News:: NVIDIA reveals its $700 top of the line GTX 1080 Ti

Last year we called NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 1080 "the upgrade you've been waiting for," and now PC gamers have another high-end graphics card to drool over. Now, at GDC 2017 CEO Jen-Hsun Huang presented its successor, the GTX 1080 Ti, which promises "35 percent more performance," packs 11GB of GDDR5X memory and will go on sale March 10th for $700. In fact, NVIDIA even claims this new card is faster than its $1,200 Titan X that launched late last year. As for the older hardware, the company announced the 1080 is getting a price cut and will now start at $500.

Developing...

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News:: Job Simulator toys let you throw stuff at a computer, in or out of VR

Job Simulator is still one of the best reasons to own a Virtual Reality rig, and right before the Game Developers Conference (GDC) we got word that creators Owlchemy Labs have teamed up with iam8bit to start selling merchandise based on characters and artwork from the game. The highlight of the new products has to be the plush Job-bot toy, which not only talks but also glows in the dark.

Job Simulator depicts a universe where humans have been more-or-less replaced by friendly, floating computer monitors called Job-bots. Since the machine intelligences have removed the need for toil, they put together not-entirely-accurate simulations of how humans used to do common jobs, and you play through these simulations in a virtual museum.

In addition to the plush, there are also posters, a T-shirt, an enamel pin, and magnets available. The new products are debuting at GDC, but are also available for sale at iam8bit's website. You can see pictures of all the new merchandise in the gallery below. 

And just for fun, here's what one of the Job Simulator developers showed off during GDC. I know I'd love to give it a try.

Weekend #VR hack experiment: Job Simulator meets Overwatch. 😜 #gamedev #madewithunity http://pic.twitter.com/4Bmp0LBgNw

— Zi Ye (@MajorMcDoom) February 27, 2017

 

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News:: It looks like you can use a Switch Pro controller on your PC

Here's a pleasant surprise. According to some folks who got the Switch Pro Controller early, the peripheral will pretty much just plug-and-play on the PC. Redditor CalKnight was one of the first to discover this, and posted a video of himself trying it out by using the Dolphin GameCube emulator. 

The Pro Controller connects via Bluetooth, so your computer will have to have the capability to detect wireless devices. Additionally, CalKnight says that there's a "weird way" to pair the device to the computer. He also mentioned that the controller works with Steam's Big Picture mode, though no footage of that was shown. CalKnight intends to release a followup video that will answer some frequently asked questions and go into detail on how to pair the controller.

Confirmed: Pro Controller Works Natively With PC! [Reddit via NintendoEverything]

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News:: Agony continues to look messed up

Yeesh, this is unpleasant. But as a horror game set in hell, well, that's the whole point!

In this latest showing for Agony, Madmind Studio focuses on the demon side of things, with a narrated trailer and a few minutes of unedited footage, shown above. The latter has someone possessing a susceptible "simple-minded" demon and doing horrible, flesh-mangling stuff to trapped souls.

Between that and the nudity, maybe file this one away until you can watch it from the comfort of your home. The gameplay looks fairly basic to me, but the environmental work might be able to carry it.

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News:: Battlefield: Bad Company 2's Vietnam expansion is free on Xbox Live today

Every Xbox player is a fortunate son today as Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam is free on the Live Marketplace. Bad Company 2 is one of the many backward compatible games on Xbox One, so nabbing this will let you experience it on your newer console. In addition to giving away the highly rated expansion, the main game is on sale for $10, so anyone without a copy can get the "complete" experience for a small chunk of change.

Lest PC gamers feel left out, EA is also holding a sale on the PC version via Origin. While Vietnam isn't being given away, you can nab both the base game and the expansion for 50% off. This leaves Bad Company 2 at $9.99 and Vietnam at $7.49. If you must punish yourself, the "Digital Deluxe" version is also half-off at $14.99.

Last but not least, the PS3 version of Bad Company 2 is also on sale for $10. Sadly, the expansion is not on sale, but you can still get into the regular game for a single Hamilton. Not too bad, honestly.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2's Vietnam Expansion Is Free Right Now On Xbox [GameSpot]

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News:: GaCuCon: The Soulkeeper was quite the attention keeper

Have you seen the Helm Systems logo? When I got the business card I was like GIGGLE GIGGLE CONDOMS while totally keeping my composure.

This is the second time I've had a chance to check their upcoming title, and yet again I came away impressed. The VR industry desperately needs games that are more than brief technical curiosities, and The Soulkeeper is shaping up to be one of those missing links. Of all the demos shown at Miami's GaCuCon, this one consistently had long lines of players wanting to go at it again and again.

Here's a couple of new videos of the game in action and a brief interview with their CEO:

 

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News:: Expect four new expansions for 'Battlefield 1' this year

If you're a Battlefield 1 fan, get ready to open your wallet and jump into even more WWI-inspired battles. Gaming heavyweights EA and DICE just revealed four new expansion packs for its popular first-person shooter. All four expansions are included in this brand-new annual Premium Pass, which is available for XBox One, PS4 and PC via EA's Origin service. Each expansion will be available for purchase separately with the first entry, "They Shall Not Pass," available to premium members on March 14 and March 28 for non-premium players.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: EA

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News:: Unity's '2017' game engine will focus on artists and designers

Unity's keynote at this year's GDC was all about the future of its game engine. The company has outlined plans for the next major version of its platform, Unity 2017, which is being designed with creators in mind. Unity says one of the main goals is to improve team productivity and collaboration features for non-programmers, particularly those who are artists and designers -- someone like a cinematic animator, for example. Developers will be able to sign up for a beta in April, marking the end of the Unity 5 cycle that began in 2014.

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News:: Google now lets developers offer sales on Android apps

During Google's Developer Day at GDC 2017 today, the company introduced a few new features that will benefit both developers and consumers on the Google Play Store. The one customers will notice most starting today is strikethrough pricing, which makes it more obvious when apps are being sold at a reduced rate.

Source: Android Developers Blog

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News:: The first games published by Humble Bundle are super clever

Humble Bundle has ballooned from a small company offering "pay what you want," charity-focused video game sales to become a major player in digital distribution. Humble is taking on Steam's marketplace with the Humble Store and it's attracting subscriptions with Humble Monthly, a program that delivers a curated selection of games to your digital doorstep twelve times a year.

This month, Humble announced it would start funding and publishing games, starting with seven titles across a range of genres. At GDC 2017, we got our hands on four of these new games: Staxel, HackyZack, Ikenfell and Keyboard Sports.

Though each game is vastly different and built for disparate audiences, they're all refreshingly creative in their own way.

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News:: Today's Overwatch update adds the Game Browser

I know we're antsy for a new hero, but today's update for Overwatch on PC and consoles deals with the promised Game Browser and tweaks to characters like Bastion and Roadhog, among other changes.

This video tells you most everything you need to know about the new custom game feature in general terms, so give that a look if you'd be a dear. Accessible through the Arcade menu, you can use the Game Browser to mess with the rules concerning maps, modes, and heroes to make your own game type that you can then play with friends only or open up to the public. And if you're not in a creative mood, you can just peruse the server browser and filter through other player-made modes.

Besides the character-specific changes, which you can find in great detail in the full patch notes, it's worth specifically calling out a couple of things here. First, Capture the Flag has proven popular enough to stay around, and it'll now reside in Overwatch as an "ongoing mode" in the Arcade.

Second, Blizzard has enabled a respawn delay, which is described as follows: "When attackers outnumber defenders while taking a control point on Assault, Escort and Assault/Escort maps, the defenders' respawn time will slowly increase until it hits a maximum value or the defense manages to gain the upper hand." I'm dying to see how that alteration plays out in live matches, but the idea is to deter defending teams from recklessly throwing themselves at the point to stall.

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News:: Splatoon 2 is so fresh, so clean

The mood of the Nintendo Switch Preview Tour event in San Francisco was electric the whole way through. With music blaring and lights splattering the crowd with the many hues of the rainbow, it was the perfect setting to check out one of my most anticipated games: Splatoon 2.

I’ve been playing Splatoon for so long that it’s tough for me to believe it’s been less than two years since it was first released. Though a bit hollow in its debut, subsequent map and gun additions over the next few months transformed the colorful title from a must-play Nintendo game into a bonafide reason to own a Wii U. I put close to 70 hours into that game, wasting many weekend afternoons painting the floors of some of the most imaginative multiplayer maps ever created. It was the first multiplayer shooter that I could actually be a decent sniper at, though I much preferred taking down squids and kids with my .52 Gal Deco.

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News:: Ubisoft and the studio behind The Division are doing an Avatar game

Ubisoft is taking another crack at the Avatar universe with an upcoming PC and console game in production at The Division maker Massive Entertainment. You might recall 2009's licensed tie-in James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, which was a "waste of time" and a "squandered opportunity," as Jim Sterling called it in his three-out-of-ten review for Destructoid at the time.

Details are light on this new project, but it will use The Division's Snowdrop Engine, and according to Ubisoft, "It was after seeing a Snowdrop-run game prototype, in fact, that Avatar creator James Cameron and Lightstorm [Entertainment] agreed to the partnership."

The pieces are in place for this to be worthwhile but I wonder how safe they'll play it, design-wise. I don't doubt that this will look real pretty given the engine, but that can only get you so far.

Also, reminder: there are four upcoming Avatar movies, with the first due in 2018.

New Avatar Game Spearheaded by Division Developer Massive [Ubisoft]

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News:: GaCuCon: Feed your desire to murder pigeons with Flappin Nutz

There's a soft spot in my heart for SHMUPS, right next to the hardened part where I want all birds to be deep-fried in canola. Though still very much a work in progress, I enjoyed a few ridiculous rounds of Flappin Nutz: A game about an angry old man who looks like Stan Lee (and whose name is Stanlee) who hangs from a helicopter to shoot at birds. Why? Because they shat on his car. I can relate to this. 

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News:: Advance Wars fans need to keep an eye on WarGroove

This morning was full of announcements about independent games that will support the Nintendo Switch, and while there's a lot of good stuff to dig through both old and new alike, one game in particular has my attention. It's WarGroove, a turn-based strategy title for up to four players that has Advance Wars and a touch of Fire Emblem in its DNA. The latter series has seen plenty of love, but the former? I've been desperate for something, anything, that resembles Advance Wars. This is it.

"As big fans of those games we were disappointed to find that nothing in this genre was available on current generation platforms and set out to fill the gap ourselves," says developer Chucklefish. "WarGroove aims to recreate the charm and accessibility of the titles that inspired it whilst bringing modern technology into the formula." We're right there with y'all.

WarGroove is said to have four factions with twelve-plus commanders who will have their own campaigns, a map editor, local and online play, and even co-op support. It's confirmed for a release on Nintendo Switch sometime this year, with other platforms to be announced.

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News:: I totally regret canceling my Nintendo Switch pre-order

The blistering cold wind kept me close to the building, my arms tight against my body. I had known it would be chilly but foolishly didn’t prepare for the wind even though I would be right on the water. With two hours to kill, I attempted to strike up a conversation with the fellow to my left, eyes glued to his 3DS, but he wasn’t having any of it. Instead, the gentleman to my right, who kept calling me ‘cuz’ and calling Link his ‘ni**er,’ chatted with me as we both waited for the doors to the Nintendo Switch event to open.

I had arrived an hour earlier and saw a massive line out the door. Instinctively, I stood at the end of it. Had I not spoken with the handsome gentleman behind me, my 90 minute trip to San Francisco would have been all for naught. I needed a bracelet, and when I finally found the person in charge of handing them out, I got one of the last 15 available for the final showing of the day. With a literal sigh of relief, I stood with my back against the Festival Pavilion building and listened to the muted sounds of Rhianna that managed to escape whenever somebody cracked open a door. 

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News:: Turok 2: Seeds of Evil remaster hitting PC in March with new multiplayer mode

I think the reason Horizon: Zero Dawn stands out so much to me is there aren't enough games where you shoot dinosaurs anymore. Nightdive, I assume, sensed the void and decided to fill it with a much anticipated (from me) port of Turok 2: Seeds of Evil. Following their work on the first game in 2015, Turok 2 is remastered with new bosses, 20 new weapons, and a new multiplayer mode, "Last Turok Standing," which is where Turoks will fight to see who Turoks the most Turok. 

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil will release on March 16th for PC via Steam, GOG, and the Humble Store. 

The Turok 2 Remaster Hits PC Soon, Watch the New Trailer [GameSpot]

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News:: The GaCuCon video game cruise, reviewed

I went on a video game cruise for a week. What an asshole, right? You can't say I didn't invite you! I did an interview with the founders a while back. It's annual and open to the public. 

Joining GaCuCon, aboard the Carnival Sensation, was one of the most luxuriously dorky gaming things I've ever attended in my life.  Did I have fun? Hell yeah. It's hard to criticize a venue with non-stop food, vices, and video games. Did everything go smoothly? Of course not. It was the first year and we were on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean with giant waves and satellite internet. Three Florida men with a dream came up with this ridiculous concept, and being a native Floridian myself I couldn't pass it up. 

Here's what went down, eh, terrible choice of words. Here's what's up. Nobody drowned, I mean. Oh, bother. 

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News:: Nintendo is already smashing its Wii U indie initiative out of the gate with the Switch

Nintendo is making up for lost time with all of the work they've been doing to woo indie developers on their platform. While the Wii U was a decent step up from the pitiful WiiWare platform, they really didn't come around to the idea of aggressively competing with other platforms until halfway into its life cycle -- by then, it was too late.

But in this past week, they've basically turned the notion around that they aren't trying. Fast RMX, and Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment are now launch titles for the Switch. Also,  just today during their Nindies Showcase stream, they confirmed Steamworld Dig 2, Yooka-Laylee, Overcooked: Special Edition, The Escapists 2, Gonner (timed exclusive), Dandara, Kingdom: Two Crowns, Runner3, Blaster Master Zero, Flipping Death, Graceful Explosion Machine (timed exclusive), Mr. Shifty (timed exclusive), Tumbleseed, Shakedown Hawaii (timed exclusive), Pocket Rumble (console exclusive), WarGroove, and Stardew Valley multiplayer (timed console exclusive).

We're not even to E3 yet and we already have a ton of games that are hitting the Switch. It sounds hyperbolic, but we could see the Switch library eclipse that of the Wii U in just one year. Get a feel for what's coming with a trailer bonanza below.

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News:: Vive Studios' 'VR Sports' is exactly what it sounds like

The unmitigated phenomenon that was the Nintendo Wii had an everlasting effect on any medium with motion controllers: if you have hardware that can track hand movements, it needs to have its own "Wii Sports" game. Enter Vive Studios latest virtual reality game, VR Sports -- a light hearted, but surprisingly realistic feeling ping-pong and tennis simulator. On March 15th, the game kicks off Vive Studios' spring line-up of VR games, which also includes a WWII defense shooter and a port of Sixaxis' virtual reality CAD program.

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News:: Nintendo Switch will be the first console to support multiplayer in Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a one man operation, and as such, updates are going to be delivered at a slower pace than projects that have massive teams. One of those big promised features includes multiplayer, something players have been clamoring for since launch.

Well, today during its "Nindies Showcase" stream, Nintendo noted that the upcoming Stardew Valley Switch port will be the first console to secure a multiplayer update. The wording clearly suggests that it's a timed exclusive type deal, and there's no word on whether or not the PC version would be getting it at the same time (the phrase "first console" certainly hints that it will).

Either way, I'm stoked! I can't wait to tend to my farm with my fake wife Abigail and my real wife.

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News:: Ubisoft is building a game in the 'Avatar' universe

Alongside this week's Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, Ubisoft announced its next AAA-project: a new experience set on the moon Pandora from James Cameron's Avatar universe. The game is being developed by Massive Entertainment -- the Ubisoft studio behind last year's fast-selling The Division.

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News:: Choice provisions is done teasing Runner3, as it's a confirmed Switch title

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News:: Blaster Master Zero is coming west next month on Switch, 3DS

Although it's going to miss the technical launch day of March 3 in the west (it's a full-on launch game in Japan), it's close enough.

Inti Creates has revealed that Blaster Master Zero will be arriving west in North America in Europe on March 9 on both the 3DS and the Nintendo Switch. The differences between the two include HD rumble for the latter, as well as a "brand new co-op mode" by way of the two Joy-Con remotes. Zero is kind of a re-imagining of the first game, and "starts the entire saga over from zero," according to the developers. It'll be $9.99 when it arrives.

While I wouldn't normally have faith in this project with a lot of other developers, Inti Creates has an incredible track record, so I'm stoked to see what they can do.

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News:: Yooka-Laylee, Overcooked: Special Edition, The Escapists 2 are coming to Switch

Team17 had a trio of announcements for the Nintendo Switch today, and although they're all ports, it's nice to hear them confirmed all the same.

The big one is Yooka-Laylee -- although we knew that Playtonic Games was toying with the idea of bringing it to the Switch after canceling the Wii U edition, we have an official confirmation from Nintendo that it's coming this year. The multiplayer-centric Overcooked is hitting the platform too, with a special edition moniker in tow, followed by The Escapists 2.

No windows were given other than "soon," and "later this year," but they exist!

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News:: Steamworld Dig 2 confirmed for Nintendo Switch

Rumors have been swirling for a follow up to Steamworld Dig for years now, and today during its "Nindies Showcase" event, Image & Form have revealed that yes, it will be getting a sequel -- simply called, Steamworld Dig 2.

Not much is known about the story, but it seems to feature a new character and will still have the same dig-heavy underground gameplay as the first. Right now the only platform that's confirmed is the Switch, which is set for a summer 2017 release.

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News:: Watch the Nintendo Switch Nindies Showcase right here

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News:: The developers of Mega Man Legacy Collection are creating a new Capcom collection

Mega Man Legacy Collection is the last bastion of hope for the Blue Bomber to continue to exist outside of the sleazy mobile releases Capcom has been putting out. Digital Eclipse did a great job of upholding the honor of the series, and it seems like Capcom agrees, as they aren't done with their partnership yet.

Speaking on a podcast, Digital Eclipse's Frak Cifaldi reminiscenced about his previous work, while commenting on the next one: "I shipped a collection called Mega Man Legacy Collection the year before last (it's been a while), and we've got another one coming out soon that they're gonna announce any day now. I don't know when - I wish I could talk about it but it's really cool."

It could mean anything, and isn't necessarily related to Mega Man. I'd love it if it was an X collection though with a Mega Man X amiibo, so we'd come full circle, and possibly get a Battle Network Collection as well as one for Star Force (Zero got a kind of sort of recent collection on DS). While very game in the series isn't a hit, it would serve as a historical preservation of sorts, and possibly pave the way for another developer to handle a Mega Man 11, and that coveted link from the Classic to the X series we've been waiting for.

Channel 33 [YouTube via Rockman Corner]

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News:: Deal: Xbox One S ups the ante with free Xbox Live Gold and controller

This might be the best time to buy an Xbox One S in Q1 2017. Last week, Microsoft and participating retailers dropped the price by $50 on the 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB models of Xbox One S, but this week further bonuses are popping up at select retailers: Best Buy, GameStop, and the Microsoft Store.

Previously the $50 discount was to match Sony's PS4 offer until February 25, but it looks like Microsoft is extending the deal until March 4... a date that we're sure is randomly chosen by Microsoft and not because of another potential competing console being released the previous day *cough* Nintendo Switch *cough*.

Best Buy Xbox One S Console Deals:

Best Buy's offer includes $50 off, a free Xbox One 2016 controller, and a three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription card.

Qualifying consoles:

• Halo Wars 2 Console $299.99
• Battlefield 1 Special Edition 1TB Console $299.99
• Gears of War 4 1TB Console $299.99
• Forza Horizon 3 1TB Console $299.99
• Battlefield 1 500GB Console $249.99
• Minecraft 500GB Console $249.99

GameStop Xbox One S Console Deals

Gamestop is offering the standard $50 off plus a $50 GameStop Digital Gift Card.

Qualifying consoles:

• Halo Wars 2 1TB Console $299.99
• Forza Horizon 3 1TB Console $299.99
• Battlefield 1 Special Edition 1TB Console $299.99
• Gears of War 4 1TB Console $299.99
• Gears of War 4 500GB Blue Console $249.99

Microsoft Xbox One S Console Deals

Microsoft Store is offering the standard $50 off plus a free game of your choice. This is probably the "weakest" offer given the freebie is from a selection of old Ubisoft titles, but free is free?

Qualifying consoles:

• Gears of War 4 2TB Red Console $399
• 2TB White Console $349
• Halo Wars 2 Console $299
• Battlefield 1 Special Edition 1TB Console $299
• Gears of War 4 1TB Console $299
• Forza Horizon 3 1TB Console $299
• FIFA 17 1TB Console $299
• Battlefield 1 500GB Console $249
• Minecraft 500GB Console $249

Other Xbox One S Deals

• Xbox One S 2TB Gears of War 4 Bundle — $349.99 Use code: TRIPLE15
• Xbox One S 500GB Battlefield 1 Bundle — $239.99
• Xbox One S 500GB Minecraft Bundle — $215.60  Use Code: TRIPLE15
• Xbox One S 1TB Console Halo Wars 2 Bundle + $100 eGift Card — $299.99
• Xbox One S 1TB Gears of War 4 Bundle + $100 eGift Card — $299.99
• Xbox One S 1TB Forza Horizon 3 Bundle + $100 eGift Card — $299.99
• Xbox One S 500GB Minecraft Bundle + $100 eGift Card — $249.99
• Xbox One S 500GB Battlefield 1 Bundle + $100 eGift Card — $249.99

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