Tuesday, April 18, 2017

News:: Get your free copy of 'Starcraft' ahead of its Remastered release

At the tail end of March Blizzard announced plans for Starcraft: Remastered, which is due later this year with updates including 4K graphics and modern online features. Buried within that release, it also mentioned that gamers could expect to see the original game and its Brood War expansion released for free along with the 1.18 update for the game. That day has come, and nostalgic gamers can dive back in as soon as their copy finishes downloading (PC here, OS X version here) like it's 1998 again and Gettin' Jiggy Wit It isn't just a dated reference.

Source: Starcraft, PC, Mac



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News:: Two more maps are hitting Titanfall 2 next week

As a nice follow-up to that recent Titanfall 2 DLC roadmap, Respawn has shared its plans for the next free update, "A Glitch in the Frontier," which will bring out the tranquil map Glitch and the more claustrophobic Live Fire-specific map Deck. Both arrive on April 25, 2017, along with:

  • M.R.V.N. Faction
  • Marked for Death game mode. We'll be introducing this as a featured mode around the launch of Glitch in the Frontier update.
  • Update to the Main Menu
    • We spruced things up a bit with a new look and tiles for news and other cool stuff we want you to check out.
  • Max Gen increase for Pilots
    • You will now be able to Gen to 100.
    • New Gen icons for your callsign. You will receive a new one for each 10 gens you achieve.
  • Ability to choose between Prime and regular executions for Titans
  • New execution: Get to the Point [Pulse Blade]
  • Live Fire mode added to Private Match options

Gosh these people have a talent for cutting trailers that make me want to play more.

Frontier News Network 04.18.2017 [Titanfall]

Two more maps are hitting Titanfall 2 next week screenshot



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News:: Tech deals: Cheapest AMD Ryzen 7 and 55" 4K TVs for $349

If you've been eyeing a new PC build or picking up a budget HDTV, pay attention. eBay launched yet another flash coupon earlier today, with a retailer-specific 20% off eBay coupon for select tech purchases $25 or more (with a max savings cap of $50).

So if you've been thinking about picking up the new Core i5 Kaby Lake processor, or AMD's sexy new Ryzen 7, you are in luck. For a limited time, the Core i5-7400 is only $152 after coupon, while AMD's Ryzen 7 1700X and 1800X are now at $320 and $448, respectively.

While we agree with the consensus that the 1700 is the better value buy, considering the new discounted $320 price point, it may not be such a bad idea as the basis for a new system build (given the 1700 is hovering around $300~$330).

While the eBay 20% off tech coupon works at about 19 retailers, most of the "deals" are really just for gadget and off-brand tech knickknacks. We've picked out some of the more noteworthy deals below, including an HDTV brand you've probably never heard of but the prices are stupid cheap and (real) user reviews are surprisingly decent. As of writing, you can now pick up a 55-inch 4K Ultra HDTV for only $350. Yep.

Finally, there are some pretty decent BenQ and Acer monitors on tap, of note is the Acer Predator XB1 24-inch GSync gaming monitor for only $350 after coupon. Most retailers have this at over $400 a pop with a list price of $500.

eBay HardWare Discounts

Use code: PSHOPTECH417

Desktop Processors

Monitors

HDTVs

Cheap Hard Drives

Note: While we've listed a deal on a Polaroid 49-inch 4K UHDTV above, it's there mainly for reference against the Bolva HDTVs. Reviews on the Polaroid are dismal and you should avoid purchasing. This just gives you an idea that the prices for the Bolva are quite competitive for an off-brand HDTV.

Tech deals: Cheapest AMD Ryzen 7 and 55



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News:: After 19 years, StarCraft has gone free-to-play

StarCraft originally released on March 31, 1998. It's tough to write about a game that's nearly 20 years old without it sounding like an obituary. StarCraft's legacy is probably already set in stone; at the very least it's a benchmark real-time strategy game and a title that contributed heavily to the popularization of online competitive play. This isn't an obituary though because StarCraft still isn't dead.

Today, StarCraft went free-to-play. This isn't the "free-to-play (but we'll get you with microtransactions)" as is the trend nowadays. This is an honest-to-goodness free version of StarCraft and the Brood War expansion. Go get it if you want it.

Although it's a nice gesture from Blizzard, it's still more of a marketing effort than anything else. Giving away the old StarCraft sets the stage for the StarCraft remaster that's coming later this summer. Residual sales have almost certainly dried up at this point and making it free seems like the best way to get people talking about a 19-year-old game.

Blizzard's putting more effort into this than just letting it out into the wild. The developer is also releasing its first patch for StarCraft in more than eight years. Among other things, an Observer mode has been added. Here are the full patch notes:

After 19 years, StarCraft has gone free-to-play screenshot

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News:: Hey! Pikmin comes from the studio behind Yoshi's New Island

My expectations aren't high for Hey! Pikmin, but I'm holding out slight hope that it'll be enjoyable for what it is: a spinoff. That said, it's now confirmed (by way of the Australian ratings board) that the 3DS game is the work of Yoshi's New Island studio Arzest, which doesn't exactly put my fears to rest.

It does have me wondering about the timing of "Pikmin 4," though. Shigeru Miyamoto told Eurogamer the project was "very close to completion" last July only to go mum ever since. Presumably, Hey! Pikmin will serve as a warmup before Nintendo puts out the next main-series installment on Switch.

Here's our most recent look at Hey! Pikmin taken from last week's Nintendo Direct.

Until now, I hadn't seen the game's box art (or, gulp, its $40 price tag), but it's slightly winning me over with that yellow duck-looking Bulborb with the good hair, also featured in the artwork above.

Hey! Pikmin [Australian Classification via Nintendo Everything]

Hey! Pikmin comes from the studio behind Yoshi's New Island screenshot



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News:: Farpoint looks like the next notable PlayStation VR game

You might not recall Farpoint by its forgettable name, but if you keep up with PlayStation VR happenings, you should recognize the PSVR Aim controller the game is heavily associated with. This is a first-person sci-fi adventure in which you're on an alien planet that's home to giant spiders and other nasty creatures, something you'll get a good sense of in this latest story-centric trailer.

On paper, I like the sound of another "full-length single-player campaign" for PSVR, and there's also two-player online co-op challenge levels built for high score chasers.

My fingers are crossed that this is more fleshed out than something like Robinson: The Journey. (And that the gunplay works well without the Aim accessory, because I'm definitely not buying that.)

Farpoint looks like the next notable PlayStation VR game screenshot



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News:: Bandai Namco files trademark for Pac-Man Maker

Super Mario Maker proved that developers don't need to ship a complete game to have players fawning over the experience. If the nostalgia's right -- and this part's very important -- giving people the toolset to make their own experiences can be just as powerful. All signs point to Bandai Namco betting that Pac-Man has a similar nostalgic pull to Mario.

Namco has filed a trademark for "Pac-Man Maker" in Europe. We've run our own search of the European Union Intellectual Property Office's database and can confirm that we were able to independently find the filing. (Video game trademarks are a common source of hijinks, with pranksters often doing their best to fake filings.) There's no public listing in the United States Patent and Trademark Office yet, but a search for "Pac-Man" brings up some old filings for 62 items like Pac-Man Feast and Pac-Man Pizza Parlor.

Making presumptions based on the naming convention, we'd assume Pac-Man Maker is a Pac-Man game where players make their own levels, a la Super Mario Maker. However, if that's what this is, the term "Maker" possibly strays too far into Nintendo's territory to be fair use for everyone. If that's the case, Pac-Man Maker might be one of many Maker games under a new Nintendo banner that spans third-party publishers.

It's all conjecture right now, though. It could turn out that Pac-Man Maker never even ends up as a real product, that it's just being trademarked now in case Namco has potential plans for it in the future. If something is in the works, we likely won't have to wait long to learn about it. It's E3 season which means it's the perfect time for stuff like this.

Pac-Man Maker [European Union Intellectual Property Office via NeoGAF]

Bandai Namco files trademark for Pac-Man Maker screenshot



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News:: Review: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: Continuum

Although most people don't keep an eye out for Call of Duty DLC, Infinite Warfare's first pack, Sabotage, arguably topped the main game. It delivered a Jason-esque camp theme for its stellar zombie mode, and managed to nicely balance the "far future" theme with Renaissance, Infinity Ward's take on Venice.

Continuum is unfortunately a step back, as it eases a little too uncomfortably into the conventions it already set last November.

Review: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: Continuum screenshot

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News:: Newest Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers trailer shows off the modes

Although the Nintendo Switch launched with a fair share of good games, I'm more excited about its fighting game potential. With some upcoming Neo Geo classics (friggin' Galaxy Fight), Pocket Rumble, and Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers, the Switch could be a great system for fighters. 

The newest trailer for USFII highlights the different modes coming to the Switch upgrade like the Buddy Battle (where two buddies can take on a single opponent at once), a color editor (pink, pink for everyone), the motion controlled "Way of the Hado" mode, and most impressively, a soundtrack with two different versions that switch depending on whether you play with HD or OG graphics. 

I know some may not think Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is worth the $39.99 price tag, but this is a good argument for it. It'll release on the Nintendo Switch May 26th. 

Newest Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers trailer shows off the modes screenshot

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News:: Review: Full Throttle Remastered

If there's one video game genre I missed out on, it's the point-and-click adventure titles. Hell, my first time with one was when I played Day of the Tentacle Remastered during the beginning of the year, which left me impressed with its Chuck Jones-inspired animations and the way how the cast reacts to your actions.

Prior to this joyous moment, I got to hear my friends say great things about the Monkey Island series and I Have No Mouth, but I Must Scream. Thanks to their passionate discussions about the genre, it made me I look forward to playing them one day.

As Double Fine Productions hits us with the remastered version of Full Throttle, the idea of witnessing their classic interactive tale through a biker's perspective felt like a great way to expand my experience with the point-and-click adventure genre. Just like the feeling that comes from getting a sweet new ride, it was worth taking this baby for a spin.

Review: Full Throttle Remastered screenshot

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News:: Street Fighter V takes Thailand to school with new DLC

While we wait to find out more about the remaining characters in Street Fighter V's Season 2 DLC, I suppose this will have to tide us over. M. Bison's Thailand stage from Street Fighter II has been remastered and coming to the title April 25th. It'll run you $3.99, or 70,000 in Fight Money. I'm probably going to nab it because I'm a sucker for nostalgia and, maybe if I support this, the team will remaster other old favorites? Wouldn't mind a higher resolution version of E. Honda's bath house. 

Also coming on April 25th are school costumes for Ryu (Bancho Ryu), Chun-Li (Honor Roll Chun-Li), and Juri (The Cure). *Each* costume will be $3.99 as well. 

So, uh, is this something you want Street Fighter V fans? 

[Via Capcom-Unity]

Street Fighter V takes Thailand to school with new DLC screenshot

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News:: Review: Bye-Bye BoxBoy!

HAL Laboratory games have the uncanny ability to always bring a smile to my face. No matter the title, the developer knows what to do to absolutely charm me right off my feet. Whether I’m inhaling a Waddle-Dee, doing battle with a hippie, or figuring out the object hidden inside a block, HAL titles are able to produce that dumb, goofy, don’t-care-how-unattractive-it-is smile in ways no other games can, and Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is no different.

Review: Bye-Bye BoxBoy! screenshot

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News:: PS4 Slims will have a 1TB hard drive in North America going foward

500GB of storage space can only get you so far these days, so it's nice to hear that Sony will begin including 1TB hard drives with PlayStation 4 Slim consoles in North America. The system's suggested retail price will remain at $300, and the rollout is expected to take place later this month.

There's always the option to swap in a new HDD yourself, but for many people, that's too big of an ask.

PlayStation [Twitter]

PS4 Slims will have a 1TB hard drive in North America going foward screenshot



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News:: Mr. Shifty is getting a Switch patch, after devs told people to get it on PC instead

Most of the time, developers don't tell people to "buy another version" if one of them is suffering technical issues -- especially if that version is a console exclusive that Nintendo made a big deal out of in multiple lead up videos.

Well, Team Shifty did just that when asked by a fan about fixing the framerate issues on the Switch version of Mr. Shifty. After stating "remember that even Zelda stutters," they then noted that they were a "small team," and finally closed by telling the user that "there's always the Steam version."

I completely get where they're coming from, but the final response is especially bizarre, and it would be nice to see the Switch version eventually get patched. Thankfully publisher TinyBuild stepped in, and confirmed that Mr. Shifty would eventually get a performance patch.

Mr. Shifty Devs Tackling Frame Rate Issues [Nintendo Life]

Mr. Shifty is getting a Switch patch, after devs told people to get it on PC instead screenshot



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News:: The $300 PlayStation 4 Slim bulks up with a 1TB hard drive

Sure, it's simple enough to swap out the standard 500 GB hard drive in your PlayStation 4 for a bigger one, but sometimes you just don't want to go through the hassle. Well, thanks to the PS4 Slim being packed with a 1 TB drive as standard equipment now, that shouldn't be an issue in the future. Amazon is already cutting prices on the 500GB models (from $300 to around $250), and the 1TB flavor rocks a $300 MSRP. A 1TB PS4 Pro is still $400, however, and depending on your situation, might be the better buy at this point.

Source: PlayStation



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News:: Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days gets a 'cinematic' trailer and release date

If you're eager to dive into the world of Tarantino's breakout hit, then today's news should be big for you. Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days will be releasing on May 18 for PC and Steam (which is the same thing, no?). While an exact price isn't on the table just yet, you can get a quick look at the game with a new trailer. It is a "cinematic" trailer, no less.

Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days gets a 'cinematic' trailer and release date screenshot

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News:: Review: Late Shift

Full motion video games combine two of my favorite mediums in a fun way. But the combination admittedly makes it hard to tackle with a critique. Do I approach with the intention of critiquing it as I would a film, or would I need to focus on the aspects a game review would pinpoint?

Luckily with Late Shift, I didn't have to think on it too much. With slim inclusions of what could be conventionally considered "gameplay," I had no choice but to really dig into the near-cinematic narrative...for better or worse. 

Review: Late Shift screenshot

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News:: Nintendo's NES Classic has been discontinued in Europe too

When Nintendo pulled the NES Classic from its website and retailers in the US, we knew it was only a matter of time before the same happened on the other side of the Atlantic. It took four days, but the company today confirmed to Eurogamer that the tiny retro console is no longer on sale in Europe, meaning it's now been discontinued worldwide.

Source: Eurogamer



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News:: The next Zelda: Breath of the Wild discovery? Turbo surfing

Russian Zelda player Пекарь Юсоновэбич has figured out yet another cool trick that everyone can screw around with -- turbo surfing. Basically you take a minecart, put it on a raft, and use magnesis to quickly jolt the latter.

This isn't nearly as fast (and the water system isn't nearly as vast) as Wind Waker HD's "Superswimming" mechanic, but it gets the job done. I wonder how a lot of these "all Divine Beast" runs will go with all these tricks. At the moment everyone is racing for an "any %" clear, but other categories will probably open up soon enough.

Be warned -- this isn't a silent Let's Play, and the dude yells quite a bit.

The next Zelda: Breath of the Wild discovery? Turbo surfing screenshot

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News:: Review: Flinthook

One part ghost, one part pirate, one part bounty hunter, one part hooker. No, I'm not talking about your grandma, but the protagonist of Flinthook, a game that had me 'hooked' from the start.

Sorry. I had to.

Review: Flinthook screenshot

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News:: Esports joins the 2022 Asian Games as a medal event

Esports will form part of the 2022 Asian Games, set to be held in China. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said it wanted to reflect "the rapid development and popularity of this new form of sports participation." It marks an evolution from next year's 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, where eSports will debut as a demonstration sport. Come 2022, however, it will be a medal event, given equal footing with long-established athletic events and sports. The move is in part due to a partnership deal between e-commerce beast Alibaba (well, its eSports arm) and the OCA.

Via: BBC



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News:: The renamed Layton's Mystery Journey will now arrive on iOS and Android at launch

Lady Layton is no more. Well, in name only, as it's still set for a July 20 release in Japan, it's just called Layton’s Mystery Journey now. Originally just set for 3DS on that date in Japan it's now coming to iOS worldwide, but the 3DS western release is still undecided.

For those of you who haven't been keeping up, this one features Katrielle Layton, the famous Hershel Layton's daughter. The latter is taking a backseat in recent years, and is only set to cameo in his series for the time being. If you want to get an idea of what Lady Layton is about you can check out the new trailer below.

I can't decide if I like the talking dog yet.

The renamed Layton's Mystery Journey will now arrive on iOS and Android at launch screenshot

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News:: Star Wars Battlefront II's early access period is set

As is the case with most of EA's big games, Star Wars Battlefront II (read: not Star Wars: Battlefront 2, that old game that is still better than most recent Battlefront entries) will be available in early access form before launch.

Available across the confusingly named EA (console) and Origin (PC) Access fronts, it'll drop on November 9, eight days before its November 17 release. We don't know yet what that trial will entail, but previously the publisher locked solo progress while offering unfettered multiplayer.

Given the hype a Star Wars game usually comes with, I hope they get it right this time. EA really missed the mark with the last Star Wars Battlefront.

Star Wars Battlefront II's early access period is set screenshot



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News:: Samsung's Gear VR controller makes mobile VR more immersive

Samsung was first to mobile VR, but Google's Daydream View headset beat it to motion controls. Now, the Korean electronics giant is fighting back with the Gear VR controller. And, with a bit of help from Oculus, it's even managed to outdo Google when it comes to delivering a believable virtual experience. Best of all? Existing Gear VR owners don't need to buy a whole new headset to take advantage of this upgrade.



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News:: You could originally regain stamina while climbing in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but Miyamoto nixed it

Other than weapon durability, climbing/stamina seems to be the biggest beef people have with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- and according to several members of the dev team, regaining stamina while climbing almost made it in until Miyamoto canned the concept.

Speaking to GameSpot, art director Satoru Takizawa explained the mechanic: "Until about halfway through the development, we had a spec where you could take your weapon and stab it into a wall. When your stamina gauge was dwindling you could stab the weapon and kind of hang out and rest there." It sounds pretty rad, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi notes why it was missing: "So the answer is that Mr. Miyamoto heard of the concept he said, ‘You can’t stand on the tip of a sword. This is strange.’ And then we explained, ‘No no no, you stab it in.’ Then he’s like, ‘No, it’s not going to work.’ Another idea is that it’s very hard to actually stab a sword into a big piece of rock. We considered that you can stab them into cracks or crevices in the wall, but then you can’t freely use that feature anywhere you want, so I decided not to implement it...so starting from the early stages of development we had been constantly showing Mr. Miyamoto our progress. At times we would even show him once a week what we’d been working on, because if we don’t do that, and then go face-to-face and present the idea, tables might be flipped!"

Miyamoto's meddling is known in all corners of the world, with mixed results. Star Fox Zero allegedly suffered from it, but given how universally celebrated Breath of the Wild is, the wisdom that he imparted probably ended up bettering the game as a whole.

Zelda [GameSpot]

You could originally regain stamina while climbing in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but Miyamoto nixed it screenshot



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News:: AMD's mid-range Radeon 500-series video cards are here

With last year's Radeon RX 480, AMD wowed us with a $200 video card that could tackle VR and 1,440p gaming. But with its 500-series cards, it's aiming to make an even bigger leap. How does 1,440p gaming beyond 60 frames per second sound? That's what AMD is promising with the RX 580, the most powerful option in this new mid-range lineup. At the same time, the company is also unveiling cheaper cards, the RX 570, 560 and 550, which cater to gamers who might want to save a few more bucks, or want something that could fit into a tiny case.



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News:: Bandai Namco's Code Vein is a vampire game from the God Eater team

That artful trailer Bando Namco put out a few days ago is for Code Vein, a vampire-themed, dungeon-exploring action RPG from the guys who made God Eater. Famitsu reports it will be made in Unreal Engine 4, but with no confirmed platforms announced yet, which we'll likely learn with its official announcement on April 20. The game itself is set to release worldwide in 2018

The vampires are called "Revenants" who have supernatural abilities and live in an isolated society called 'Vein." Revenants have lost their memories and change into monsters called "Lost" when they face blood deficiency.

Bandai Namco's Code Vein is a vampire game from the God Eater team screenshot

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News:: The Morning After: Tuesday, April 18th 2017

Hey, good morning!

We're warming up for F8. Yep, Facebook's big annual event kicks off today and it looks like the company has an awful lot planned to show us. Meanwhile, Netflix has explained why it continues to pay for Adam Sandler's creative output and Verizon made its own smartwatch for some reason. Oh, and here's a DIY distillery.



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News:: Review: Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom

These days, it's unusual for me to actively seek out role-playing games. The allure of embarking on a grand adventure is still strong as ever, and I love assembling and growing attached to a crew of characters, but the sheer time commitment can prove insurmountable. With that in mind, it makes sense that Shiness -- an action-RPG funded partially through Kickstarter -- was able to draw me in.

For one, the game isn't too terribly long. I was able to hit the end credits in something like 15 hours, spread over a week, and I've since come back to suss out more of the lore-dense world. During a busy release schedule like the one we're currently knee deep in, that's about the ideal length.

The other major thing going for Shiness? Combat. It takes an arena fighting game approach, enabling you (and also your foes) to perform combos, block, parry, cast spells, and even tag in teammates. As someone who tends to grow tired of less active RPGs, that design choice was an absolute godsend.

Review: Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom screenshot

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