It's clearly a move to get more people interested in the episodic game, and if you get hooked on episode one, you'll be able to pick up the other four parts for $16.99 (the full season pass previously cost $19.99).
Life is Strange won multiple awards including a BAFTA for Best Story, and featured among our favorite games of 2015. Its developer, Dontod Entertainment, says it's "really glad" that Square Enix has made the decision, "so more players can begin their journey and see why people have fallen in love with the game for themselves." You'll be able to get episode one gratis from July 21st on Mac, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Source: Life is Strange