News:: Marina and Pearl bemoan their first-world problems at McDonald's

Later this week, the Japanese Splatoon community will battle it out in ink-based warfare in order to establish which is the best "food" item available at McDonald's: French Fries or McNuggets.

A tweet, featuring cutesy new artwork, has been published to remind players that the global-defining moment is almost upon us. It shows Marina and Pearl perusing what looks like the music to their latest (s)hit single, while enjoying lunch in their dressing room.

They also speak of the mental strain caused by trying to pick between Fries and McNuggets, and of the pressure put upon said decision by the build up of vehicles, waiting behind them. Life can be pretty damn hard for half-octopus, half-human monstrosities that write rap music whilst fighting over processed foodstuffs.

Based on the image, it seems clear the Pearl will be backing Fries whilst Marina will be in McNugget's corner. We also learn that Marina wears glasses to read (probably the hipster kind that don't actually have corrective lenses) and Pearl has gross eating manners. Attagirl.

The McDonald's-themed Splatfest goes live in Splatoon 2 September 9 at 3pm JST.

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News:: Talking Travis Strikes Again with the good-shoes-wearer himself, Suda51

"Those shoes are good."

"Oh, thank you," responds Suda51.

Brett and I are at the top of a hotel in Seattle, high above the hustle and bustle of PAX West, to ask questions about Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. But we can't help ourselves. Before we can discuss the newly-announced Nintendo Switch game, we first have to talk footwear.

"These shoes actually have a really cool secret about them," explains translator and The Silver Case localizer James Mountain. "Nobody asked him about the shoes, so he was really glad that you guys brought it up because he's been wanting to bust this out for somebody."

Suda proceeds to prop out his foot and hold his phone as if he's about to snap a quick photo. Nothing happens. Our curiosity builds. "It takes a second to load up," Mountain reassures. "He's not really sure exactly why but sometimes it just happens to work, sometimes it just doesn't."

Minutes later, the app, which was made specifically for Suda's left shoe... still isn't cooperating.

"All right, just go ahead and start the interview, and he'll keep trying."

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News:: Promoted: Covenants of the Weak

_{[This week's CotW is brought to you by the letter D. The power of the sun, right in a bottle, SunnyD! ~Marcel]}

Come one, come all! It's time for yet another installment of Covenants of the Weak. It's here that we shine a most unwelcome light on the casuls of the world and the covenants that define them.

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News:: Review: Darkwood

Darkwood's atmosphere is stifling and oppressive. The top-down horror game builds slowly and with purpose; preying on our innate fear of the unknown and the crippling indecision of wondering who to trust. It's a winding, obtuse journey through shadows and sickness that manages to be both intriguing and vexing at once. 

When I first started playing Darkwood, it was the game's cast of macabre characters and its creepy, implicit storytelling that drew me in. From minute zero, it's clear that there's something deeply wrong with the forest that surrounds you. It stretches endlessly, leaving everything under its canopy shrouded in dim light, allowing horrible creatures and otherworldly terrors to fester and hunt just out of sight. After a dozen or so hours of stumbling through poisonous mushroom patches, defending myself from shapeless assailants, and dealing with wicked, deformed mutants, I still dig Darkwood's unique and insidious brand of horror more than any other part of the game.

That's all to say that I like the idea of Darkwood much more than I actually like playing it. 

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News:: Monster Hunter: World will be the one that gets me

My history with the Monster Hunter series is painfully, regretfully abrupt. I attempted to get into it years ago, on PlayStation Portable, but bounced off so hard that I can't even confidently say which installment I tried. That experience kept me off the handheld games for good, and while I came close to springing for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on Wii U, well, that just never panned out. These things happen.

My time has come, though. Monster Hunter: World is a much easier sell. I recognized that when the game was announced, and I'm even more sure of it now that I've gotten a brief chance to play.

I mean, just look at it! It's beautiful.

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News:: Animal Farm is getting a game...no, really

1984 might be the most popular novel written by George Orwell, but Animal Farm, Orwell's allegorical take on the Russian Revolution of 1917, is also fondly remembered for being batshit crazy and fairly eye opening. Using animals as stand-ins for many political figures, the novel took a deep look at Stalinism and how destructive political figureheads can be for the world. It is ranked as one of the greatest pieces of English literature and is typically a staple in high school curriculums.

So, why not turn that into a video game? Fully endorsed by the estate of George Owell, Animal Farm is getting an "adventure tycoon" styled game. You play as one of the animals in the Manor Farm prior to the events of the revolution. In the words of the developer behind the game:

"The Animal Farm game will be an adventure-tycoon, placing the player in the Manor Farm as one of the animals just before the revolution, and will follow their journey through the ups and downs of Animalism. The gameplay will combine story choices and the running of the farm into a consistent narrative, giving players a chance to experience the consequences of their decisions first hand."

The team behind the game is assembled by many industry veterans, including such people as Imre Jele (founder of Bossa Studios, which has published Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread), Georg Backer (who worked on Brave Plan and Fable), Andy Payne (founder of Just Flight), Kate Saxon (who worked on Mafia 3, Alien: Isolation and The Witcher 3) and Jessica Curry (of The Chinese Room). They clearly have some development chops under their belts.

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News:: George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' will soon be a video game

George Orwell pretty much invented the dystopian future genre, with novels like 1984 and Animal Farm still finding relevance and new readers today. The latter novel, however, is set to become an indie video game. The team includes gaming veterans who have worked on I Am Bread, Fable, The Witcher 3, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, and will have the support of George Orwell's estate. "Our our motley crew of multi-award winning game creators came together from various companies to create this one game together," developer Imre Jele said in an email to Engadget.

Via: Polygon

Source: Animal Farm Game

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News:: Footage surfaces for Jeff Minter's Tempest 4000

Screens and gameplay footage has been released for the upcoming Atari game Tempest 4000, brought back to life, once again, by series overlord Jeff Minter.

The new game, which releases later this year, brings the neon lights, geometric graphics  and pulse-pounding soundtrack that is a series trademark, alongside the addictive, frantic gameplay that has kept Tempest a popular franchise for over three decades.

Amazingly, this new Tempest title will be available on something you might actually own, as opposed to Tempest 2000's launch exclusivity to the Atari Jaguar, and Tempest 3000 landing on Nuon-enhanced DVD players (Me neither, dude). The fan-pleasing TxK was available on PS Vita, but its transition to other formats was blocked following legal drama with Atari.

Developed by legendary programmer and Tempest stalwart Jeff Minter, Tempest 4000 promises 100 levels of fast-paced action, three modes of play and 4K resolution options. It is scheduled for release this holiday season for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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News:: Wattam is almost too cute for words

Wattam, the new project from Katmari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy creator Keita Takahashi, is really coming into its own. The last time I went hands-on with it, I described it as "more toy than game," but noted that it was infectiously joyful and that I'd still very much want to play the full thing.

Two years later, Wattam has more of a recognizable structure. It's a little easier to pin down, conceptually, though try telling that to Brett. He rolled up on my PAX West appointment midway through and was utterly baffled. He didn't know what I was doing, or why. "Making friends!"

The game -- or at least the beginning of the game -- is about finding new pals. You're the bowler-hat-wearing boxy green Mayor, and you're lonely. Wattam has a silly but graspable logic to it, and through interactions with the world and characters around you, you'll prompt the arrival of new friends, which you can then swap between and directly control. By the end of my playthrough I had somehow amassed a rock, flowers, meat, broccoli, a toilet, a few turds, and too many others to recall.

You'll need to experiment to figure out where and how characters fit in. A hulking tree can swallow folks up, pooping them out and transforming them. Easy enough. But the tree can also be cleverly positioned and climbed to reach a balloon, shifting Wattam into an intimidating arcade-like game of spike avoidance. That new gameplay element came as a huge surprise, as did my eventual Street Fighter-esque game-over screen. Wattam may be cute, but it can still kick your ass, I've learned.

I'm super curious to see where things go from there. It's been a long wait, but I'm feeling better and better about Wattam every time I see it. This is going to be such a weird, silly, endearing little game.

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News:: Pinball FX3 shooting into play later in September

Zen Studios have announced that the latest iteration of their pinball simulator, Pinball FX, will be coming to current-gen platforms later this month, September 26 to be precise.

Pinball FX3 will bring the great physics and high quality audio/visuals from its predecessor, but is also adding an all-new multiplayer mode, user-created tournaments and cross-platform play to the mix. The Sorcerer's Lair table will be included for free with the software download.

The Pinball FX3 software is free of charge, allowing you to purchase the particular games that take your interest from a staggering 65+ on offer. Although the majority of your purchases from previous Pinball FX games will carry over to the new platform, a handful will not due to expired licensing issues. The full list of compatible games can be found here.

The Universal Classics Pinball series will launch the same day, with Jaws, E.T. and Back to the Future ready to rock the new engine on day one. Cross-Platform play will allow Steam users to play alongside both PS4 and Xbox One owners, though obviously the PS4 and Xbox owners cannot play each other.

Pinball FX3 launches on PS4, Xbox One and PC September 26. The Universal Classics pack is also coming to Zen Pinball on iOS, Google Play and Mac.

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News:: Suda51 is hinting at multiplayer for Travis Strikes Again

One of the gimmicks on the Nintendo Switch is the ability to split the controller in half for instant multiplayer action. A bunch of games allow you to play with a single Joy-Con and apparently Travis Strikes Again will do just the same.

In an interview with Polygon, Suda51 mentioned that the new No More Heroes will be playable with a single Joy-Con controller. When pressed about what the other Joy-Con would be doing, Suda responded with, "As far as what’s going to happen with the other Joy-Con, at this point technically it’s still a secret. [We’re] going to be releasing information at some point in the future, [but] as you can see, there are … two main characters, so draw your own conclusions, if you want."

So does that mean there is going to be co-op? Maybe Travis and Badman need to fight out of the indie game world together before their final duel. Who's to say, but the idea is certainly interesting. I'm not sure if No More Heroes really needs co-op, but I'd definitely be down for some hack-n-slash action with my friend.

Suda51 hints at No More Heroes multiplayer on Switch [Polygon]

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News:: What goes into the Overwatch animated shorts?

One of the Overwatch communities most eagerly anticipated events, apart from character nerfs, free loot boxes and whichever new character they've recently fallen in love with, is the release of a new short movie, each giving a little history to one or more of the game's colourful cast of characters.

Blizzard have released another video, but this one details the process that goes into making each of the brilliant mini-movies, in this case recent tear-jerker "Rise and Shine". It takes a team of incredibly talented artists and writers to put the sub-ten minute adventures together.

Unfortunately, the video focuses a little too much on the narrative themes of the piece, rather than explore the technical aspects of what brings it together, but we still get to see some cool wireframe models and process shots.

In creative endeavours such as these shorts, and Disney masterpieces such as Moana and Toy Story, I am always in absolute awe at the ever-improving textures and animation, particularly facial expression, as well as the ability to create an emotional connection between the audience and CGI characters. We have come so far in the medium of CGI story-telling, in a relatively short space of time.

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News:: Destiny 2's overhauled clan system won't be available for 'several days'

If you were expecting to dive into Destiny 2 and reap the full benefits of the new clan system, you'll have to wait a while. The game itself might be live and ready to go for both physical and digital owners, but the new clan perk and cosmetic system won't be ready until "several days after launch."

As a recap, just like a guild in many MMOs, you can "level up" your clan so to speak and unlock emblems and allow for more customization for your clan in-game. Guided Games (which allow solo players to get into games with clans, a much-requested feature from the original) will also be rolling out in roughly a week as well, but is basically in beta form and will only magically select a limited number of players for the Nightfall on 9/12.

This isn't a huge deal for me, as most of the clan activity I'm going to be partaking in is the raid every week, which doesn't even kick off until next Wednesday at 10AM PT.

Bungie Help [Twitter]

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News:: Dragon Ball FighterZ character video series starts with Goku

Don't blink for this one. ArcSys have begun a series of seemingly very slight videos to introduce the characters that take up the roster for anticipated anime punch-up Dragon Ball Fighterz.

The first video takes a look at Dragon Ball poster kid Goku, seen here screaming, kicking, going Super Saiyan and laying into his opposition.

Then, like that, it's gone. With the remaining third of the video's runtime being a pre-order beg. I have to admit, I was expecting more. Maybe some sample combos, or some whiff-punish ideas. But it seems these videos will basically be a quick glimpse of the character, some out of context fighting, and done.

We can take heart in the fact that the closed beta begins soon (with some players reportedly already receiving "VIP" codes). So if you're lucky you might get to experience the legendary character, hands-on, pretty soon.

Dragon Ball Fighterz is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC early 2018

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News:: This adorable 3D-printed Mario Question Block holds Switch games

I'm always looking for weird new ways to hold my gaming collection. I have a bunch of knicknacks, some of which have been gifts by my lovely staff members, like an amiibo stand that looks like the end of a Mario level, or a DS card holder that's shapped like a Donkey Kong barrel. 

But these days, folks can 3D-print their own stuff, including this Question Block from Kickass 3D prints. It holds Switch games and general micro SD cards, and seems really easy to make at home. If I could afford a premium model or had one at work (cough, Niero) I'd be up for an arts and crafts day!

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News:: Review: Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth

There’s really only one question that prospective players of Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth need to ask themselves as they consider whether or not to pick up the game, and that is:

“Did I play and enjoy Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception?”

If the answer to the above question is “Yes,” then getting and playing Mask of Truth is a no-brainer. Chances are folks who answered "Yes" are already playing the game. 

As for the Nays, things can get a little more complicated.

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News:: The Japanese Destiny 2 trailer really understands the game

In all my time playing the first Destiny, the one thing I took away from the game is that people love their dance emotes. The lore or gunplay or even level design doesn't matter; you just have to dance at every possible chance. If Destiny 2 doesn't have crazy dances, then it has failed.

So, why not make a trailer that celebrates that absurdity? PlayStation Japan understood that, so here you go!

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News:: Nintendo loses lawsuit over Wii motion controls, ordered to pay $10 million

Last week, A jury found in favour of Texas company iLife Technologies over their claims that the Nintendo Wii controller infringed upon six of the healthcare developer's patents.

The body of the lawsuit was that the Wiimote for the Wii and Wii U used accelerometer technology, in order to track the speed and motion of a players hands in response to their surroundings. iLife stated that they had patent on such a system, planned for use in medical monitors that would detect sudden movement, such as an eldery person falling down, and call for emergency response.

iLife were originally seeking $4 for every Wii unit sold before they first filed suit, which would've been some 35 million units, for an approximate settlement of $144 million. The company have, in the past, attempted to sue FitBit for similar reasons, but the case was dismissed and settled out of court.

When the lawsuit was first filed, iLife defended against accusations of "Patent trolling". "iLife and its CEO Michael Lehrman are the original inventors of this technology, and the company does not enforce any patents that it did not develop," said iLife attorney Wallace Dunwoody back in 2013. 

Nintendo are holding firm to the belief that they will seek, and succeed, in appealing. "Nintendo disagrees with the decision, as Nintendo does not infringe iLife's patent and the patent is invalid," said a press statement. "Nintendo looks forward to raising those issues with the district court."

Nintendo lawsuit loss [Rolling Stone]

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News:: Contest: Be immortalized in Symmetry (and win a free copy, too!)

[Contest ends tonight at midnight, EST. Show us what ya got, Dtoid, and drop a comment to enter!]

If you're anything like me, you don't have many buildings named after you. If you're exactly like me, you don't have any buildings named after you. You now have the chance to rectify that particular wrong!

Our friends at Symmetry are sponsoring a contest for you, the plucky Dtoid readers, to get your very own weather station named after you in their game. One lucky winner will be bestowed with their own building, their name in the ending subtitles of the game, and a digital code of Symmetry for the platform of their choosing (PC, PS4, Xbox One, or mobile).

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News:: SteamWorld Dig currently free on Origin, sequel dated for release

If you jump onto EA's Origin dashboard right now, you can bag yourself a copy of the 2013 mining adventure game SteamWorld Dig, free of charge, as part of their rotational On The House promotion.

Once you log in and select the game for download, it's then tied to your account permanently, to be played immediately or at your convenience. The game, which features resource management, platforming elements and some puzzle-solving, is definitely worth checking out, should it have passed you by on its initial release.

In related news, SteamWorld Dig 2 has been given a launch date. The Nintendo Switch version will be available on September 21, with The PS4 and PS Vita versions are coming to North America and Europe September 26 & 27, respectively.

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News:: Review: Titanfall Assault

I am closing in on level 11 in Titanfall Assault. During the past month, I boot it up in my spare time, clashing with people as we fight for control of the three checkpoints long enough to secure victory. I see success snatched from my hands in the final seconds of a match and I overwhelm my opponent with the perfect combination of cards to crush their army. There’s an incredible opportunity for dynamic back-and-forth on the beautiful battlefields but unfortunately, I obtain most of my wins by throwing strategy out the door and just being the bigger asshole.

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News:: The decision to limit Sparrows to rare drops in Destiny 2 is baffling

All of the little intricacies in Destiny 2 are starting to come to the forefront.

While hardcore players who are paying attention to the leaks knew that Sparrows wouldn't be given out like candy, or early out in the main questline, it's starting to really hit everyone as the game rolled out last night. That's right, the Sparrow, the main mode of transportation in the original Destiny that you could call and mount up anywhere, is gone.

In Destiny 2, you'll need to play quite a bit to earn a "bright engram," and hope that it randomly drops from it. Bungie did this to prevent players from blowing by open world content, but to me, it kind of highlights a weird lack of trust -- as in, Bungie is assuming the playerbase wouldn't be mesmerized by some weird nook and go check it out.

There's plenty of precedent for this, by the way. In MMOs, you often can't unlock the next mode of travel (it's almost always flying) in an expansion until you either 100% an area or the expansion itself. But the common thread with those games is that some form of mounting is available early on, typically a third of the way through. And those are bigger games, with larger areas to explore.

I think this is something Bungie will go back on. One of our own readers made a great point about how strange it is if some of your friends are getting Sparrows to do patrols with, and you don't have one.

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News:: George Lucas is the best director for Star Wars Episode IX, you scruffy-looking nerf herders

Lucasfilm unexpectedly parted ways with director Colin Trevorrow yesterday, leaving Star Wars Episode IX without a director for the time being. This is just the latest creative shakeup at Lucasfilm, which continues to have issues when hiring young directors and/or relatively inexperienced tentpole filmmakers.

Earlier this year, Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired from the Han Solo stand-alone movie, replaced by Ron Howard. While Gareth Edwards is the credited director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the film underwent extensive reshoots and restructuring under the guidance of Tony Gilroy. And Josh Trank was preemptively dropped from his Star Wars project after the fiasco of Fantastic Four.

So yeah, Lucasfilm, it looks like you could use some help. And who better to offer it than us, some people on the internet?

The Flixist staff has some ideas on who should direct Star Wars Episode IX: The Search for Curly's Gold. Here are our picks for the job. Let us know who you'd like to direct Episode IX in the comments.

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News:: One developer is attempting to archive the entirety of Miiverse

The closure of Miiverse, scheduled for November 8, will result in the sudden, and kinda sad, destruction of thousands of musings, drawings, moments and memes. Gone in the blink of an eye.

Or so we think, as app developer "Drastic Actions" is living up to their namesake by creating software in the hopes of archiving every single one of the hundreds of thousands of posts created across the Nintendo online community.

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News:: London’s V&A museum to put the spotlight on tech and gaming

While the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is home to some of the world's oldest artworks, the institution also takes time to recognise the impact modern technology has on our culture. It's already appointed its first-ever Game Designer in Residence and hosted the world's first 3D-printed weapon, The Liberator, but as part of its 2018 programme, the museum will open two new tech-oriented exhibitions.

Source: The Future Starts Here, Videogames

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News:: Relax and ponder your life choices with these 'Arcade Sofas'

Decades of playing video games slumped in chairs and beds all but obliterated my developing spinal column. Thank you WWF No Mercy. If you want to be like me, an "Arcade Sofa" might be just what you need.

Manufactured by French company Harow, the Arcade Sofa is a hefty piece of furniture designed to recall the classic cabinet designs of yore. Each sofa measures in at 125 cm x 110 cm x 150 cm and weighs around 120lbs. They have around twenty "imagined" designs to choose from, all emblazoned with art from various video game and other pop culture franchises.

The sofas are made from recycled wood and steel, and furnished in velvet. They are bespoke items, and can be made-to-order to fit your space requirements.

There is no price listed. I assume something this large and custom doesn't come cheap. It seems you'll have to contact Harow themselves if you're interested in making your home look like a child's bedroom.

Arcade Sofas [Harow]

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