Tuesday, October 3, 2017

News:: The Atom looks like a troublesome little bastard in Injustice 2

Well, this is a surprise. The Injustice 2 Twitter account had been teasing a reveal all day and I would assume most suspected it would be the character trailer for Hellboy, the final hero in the second fighter pack for the game's season pass. Instead, we were given a look at the first fighter from the third DLC pack with The Atom.

The Atom looks like a troublesome little bastard in Injustice 2 screenshot

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News:: The next Sword Art Online anime is adapting the Alicization Arc

It's been a while since Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale hit theaters, and I was wondering when we would receive more information about the series' new installment. As the Dengeki Bunko Fall Festival happened on Sunday, the folks at the Sword Art Online panel revealed that the sequel will cover the original light novel's "Alicization Arc."

While the film's home release featured a message about the show's return, an expanded announcement is always a plus. Of course, Kirito and Asuna's voice actors are reprising their roles. Other than that, Ai Kayano (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE's Ayaha Oribe, Konosuba's Darkness) is voicing Alice, and Nobunaga Shimazaki (Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Moon Dwellers' Touya Shiun, Your Name's Tsukasa Fujii) is being cast as Eugeo.

Considering that the original "Alicization Arc" is Sword Art Online's longest saga, I wouldn't be surprised if it runs for 25 episodes or more. From the looks of it, the sequel's title, Sword Art Online: Alicization, implies that it's focusing on one storyline. As a person who finds the series to be entertaining, I'm down with checking it out.

The next Sword Art Online anime is adapting the Alicization Arc screenshot

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News:: A new Professor Layton show is in the works

The Professor Layton series is pretty god damned awesome and has always contained an anime style for it's animation. It was one of the first DS games to have full motion video that didn't look like absolute garbage and even resembled Studio Ghibli, so the announcement of it getting an anime adaptation isn't all that surprising. The news comes from Level 5-abby, a subsidiary of Level-5 and Dentsu Inc.

The series will feature 26 episodes (the perfect length) and will star good ol' Hershel and Luke on many wacky adventures. If each episode doesn't tug at the heart strings and change your perception of life, then it will fail to live up to any of the games in the series. There isn't a firm date for airing, but the series should be ready sometime next year.

This new show comes from an initiative by Level-5 to expand the Layton series into a "variety of content" that includes "animated products" and even a new game (that isn't Layton's Mystery Journey)! Maybe we'll see a Layton themed escape room or murder mystery train tour! That would be fun.

I really love the Professor Layton series and I'm a casual fan of anime, so I'm definitely all for combining the two and making something cool. I even enjoyed the anime film from 2009, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. Whether or not you've seen it or liked it, that stands as the best film based on a video game for not only being half-way decent, but also accurately capturing the essence of the series it was based on. I could have done without all the fan service, though.

Licensing Magazine: Professor Layton TV Series in Development [Anime News Network]

A new Professor Layton show is in the works screenshot



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News:: Heroes of the Storm might not have Deathwing, but now it has D.Va the Destroyer

Deathwing has been a rumored Heroes of the Storm character for ages. I mean, he probably isn't coming for a while, as Blizzard not only needs to figure out a kit for him, but how he would even work with his giant dragon model (granted, Azmodan is HUGE compared to the rest of the cast).

In the meantime, you can hit up D.Va the Destroyer, a new skin that just arrived in the shop. It'll take either 2400 shards per tint, you can find it randomly in legendary loot chests, and you can opt for a Destroyer Bundle for 1,260 gems (if you own D.Va the hero). This is partly why I love Heroes -- it can consistently do weird crossover shit like this that no other Blizzard team would bother to do on a regular basis.

As a recap, Ana just came out (as did a new Overwatch stage), and Junkrat is set to get his own video overview this week.

All Shall Burn [Heroes of the Storm]

Heroes of the Storm might not have Deathwing, but now it has D.Va the Destroyer screenshot

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News:: Cuphead looks right at home on this old television

Playing Cuphead has made me want to seek out and watch a bunch of the 1930s cartoons from which it draws inspiration, but in the mean time, here's a real cool semi-related thing: YouTube user Lazy Game Reviews has hooked the game up to display on a monochrome television. The result is fantastic.

The process involved is also neat if you're into this sort of stuff. LGR uses "a string of adapters" to connect an HDMI cable to the 1984 GoldStar TV set, as detailed in this extensive how-to video.

I love this. I'm working on A-ranking the final two bosses and working my way through the full game on Expert difficulty, but sooner than later I want to attempt a pacifist playthrough for all of the run-and-gun platforming levels. You'll get a kick out of the unlockable reward if you enjoy this video.

[Thanks, Perro]

Cuphead looks right at home on this old television screenshot



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News:: The Cyanide & Happiness Adventure Game looks like a fitting adaptation

[Disclosure: Jim Sterling, a former reviews editor at Destructoid, is lending his voice to this project. As always, no relationships, personal or professional, were factored into this coverage.]

Cyanide & Happiness doesn't always make me laugh, but when the web comic gets me, it gets me good. You might have heard that it's lined up for a point-and-click adventure game adaptation. You heard right! The title is currently working toward stretch goals in its final days on Kickstarter.

Who's making this? None other than Abobo's Big Adventure developer I-Mockery.

The Cyanide & Happiness Adventure Game is coming to Windows, Mac, and Linux, and if fans can reach the next goal at $600,000, it'll also head to PlayStation 4. There's less than two days to go.

"The release of the first chapter is expected to be December 2018 with the rest of the chapters coming out later," according to the creators, "but if it comes down to a choice of on-time delivery or making the game better, we'll lean towards making the game better."

That bit with the deceased grandma made me laugh, I'll admit it.

The Cyanide & Happiness Adventure Game [Kickstarter]

The Cyanide & Happiness Adventure Game looks like a fitting adaptation screenshot



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News:: Bloggers Wanted: Overcoming Fear

We’ve all been there. A game presents us with a moment or situation that fills us with dread.  It could be the inexorable approach of a supernatural menace or looking down from the top of an impossibly tall building. Games will play on your fears and push you. But how do you overcome and prevail?

Bloggers Wanted: Overcoming Fear screenshot

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News:: Fortnite's Horde Bash update introduces a new game mode, weapons, and heroes

Epic Games has announced via a blog post the next update for Fortnite's PvE mode. Dubbed the Horde Bash update, it's launching on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Mac this Thursday, October 5.

The update will include the brand new "Challenge the Horde" mode along with new heroes, weapons, and even a new in-game event.

Fortnite's Horde Bash update introduces a new game mode, weapons, and heroes screenshot

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News:: Trio of Ultramen invade City Shrouded in Shadow

This week's edition of Famitsu magazine reveals three more incarnates of Ultramen will join the superstar monster cast of City Shrouded in Shadow. They are Ultraman Belial, Ultraman Zero, and Ultraman Taro. We're still hoping for an English localization, but it will release in just over two weeks on October 19 in Japan.

I'm continually surprised by the number of Ultraman variations are out there, but I guess it should be expected when there are so many iterations of Godzilla and Super Sentai. This comes from ignorance of the franchise, but I find the name "Ultraman Taro" a bit amusing compared to "Belial" and "Zero." Taro is more than just a common male name in Japan, it's the common name: Taro Yamada is the Japanese equivalent of John Smith. 

Trio of Ultramen invade City Shrouded in Shadow screenshot

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News:: Relic removes Dawn of War III's unlock currency

For as extensive as the campaign modes might be, the Dawn of War games have lived on thanks to their extensive multiplayer support. The different combinations of units you can take into battle makes for some incredibly deep strategy and has kept players coming back for more. Dawn of War III, though, was met with a lot of fan trepidation and hasn't necessarily gained the same following as its predecessors.

For one reason or another, the game launched with an unlock currency (skulls) for different multiplayer units. While the intention was to progressively let players experience different builds for battle, it ended up turning the game into a massive grind to get more expensive units and build a team that might work better for you. Plain and simple, it sucked.

That is all gone now. With last week's patch, the entire unlock system has been removed from Dawn of War III. Now, all players (whether old or new) will have basically every unit from the get go. A few of the "Elite" units will still be locked behind a progression system, but at least it won't keep players from experiencing the full range of options.

Maybe this will be enough to turn Dawn of War III around with the public, but a quick glance at the comments from Relic's Steam forum post doesn't seem to indicate that. People are definitely hard to please, it seems.

Patch Notes: September 26, 2017 [Steam Community]

Relic removes Dawn of War III's unlock currency screenshot



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News:: Samsung's HMD Odyssey proves image quality is worth the cost

Earlier today, Microsoft and Samsung announced the latest Windows Mixed Reality headset: the Samsung HMD Odyssey. At $499, it's certainly one of the pricier options out of all the Windows Mixed Reality headsets so far. And for good reason. Not only does it come with integrated AKG headphones -- which is very similar to the Rift's design -- it has absolutely stunning image quality.



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News:: Coming home to video games

A few weeks ago, the 1.3 update for No Man's Sky inadvertently displaced several players who had painstakingly built an outpost for themselves among the stars. One of those players, who goes by the handle UniDestiny, spoke to Kotaku about suddenly losing his home.

"My base sat within shouting distance of two trading posts, a portal, different kinds of cool rock formations. I thought it was a great place and I was excited to continue into 1.3 from there," Scott said. "The reset turned it into a barren planet with completely different geography. That was the most disappointing thing, just seeing that this place I had gotten to know very well was just gone."

Coming home to video games screenshot

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News:: PlayStation President Andrew House moving on from Sony

There has been a whopper of a change at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Andrew House is stepping down as PlayStation president, after nearly three decades with Sony.

House first joined Sony in 1990, and would help with the launch of the industry-shaping console, PlayStation in 1995. House finally took up the mantle of brand President in 2011, where he would see the company through the launch of the PlayStation 4 and PSVR.

House released a very positively written statement in which he expressed a desire to move on to new challenges. Of his experience with the company, he wrote: "I shall always treasure the friendships and people that have made SIE such a wonderful place to work. I'm also grateful to PlayStation fans and gamers around the world for their loyalty and support. John and the team at SIE are world-class and I know the future of PlayStation is very bright."

The "John" in this case is Deputy President John Kodera, who steps into the top spot, effective immediately. Andrew will continue with the company as chairman until the end of the year, where he will move on to pastures new. It will be interesting to see if he remains in the video game industry. But, for now, it's farewell to the man who helped put PlayStation back on top.

Andrew House steps down as SIE President [Official release]

PlayStation President Andrew House moving on from Sony screenshot



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News:: Look out for the limited-time Gran Turismo Sport demo

I hope you aren't burned out on racing games for the year. Following a delay, Gran Turismo Sport is pushing toward an October 17 launch, but before then, you'll be able to go hands-on with a demo.

There are some less-than-ideal restrictions, however. The demo itself is time-limited and will run from October 9 through October 12, with PlayStation Plus members getting a head start on pre-loading beginning October 7 at 8:00am Pacific and playing on October 9 at 12:00am Pacific. Non-members will be able to download and then play the demo starting October 9 at 6:00pm Pacific.

The good news is that credits you earn (up to $1 million) and vehicles you unlock will carry over to the full version of Gran Turismo Sport. "At the start of the demo, drivers will have the option to experience a taste of Sport, Campaign, or Arcade mode. New features such as the innovative Scapes Photography mode and Custom Livery Editor are also available for the very first time."

Sony also notes that we'll be able to race offline in two-player split-screen.

Gran Turismo Sport: Free Limited Time Demo Launching October 9 [PlayStation Blog]

Look out for the limited-time Gran Turismo Sport demo screenshot

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News:: Sonic the Hedgehog movie now at Paramount

The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is moving studios. Deadpool director Tim Miller was going to produce with his pal Jeff Fowler directing and Sony had the rights to make it, but they put the project on hold and then just entirely dropped it. Paramount, acting like a hungry dog going after their owner's dropped scraps, scooped it up.

Want to know why Sony dropped this? Because making a serious Sonic movie is a dumb, nearly impossible idea that should not be done. Obviously a brand name like Sonic looks promising to any studio, especially now that the blue speedster has had a good game that everyone loves, but there are some properties that do not need adaptation. This is especially true considering the fact that this movie is reportedly going to be part live-action and part CGI. It's just a bad idea all around. Sonic works as a video game character, and as a cartoon sometimes; he does not work as a giant, anthropomorphic CGI movie character. 

Who is clamoring for this? I don't know a single Sonic fan who has been demanding that a Sonic movie be made. Do you?

Sonic the Hedgehog movie now at Paramount screenshot



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News:: Welp, Dead Orbit won Destiny 2's first Faction Rally

Dead Orbit, Future War Cult, or New Monarchy -- who'd you pick?

I didn't have strong feelings about any of Destiny 2's factions, so I went with Dead Orbit on a whim. It just felt right at the time. Also, crucially, Arach Jalaal was just too goofy to turn down. And now we've apparently done it! We turned in enough tokens to secure the win for our gloomy crew. Go us!

If you're a member, you'll be able to buy the Dead Orbit scout rifle Haunted Earth for 1,000 glimmer.

For everyone else who sided with either Future War Cult or New Monarchy, you're looking at a 50,000 bill for the weapon. Not that it's even a big deal -- glimmer is pretty dang easy to come by in Destiny 2.

If you want Haunted Earth, just make sure to nab it before next Tuesday, October 10.

Welp, Dead Orbit won Destiny 2's first Faction Rally screenshot

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News:: Skyrim's Survival mode is free this week

In late August, Bethesda's paid mod system (Creation Club) went into beta for Fallout 4. Even though the publisher gave people $1 worth of credits to play around with, the program was largely met with derision. Most of the mods were overpriced and underwhelming.

Today, the Creation Club comes to the Special Edition of Skyrim. Bethesda has a more considerable offering for this launch. Until October 10, Skyrim's "official" Survival mode is free.

Bethesda has gone to great lengths to detail Survival mode on its site, but it's pretty much what we've come to expect from this type of thing. Eat to stay alive, keep warm in freezing environments, sleep to fend off fatigue, no health regeneration, no fast travel -- that sort of stuff. 

After October 10, Survival reverts to its original price of 800 Creation Points, which equates to about $8. However, the two smallest points packs come in quantities of 750 and 1,500. That means that securing 800 points necessitates spending $15 and being saddled with an extra 700 points.

There are two ways to circumvent this gouging. The first and easiest method is to simply download this before October 10; it's available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The other (which Bethesda still encourages but doesn't put its official stamp on) is to download a free mod. Skyrim certainly isn't lacking in either survival modes or interesting third-party content. Here's a list of the nearly 11,500 mods across all platforms.

Skyrim Creation Club Now Live [Bethesda]

Skyrim's Survival mode is free this week screenshot



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News:: How do you feel about video game pricing in 2017?

Since you're reading a gaming website, odds are good that at some point in your life you bought a video game. And, if that's the case, chances are that you've also complained about the price of the hobby from time to time. AAA games seem expensive, so it's tempting to wait for a big sale or get independent games at a cheaper price instead. When the price of video games in Canada rose to $80 instead of $60 due to the falling value of our dollar compared to the almighty USD, you could hear the groans of gamers in every street. Yours truly included, of course.

But I wonder. Is it really that expensive of a hobby? A rule of thumb I often see online is people waiting until games are under a dollar per expected hour of entertainment. Wouldn't it be amazing if other hobbies were priced like this? A movie ticket would cost two dollars, a Magic the Gathering draft would cost four dollars or so... And yet on the other side of the spectrum, would I be willing to pay $400 straight up for Binding of Isaac? Not really... which is probably why repeating payments like MMO fees or microtransactions are all the rage.

How do you feel about video game pricing in 2017? screenshot

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News:: Forza Motorsport 7 review: It's everything you expected

By Joel Stocksdale

We've got some good news and some bad news about Forza Motorsport 7. First the good news: It's exactly the Forza game you were expecting. Next the bad news: It's exactly the Forza game you were expecting. This seventh entry in the series, and amazingly, the third example on Xbox One (each previous Xbox only saw two mainline Forza Motorsport releases), is very much an evolution of the games that preceded it, and that's both good and bad.

Let's look at the good side of this coin. Firstly, Forza 7 is stunningly gorgeous. The tracks and environments seem to have received the most graphical attention. In addition to active backdrops with crowds, helicopters and other set pieces, there are other details that bring the locations to life. The most visually stunning we found in our brief time playing was on the Dubai circuit, which is one of the introductory courses when starting the campaign. As you're driving, you pass through sandy deserts where the wind is actively blowing sand onto the course, creating drifts, and you can see it all happening. Even on less drastically sandy tracks like Laguna Seca, you'll see light clouds of dust wafting across the track.

The weather is more varied and challenging, too. Rainy conditions return, along with standing water, which will seriously affect your traction and handling. But there are also unusual conditions like early morning fog, which we experienced in an early race at Hockenheim. The fog not only cut down on how far forward we could see, but it caused the light to diffuse everywhere, making it tough to see when driving toward the sun.

The cars themselves haven't been radically updated, compared with Horizon 3 and Motorsport 6, but they still look beautiful, and every single vehicle's engine, interior, and trunk can be closely examined with Forzavista. But extra details have been added that bring you closer to actually driving these cars. For instance, many of the regular road cars' windshield wipers begin to wiggle and shimmy as speeds increase, showing the affect of wind on them. And as you may have seen in the trailers, the various bundles of wires and hoses in some race cars also vibrate as you're driving.

There isn't much change to the gameplay, either. The physics model is just as spot-on as any previous Forza Motorsport game. There are also plenty of driver assists and the signature "Rewind" function to aid less experienced and less skilled drivers play the game. Many, many race series are available in the campaign mode to complete, and you will be required to complete various series in order to move on to new and more challenging events. Races in the campaign can also now be lengthened or shortened depending on preferences. You could give yourself an extra challenge in trying to win with fewer laps, or lasting longer. Adding more laps could also give you more time to beat tougher opponents. And of course you have the option of participating in quick single races, split-screen multiplayer, online multiplayer, and special challenges if you get tired of the campaign.

There is plenty to unlock and collect, too. There are over 700 of those beautiful aforementioned cars to collect and race. Interestingly, having enough credits isn't enough to buy each car in the game. Forza Motorsport 7 employs a system in which you must have collected enough cars to unlock a new tier of vehicle. This sounds like it could be frustrating, and we can attest that some of the cars locked away early on seem like they should be readily available. But the positive part of this is that this system forces you to spend a little more time with some fun slower cars you might have missed if you could just buy anything you want. It also prevents you from getting cars that are too powerful, too fast.

Custom driver gear in Forza Motorsport 7

There are loads of racing suits to pick from, too. They aren't all just different generic colors and styles either. There are both full racing suits and full-face helmets, as well as outfits with jeans, leather jacket, and open face helmets with goggles. There are a bunch of special novelty suits, too, ranging from disco-era tuxedos to The Dude's sweater and shorts from "The Big Lebowski." Unfortunately, all of these suits are awarded by random chance. You can get them by reaching new experience levels by completing races, or by purchasing prize crates, which can contain cars, suits, or mods which can be applied during races to earn extra cash and experience by performing racing feats.

These are all the great things you would expect from a Forza Motorsport game. Now we should talk about the things that we expected — but aren't exactly glad they still showed up. First among them is the homologation system. Most every race series is based on a style of car, rather than a performance class, for example hot hatches. It's an idea that sounds cool, since you'll get to pit a bunch of the same style of car against each other to see which is best. But the problem is that those styles span a wide range of performance. In the hot hatch category is both the Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and previous generation Honda Civic Type R. Those cars aren't actually comparable in real life, let alone virtual, due in part to the roughly 100 horsepower difference between them. As a result, the only way Forza will let you use a car like the Veloster is if it's hopped up to compete. For the average player, this isn't too big a deal since the game can automatically upgrade the car to compete. But for somewhat nerdier players, which include many of us at the office, the system precludes the opportunity to race the car in stock form and experience how it feels and compares to similarly performing cars.

Returning to the topic of cars, though the car list is substantial, there are quite a number of strange holes in various automakers' rosters. Looking at hot hatches once again, heavy hitters such as the Focus RS, Golf R, and Civic Type R all are present, some in multiple generations, but the Focus ST and any of the last three GTI generations are absent. And it's still impossible to ignore the lack of any production Toyotas in the game.

Pagani Huayra interior in Forza Motorsport 7

Modifications are still lacking for many vehicles, too. When I went to modify a Mazdaspeed Miata, the only bodykit options were the generic Forza complement of tow hooks and canards. This is particularly frustrating when many more options were available on the same car in previous Forza Motorsport games. That said, more popular cars do still have plenty of visual modifications available, and every car has the same wide wheel selection and paint scheme editor.

Finally, the reward system has really become convoluted, and those prize crates are the culprit. They're the only way to get items like custom racing suits, and they have to be purchased with credits you could've spent on upgrades and cars. And different boxes of different costs yield different random rewards. The more expensive, the better the chance at getting a rare item. But regardless, you'll mostly be getting more "mods" to use in races to earn more money and experience. This does help you advance and have the chance of earning a new suit, new car, or credit bonus, but you'll also probably just pour a lot of your credits back into more prize crates. It seems as though there could have been a simpler, more user-friendly system.

But when you look at the overall package, even with some of our gripes, Forza Motorsport 7 is still a superb racing game. It has loads of cars, spectacular graphics, lots of ways to tweak the experience for yourself, and it's accessible to both newbies and veterans alike. It's exactly what you'd expect from the series.



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News:: ‘Overwatch’ Halloween bash begins on October 10th

Overwatch's Halloween event last year introduced the title's first player-vs-computer co-op mode , a fun brawl featuring four heroes against a horde of enemies. Even if the holiday season only lasted a month, it was a delightful surprise that paved the way for later (tragically temporary) PvE game modes. If you were worried Blizzard would pass up another opportunity for spooky gameplay and new skins, don't fear: Overwatch's new Halloween Terror event goes live on October 10th.

Source: Overwatch (Twitter)



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News:: Marvel's Inhumans is a lifeless, uninspired mess

I guess I’ve only got myself to blame.

See, because I am an exceptionally cool and popular person (and also because I don’t have any TV that isn’t streaming), I didn’t catch the premiere of Marvel’s The Inhumans on ABC Friday night. That said, I am a citizen of the Internet, so I’ve been privy to all of the prerelease coverage and saw a few of the hot takes flying around after the premiere over the weekend. So when I sat down in front of Hulu on Sunday afternoon and navigated my way to Inhumans, I had a pretty good idea what I was in for. I should have known better, but see, pain and agony are the only things I can feel anymore in the little hellscape of a world we're building, and damnit, I just needed to feel something.

But I’ve also been suffering over this since Sunday night and if I don’t get my thoughts out they'll eat me from within so now you have to sit here and read some of my impressions of the thing (I mean, if you want).

We open in media res. A young woman is being chased through the jungle by some commandos. As she runs, we cut to several slow-mo shots of, well, anything - rain falling, boots stomping through puddles, gun muzzles flashing as they fire, because this is very dramatic and we need to communicate this to you, viewer. As she flees, the woman is intercepted by Inhuman merman Triton, who steps out of the jungle and tells her he's from the moon and he can save her with all the urgency of a dude ordering at Starbucks.

It only gets worse from there.

If you’ve somehow missed the boat, here’s the gist: Inhumans follows the royal family of Attilan, which is a secret kingdom on “Earth’s moon” (as the show calls it constantly), made up of a race of super-powered beings called Inhumans. If you’ve seen Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. odds are you know their deal - exposure to a substance called terrigenesis triggers a transformation in certain people, usually resulting in some sort of superpower. These people are decedents of a bunch of people experimented by on aliens, and a few centuries ago some of them up and fled to the moon to create a secret monarchy (somehow, for some reason). The royal family is made up of Black Bolt, the king, whose power is his immensely destructive voice (which renders him effectively mute); his wife, Queen Medusa, whose hair can be used as prehensile tendrils; Gorgon, who has powerful hooves that can create localized earthquakes; Karnak, who can see and exploit the flaw in anything; Crystal, a princess with elemental powers; and Lockjaw, a giant dog who can teleport anywhere. There’s also Maximus, who doesn’t have inhuman powers but is a conniving schemer who wants the throne (and Medusa) for himself. The series follows Maximus’ coup of Attilan, and the royal family’s journey to reunite after being stranded on Earth and, presumably, take back power.

Marvel's Inhumans is a lifeless, uninspired mess screenshot

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News:: Take a look at this week's Star Wars Battlefront II beta

The Star Wars Battlefront II beta is nearly here and based on how well the beta for the last game went, it should be huge. We recapped the modes and maps last week, but now we've got a concise video to match those words.

I'm glad DICE is including a split-screen option not just in the full game proper, which isn't always a given for shooters, but also here, in the beta. We'll be able to attack and defend a Star Destroyer, battle around Maz's castle, and fight on Naboo. The beta kicks off October 4 for early-access players (read: folks who pre-ordered before Oct. 1) and it'll open up for everyone on October 6.

Take a look at this week's Star Wars Battlefront II beta screenshot



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News:: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Deluxe Edition brings DLC to PS4 but not Switch

Launching for PlayStation 4 on November 22, 2017 in Japan, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Deluxe Edition brings all four "Super Packs," Goku Black, and a code to download a Future Trunks Arc PlayStation theme. It'll cost 6,100 yen which is about $53 but will likely be a full $59.99 when it comes west.

These DLC-included bundles as well as years of patches and updates are the main reason I don't play games until they're a year or more old anymore. This news comes just 11 days after the Switch version of Xenoverse 2 launched, where none of the DLC was included and the season pass for the same content is being sold for $29.99.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Deluxe Edition brings DLC to PS4 but not Switch screenshot

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News:: Microsoft buys AltspaceVR's struggling virtual hangout

When AltspaceVR announced that it was staying open after threatening to close its doors, it said it was "deep in discussions" with people who were passionate about it. Apparently one of those people was Microsoft, because the software giant has just announced that it's acquiring AltspaceVR, officially providing Windows Mixed Reality with a social VR solution.

"With the AltspaceVR team onboard we look forward to building the world's preeminent mixed reality community," said Alex Kipman, Microsoft's Mixed Reality head, in a statement.

If you're not familiar with AltspaceVR, it's sort of like a Second Life for VR. Even though AltspaceVR has only been around for a few years, it already has competition in the social VR space. Its biggest rival is arguably Facebook Spaces, which is the social network's attempt at a virtual hangout space. Of course, Spaces' big benefit is that it makes use of your existing Facebook network.

But AltspaceVR has had successes too. It partnered with NBC to broadcast last year's presidential debates in VR and it's even hosted virtual comedy shows from Reggie Watts and Paul Scheer.

AltspaceVR is accessible with Google Daydream, Samsung's Gear VR, the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. With the Microsoft acquisition, it's likely that AltspaceVR will be available on Windows Mixed Reality headsets as well.



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News:: 'Halo: Recruit' brings the Xbox series to mixed reality

Microsoft already announced that it was working with 343 Industries on Halo experiences for mixed reality, but today the company revealed its first one: Halo: Recruit. The game will be available starting October 17th -- you can either try it out in Microsoft Stores across the country, or download it from the Windows Store for free.



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News:: Samsung's Windows Mixed Reality headset will cost $499

A few days ago, images of what looked like a Samsung Mixed Reality headset leaked online. Today, at Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality event, both Microsoft and Samsung have officially unveiled it at last. It's called the HMD Odyssey, and it's the first Samsung VR headset to run on the Windows Mixed Reality platform.



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