News:: Cave Story+ will offer 'classic graphics' on Switch next month

It's good to have Cave Story+ on a system like the Nintendo Switch, and as the weeks roll by, it's only getting better. Come August, you'll be able to play with a more familiar "classic graphics" option.

Free update for #CaveStory+ with classic graphics in August! Game available now at retail and eShop https://t.co/1uOiso2UOj #NintendoSwitch http://pic.twitter.com/ZeyzACLOZH

— Nicalis, Inc. (@nicalis) July 10, 2017

Asked if more surprises await the Switch version, Nicalis replied "oh yeaah!"

I gave in and bought this port, played for a solid hour or so, and had a grand old time. No surprises there. I'll get back to it (or maybe just start a fresh run) once I can play in co-op. Then we go to hell.

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News:: Man At Arms forges Roadhog's hook

Man At Arms: Reforged, the YouTube series that creates real-life versions of iconic weapons from games, movies, and comics, has made everything from Cloud's Buster Sword to Wolverine's claws.

The group's latest video showcases an incredible-looking forge of Roadhog's chain hook from Blizzard's massively popular shooter Overwatch.

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News:: Spider-Man: Homecoming had the second best opening in the series, do you think it's second best?

If you have yet to see Spider-Man: Homecoming, or aren't going to bother at all, just know it's a big deal for a number of reasons. A result of a big partnership between two studios, it's yet another reset of the Spider-Man series, and now Spider-Man is a part of the MCU. All of these factors led to the second-biggest box office opening in the franchise, with $117 million over its opening weekend. 

What was the biggest opening? Spider-Man 3's $151 million back in 2007, riding high after Spider-Man 2's critical success. But the main question I want to ask you all is, what do you think of Spider-Man: Homecoming? Does the second-biggest opening mean it's second best? Which do you think is the best Spider-Man film? 

Here's how the rest of the domestic box office performances turned out for the July 7 weekend: 

[via Rentrak]

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News:: Jump is the newest video game subscription service and it's in beta now

With services like PlayStation Now and EA Access out in the wild, the idea of subscription gaming services doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The newest player in this growing market is Jump.

Unlike its triple-A brothers, Jump's focus is on award-winning indie titles. It gives subscribers unlimited access to a library of games, which will load into Jump's app in a minute or so, depending on the file size.

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News:: How Grand Theft Auto V Helps My Depression (no, really...)

[From our community blogs comes this short-but-sweet take on using video games in unique ways to help deal with the rigors of stress, depression, and autism. Do us a favor an tell GuerrillaOcelot ways you've used our favorite hobby to help improve your day-to-day life in the comments below! - Wes]

Hello.

Yeah, I don't have a humorous way to start. No, wait! 

"Knock, knock."

"Who's there?"

"My blog post."

"Come in."

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News:: NBA Playgrounds now has online play on Nintendo Switch

That big NBA Playgrounds patch with online play, tweaked shooting mechanics, and new players is now live for Nintendo Switch. There were some worrisome bumps in the road to certification that led developer Saber Interactive to publicly air grievances, but the update is out now. They made it work.

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News:: I watched the Candy Crush TV show until I died

It was at 3am, October 12, 2013, and I had just downed about six beers. Crawling through a crush's Facebook page, I went through a year or so of their profile pictures. I wished I could have their life. 

Then I got an invite to play this game, Candy Crush. It was basically Yoshi's Cookie but made to be more difficult and time-consuming. It was perfect. Each match got me closer and closer to happiness. I slowly became whole again. 

CBS' Candy Crush game show aired Sunday night and it killed me. 

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News:: My game Aftermath Y2K is live!

[Hey look, a game made by Dtoid's very own Dinosir!! Go buy it, damn it!]

Thank you all for your support. You guys are awesome! And I love this community. :D

Here's a link if you're interested.

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News:: Mega Man fan game will let you create your own levels

Mario Maker was an amazing game, in fact, it's the only reason my Wii U is still hooked up at my desk. If you're like me you've spent a lot of time thinking about what other franchises deserve this sort of level creator fare. 

At the top of my list, along with Zelda, is, of course, Mega Man. Lucky for me my dreams are a thing of the past, as there's a trailer out for Mega Maker, a fan-made project that is doing just that for the blue bomber. 

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News:: A real Twist of Fate: WWE 2K18 is coming to Nintendo Switch

[Extremely The Rock voice] "Finally, a WWE video game has come back to a Nintendo platform!" It's been an extended absence. Not since WWE '13 on the Wii has a licensed WWE title graced a Nintendo console. That changes with this year's game.

The Architect, The Kingslayer, The Man, Mr. Money in the Bank himself, Seth Rollins announced the news that WWE 2K18 is being developer for the Switch in the Twitter video that's embedded below:

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News:: Valve bans 40,000 cheating accounts after the Steam Summer Sale

More than 40,000 disingenuous gamers lost access to their games, items -- and in some cases, their entire accounts -- last weekend after the Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) system flagged them for violations. No, that's not a typo, 40,411 players have been nicked by the company's robotic rule enforcer. That's nearly triple the previous banning record from 2016, which stood at a meager 15,227 players.

Via: Kotaku

Source: DOTA Sports

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News:: Take a gander at Wild West Online's first gameplay footage

Wild West Online's core concept is exciting. The open-world, cowboy themed MMO promises gunfights, bounties, and memorable nights at the saloon.

Up until recently, I wasn't too sure how Wild West Online would work. The idea of an MMO in a persistent Western setting sounded enticing, but it lives and dies by the amount of content available to players. The first gameplay video for the upcoming game is a small taste of what to expect, but it's more than enough to pique my interest.

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News:: October the 6th be with you (because that's when Star Wars Battlefront II gets a beta)

The last quarter of 2017 will be an inescapable black hole of Star Wars. Mimicking 2015, there's a major motion picture in December, and a Battlefront game in November. (Actually, the game releases on the same day, November 17.) And, also like 2015, there will be a Battlefront beta in October.

As announced on the PlayStation Blog, Star Wars Battlefront II will have an open beta from October 6 through October 9. Those who pre-order get a head start on October 4. The beta includes two different game modes: A 40-player scrap on Naboo and a multiplayer starfighter assault which is described as "an objective-based, multi-stage battle."

This beta was certainly inevitable because, if for no other reason, it went so dang well last time. The Battlefront I beta had 9 million players in 2015, a statistic that led to EA raising its estimates to investors from 10 million to 13 million units; it ended up shipping 14 million.

Inevitably, this beta and the general Star Wars fervor will have a similar effect on Battlefront II's numbers. But it's the newly-added single-player campaign that has the potential to really elevate this game in terms of quality. Realistically though, it probably won't change much with regard to total sales. This game was going to sell regardless.

Star Wars Battlefront II’s open beta blasts onto PS4 early October [PlayStation Blog]

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News:: Senran Kagura series done with the 3DS, Switch game could be localized

Speaking in a recent interview with DualShockers, Producer Kenichiro Takaki talked about the upcoming Senran Kagura: Beach Peach Splash. While the interview covers the expected topics, such as how was the reception to the game in Japan and the West, DLC plans and so on, the more interesting tidbits of the interview were found toward the end.

In particular, the series will no longer be on the 3DS. Kenichiro states that Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson summed up the entire story, and he has no further plans to release any more 3DS titles. This means that if you're a fan of the franchise, it's time to jump ship to another platform.

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News:: Alpha Protocol is as good as Mass Effect and if you disagree you are wrong

Wait. Hear me out. Yes, the first few missions are terrible. Yes, the combat is weird. But once you get past those niggles, Alpha Protocol is one of the best modern RPGs, rivaling even Mass Effect.

I'll explain why.

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News:: Nioh's Defiant Honor DLC should be another good one

I left Dragon of the North wanting even more Nioh, both because I'm not burned out on the game yet and also because the new story thread feels like it's only just getting started. The second expansion, Defiant Honor, picks back up on July 25. As before, it's $10, or included with your season pass.

Team Ninja shared a plot summary on the PlayStation Blog. (If you're one to breeze through Nioh's cutscenes and/or you haven't completed Dragon of the North, you're gonna be lost here.)

"As tensions brew between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans, Sanada Yukimura prepares his men for imminent conflict against the Tokugawa’s forces by building a stronghold called the Sanada Maru on the outskirts of the Osaka Castle. With the castle fortified, Tokugawa’s forces were faced with a difficult and bloody challenge.

In the midst of this chaos, our hero William, accompanied by Date Masamune who fights alongside Tokugawa, heads towards Sanada Maru in pursuit of Maria. It is a bitter winter in Osaka and the stage is ripe for a fierce battle for the ages."

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News:: Sub-Zero and all his ice clones hit Injustice 2 tomorrow

Sub-Zero will be slipping and sliding into Injustice 2 tomorrow, automatically unlocking for players who purchased the deluxe version of the game or the first character pack. This is a day I've been dreading since he was first announced. Sub-Zero was the bane of my existence in Mortal Kombat X. Even after years of play, I still fell for his ice clone shenanigans every single time and if anything it looks like he'll be even more annoying in Injustice 2.

Sub-Zero seems very similar to his MKX iteration in Injustice 2, only with some over-the-top improvements to his abilities. The old ninja has learned some new tricks such as popping out ice clones in the air, popping out multiple ice clones at once, sending ice clone versions of himself in for dive kicks and slides, and having an ice clone stab an opponent in the back while he hits them in the face with a hammer. Did I mention the ice clones? 

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News:: Cheddar is the new home of crowd-controlled StockStream

Watching other people play video games is a big business. At any time, you can hop on Twitch and see gamers take on Demon's Souls, Pokemon, and even Sudoku. It's not all video games, either, with Let's Robot and Instapainting exploring internet-controlled robots. Last May, software developer Mike Roberts created StockStream, a Twitch channel that encourages viewers to vote on which stocks to buy or sell using Roberts' own $50,000 stock portfolio. Now, Roberts and his trading game have been acquired by Cheddar, the "millennial business news" network that broadcasts from the New York Stock Exchange. StockStream will continue, though its balance will double and the portfolio extended to " commodities, industry portfolios, indexes, and other asset classes," according to a Cheddar blog post.

Source: Cheddar

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News:: Fantasy Strike wants to change how you think about about fighting games

When you talk about fighting game theory, it's impossible not to mention David Sirlin. Whether you know him as the guy who wrote Playing to Win, the defacto guidebook to improving as a fighting game player, or as the guy Capcom called in to re-balance Street Fighter 2 Turbo for the HD re-release in 2008, or as the creator of Yomi, a strategy card game based on fighting games, his impact on the genre can't be denied.

Now, Sirlin wants to make his presence felt again. This time not through essays, or by retouching a masterpiece, but with his own original game, Fantasy Strike. Given Sirlin's enormous street cred in the fighting game community, you might expect any game he'd design would be for the hardest of hardcore crowds.

You'd be wrong. Fantasy Strike is designed to bring the high-level thrills and mind-games of the best of competitive fighting games to the common gamer. 

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News:: ‘Star Wars: Battlefront II’ open beta begins October 6th

Everything we saw of Star Wars: Battlefront II at E3 this year -- the engrossing single-player solo campaign, the accessible multiplayer with planned-free DLC -- told us the game's developers had listened to feedback from the skimpy first title. You can see for yourself this fall when the game's open beta starts on October 6th, but anyone who pre-orders the game will get a two-day headstart.

Source: PlayStation

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News:: No Man's Sky still alive and kicking, major update possible for August

It feels like forever ago that the whole No Man's Sky debacle happened, but Hello Games still exists, and is likely still working on content.

We know that in part because of an ARG game that popped up recently, facilitated by Reddit mods and YouTubers/influencers obtaining mysterious packages. Eventually this PDF was uncovered, which no so subtly explains that "Project Waking Titan" is coming in August, which will "pave the way toward new experiences in version 1.3"

Translation? No Man's Sky is getting a 1.3 patch next month. Will it be enough to get people back into the fray? If it has real multiplayer/meetup capabilities, maybe.

Top Secret [Hello Games]

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News:: 10 years of purgatory wasn't enough to keep Netflix's Castlevania down

At RTX this weekend, I got a chance to sit down with the director of Netflix's Castlevania, Sam Deats, and Federator Studios director of marketing, Nate Olson.

We chatted about the recently launched series and how it overcame its development hell to finally hit the streaming juggernaut.

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News:: While 'nothing is set in stone,' Bloodstained could still follow a staggered release model

Damn, IGA, I hope this game comes out on time!

For the uninitiated, last year a team member from Bloodstained confirmed that they were moving forward with a staggered release model -- in other words, a Shovel Knight strategy that involves putting out the game as soon as possible, then building on it with DLC. It's worked out wonderfully for Yacht Club Games as the Treasure Trove addition has re-ignited interest in a package that's already making hand over fist, but Koji Igarashi (IGA) is a little less sure on the model for Bloodstained.

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News:: Crash Bandicoot holds onto top spot in UK Charts

In news that isn't going to be surprising anyone, really, Crash Bandicoot is celebrating his second week at the top of the U.K. video game charts.

Overwatch has once again crawled back into the top three, behind perennial mainstay Grand Theft Auto V. Meanwhile, Micro Machines: World Series has begun its descent from its debut in the number two position held last week. Battlefield 1 rocketed back up the charts, from #20 to #6 in one week, whilst Horizon Zero Dawn also edged its way back into the top ten.

This week sees the release of anticipated remake Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, let's see if the re-release is enough to shake up the charts, whether Crash will remain at the top for a third week running, or if GTAV will once again climb back onto its bullet-riddled throne.

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News:: Retro adventure game 'Thimbleweed Park' hits PS4 August 22nd

Fans of retro games will want to pay attention to Thimbleweed Park's latest announcement. The PlayStation Blog has announced that the popular game will arrive on the PS4 on August 22nd.

Source: PlayStation

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News:: Shin Megami Tensei: Deep Strange Journey still looks like a pretty good time

One of my favorite collections has to be my SMT/Persona box (which I just recently added a giant Take Your Heart edition for Persona 5 to that I need to consolidate). It's one of those icebreaker series that's easy to introduce RPG fans to, especially when they don't realize how long and storied its been.

For me, the occult themes, a setting that a lot of modern day projects shy away from, is what brings me back time after time. But Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey was a really wild one, marrying Atlus' signature demonic concepts with space travel, tied to the framework of a United Nations mission. It's just as crazy as it sounds, so I'm glad that it's getting a new lease on life with an enhanced 3DS port.

Set to drop in Japan in October and confirmed for the west in 2018, you can get a taste of what's to come with a new trailer below.

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News:: There's a white PS4 Pro, but it's exclusive to the Destiny 2 bundle

The yang to the original black PlayStation 4 Pro's yin is coming this fall. Sony just revealed that there's a glacier white PS4 Pro that will release in two months' time. The only catch is that you have to buy Destiny 2 to get it.

Yep, the glacier white PS4 Pro is exclusive to the limited edition Destiny 2 bundle -- at least for now. It releases alongside the game on September 6, and runs $450. The hardware is the standard 1TB Pro model that comes with a matching white controller. As for Destiny 2, it's the version that includes the expansion pass.

Taken at face value, this bundle shows savings of right around $40 for anyone who was going to get all this stuff anyway. A PS4 Pro is $400 and the limited edition of Destiny 2 is $90. But, this comes with the added incentive of being the only way to get your hands on the white model. Sony's angle with Destiny has always been about exclusive content; for now, it's also about exclusive consoles.

Introducing the Limited Edition Destiny 2 PS4 Pro Bundle [PlayStation Blog]

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