Sunday, October 22, 2017

News:: A Hat in Time's development team began as volunteers

It's always great to see a Kickstarter project come out of (relatively) nowhere and become a success. While people tend to remember the failures more, A Hat in Time is one of the few games to reach the other end of a Kickstarter campaign and actually be good. The stars weren't always aligned for that to happen, though.

Did You Know Gaming has taken a look at A Hat in Time and one of the more interesting facts uncovered is that the developers were basically volunteers for most of the early stages. People had to take on multiple rolls to get progress moving and the staff weren't being paid for their efforts. Obviously that changed after the Kickstarter campaign, but things weren't always looking up.

The cel-shaded style was also brought on because of its low development cost and for its ability to hide graphical imperfections. Its really funny how such a strong and beautiful art style can overcome limited technology, but just try telling that to publishers moaning about development costs.

A Hat in Time's development team began as volunteers screenshot

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News:: Why Elite: Dangerous is my nightly holiday

The other day I spent a couple of hours at work reading about sailboats. Like a ten-year-old with a new fascination after discovering Treasure Island or some other seafaring fantasy, I was obsessing over famous ships from the past, and the prospect of buying one of my own when we move away from here, out of this big unfriendly city, and try to settle down in an island town next year to reform our lives.

I went home that evening and turned on Elite: Dangerous. A game I have been playing since summer of last year. A game I gave high praise to here at Destructoid when I reviewed the PS4 version a couple of months ago. I hear all kinds of negativity tossed in this game's direction. It is boring, it doesn’t feel complete, it’s a “space truck simulator,” you just deliver stuff from one place to the next ad infinitum.

They are all right, and yet so wrong at the same time.

Why Elite: Dangerous is my nightly holiday screenshot

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News:: Destiny 2 deals: $10 off console, 15% off PC Battle.net key

Another Sunday, another batch of Best Buy weekly sales. But wait, what's this? Best Buy is spraying PS4 and Xbox One gamers with a $10 discount on Destiny 2 (that's 17% off). For gamers with Best Buy Gamers Club Unlock (aka GCU), you will be able to stack another 20% off that discount for a total of 33% off (yes we did the math). That's $39.99 for what's shaping up to be one of the largest releases in 2017. Not bad for a recent release.

Conversely, if we head over to PC platform land, gamers are faced with smaller discounts for pre-order incentives on Destiny 2. Of course, this is to be expected given the PC's release has been pushed back to later this Tuesday and the console version has been available for well over a month. With the holiday season and Black Friday a month away, we're expecting the console version to reach 50% off sooner rather than later, and the PC version to get a timider discount of around 25% off.

Why the smaller discount? Mostly because the digital copy is exclusively on the Battle.net platform and you're less likely to see grey-market pricing for the region locked game. Based on our experience, Activision Blizzard hasn't been a publisher that allows a heavy discount on their digital titles so soon after release.

On a side note, if you have Best Buy GCU and you're a PC gamer, the discount, of course, extends to the PC physical copy of Destiny 2 which is uh, just a box with a Battle.net product key inside. But the game also qualifies for Best Buy's $10 rewards certificate, so that's an extra bonus on top of the 20% off discount.

Anyhow, below you'll find all the currently available Destiny 2 deals from PC to console.

Destiny 2 PC Deals

  • Destiny 2 + $10 Rewards (Physical Battle.net Key) — $59.99  (list price $60)
  • Best Buy GCU gets another 20% off, reward certificate requires pre-order

Destiny 2 Console Deals

  • Destiny 2 (PS4, Xbox One) — $49.99  (list price $60)
  • Best Buy GCU gets another 20% off to $39.99, deal runs through Saturday

Note that Best Buy's $10 rewards certificate for pre-order is very specific in how you qualify. You'll have to pre-purchase before 5pm Central Time on the day before street date release (this means October 23).

For the digital deals at GMG and GamesPlanet, keys are being sent out immediately and you'll be able to load into your Battle.net client (which you can download here after logging in). Pre-load is of course live and the game download clocks in at 36GB. All PC deals above includes the pre-order bonus weapon.

Unlock time for Destiny 2 on the PC is 10am Pacific or 1pm Eastern on October 24, 2017. All PC gamers will receive access to the game at the same time worldwide. You can refer to the post here from Bungie for more details.

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Destiny 2 deals: $10 off console, 15% off PC Battle.net key screenshot



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News:: Persona might have the formula for the perfect X-Men game

X-Men has been one of Marvel's biggest properties for a long time, and not just in comic books. Before the days of the MCU, Marvel actually seemed to enjoy putting X-Men on a pedestal. The mutant team had a character almost everyone could relate to and the plight of being ostracized by the masses is pretty timeless.

I'm here today to talk about the mutant superheroes in video games, but not their past or even necessarily their future, just one specific, hypothetical game that seems like it could be damn near perfect. What if the X-Men starred in a Persona style RPG?

Persona might have the formula for the perfect X-Men game screenshot

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News:: Contest: Win a preview build of Relic Hunters Legend, the 'anti-loot box' game

A lot of people have come to associate the term “free to play” with skeevy micro transaction driven game mechanics designed to influence people’s feeling states, leading them to make unwise decisions with their money. The fact that so many of us equate the word "free" with the feeling of being ripped off is as sad as it is strange, but that's where we are in 2017, an era with thousands of games on the market that were designed solely to play you, and not the other way around. Some of you have told us that it's gotten so bad that you've considered getting out of gaming entirely.

These kinds of tricks have been gradually leaking into full priced, $60 retail games as well. Loot boxes are a prime example. By spending real money, they give players the chance to earn some valuable in-game equipment or other resources, though it’s usually a gamble. By making these items difficult or time consuming to acquire otherwise, they take on a false sense of worth that can really play with your head (and your wallet).

That misconception of quality can cut both ways, leading people to see cheap-but-fun games as less valuable than more expensive and rare virtual goods. Relic Hunters Zero, an actually free to play game, has been dowloaded over a million times, but given that it costs literally nothing to play, is available on Steam, and is (most importantly) a lot of fun, you’d think its numbers would be better than that. You'd also think that the +1 million people who played the game would also be quick to back the sequel on kickstarter, but so far not so good. 

Contest: Win a preview build of Relic Hunters Legend, the 'anti-loot box' game screenshot

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News:: Review: A Mortician's Tale

My best friend was a funeral director for about seven years. Fun guy, super positive, real people person. Not at all the kind of pale, spooky, ghoul you might picture when I say “funeral director.” Nobody tell him, but he might be the warmest, kindest, goofiest damn person I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

The job nearly killed him.

No matter how positive and upbeat you are, the death business is a killer. After seven years of mourning parents, human tragedy, daggers-out office politics, and a workplace culture Gordon Gecko would be proud of, he wasn’t burnt out - he was a smoldering crater. So he quit, full stop, total career change. Left the business and never looked back.

A year ago, my girlfriend changed tracks too. Only she wasn’t running away from the funeral world, she started sprinting headlong into it. She went back to college for funerary services, got her laundry list of immunizations and checks to clear her for working with corpses, and came home with an armload of disgusting text books she delights in sharing with me. There are a lot of reasons for her career change, but fundamentally, she’s a believer in death positivity. A new school of thought that advocates for a cultural shift in how we think and talk about death, one that aims to take away the mystery and fear surrounding death and bring it out of the shadows as it were. She isn’t naive about the job she’s going into, but she wants to do what she can to make it better.

Still, I worry about her.

So here comes A Mortician’s Tale. A game all about the pressures and challenges of working with the dead, featuring a protagonist so very much like my girlfriend, in a situation so very much like the one my best friend found himself in not so long ago. I wanted to know if the game would speak to the reality of working in a funeral home, if it would provide players with a peek behind the curtain to a business that few really understand. A Mortician’s Tale does more than that. It offers not only a view into that world, but a glimpse at a better future for it. 

Review: A Mortician's Tale screenshot

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News:: It's nearly Halloween so let's name our favorite character costumes

Halloween is right around the corner and with it comes a bevy of scary releases in theaters and on game consoles around the world, so what better time than now to talk about how much we love scary games. I love a good jump scare or an even better slow build-up of mood and tension that culminates in a terrifying, pants-wetting crescendo so for this week’s Destructoid Discusses post I wanted to ask what your favorite scary moments in gaming…

What’s that? Wes already asked this question?

Well, fuck you Wes and thanks for nothing you washboard playing, moonshine jug blowing bastard. I guess this week there will be no question because of Wes, whose real name is Adolf Mussolini by the way, just had to take advantage of a Friday the 13th and do the totally predictable thing. I mean really, asking about frights on Friday the 13th? That’s lame and expected. Asking about scary games around Halloween? Totally original and shocking.

But I guess that’s it. Wes Adolf Mao Mussolini Bin Laden has killed this feature just like he killed that male hooker on the outskirts of Nashville two years ago in a sounding experiment gone wrong. Because there is absolutely nothing else I can do with video games that associate with Halloween. Yep, absolutely nothing else, nothing at all.

So anyway, costumes are pretty amazing this time of year and I look forward to the apologies that have to be issued after a flood of people complain on Twitter about the various Sexy Puerto Rican Survivor costumes absentminded celebrities will post on their Instagram this month. In gaming, alternate costumes allow us to play dress up with our favorite characters or let us express ourselves by creating a mishmash of styles that don’t really go together but do mad DPS on the plains of Azeroth.

There are so many games with amazing costumes to choose from that I can’t even begin to imagine what our Destructoid writers will choose. For me, nothing brought more joy to my soul then when it was revealed Little Mac in Super Smash Bros for Wii U would include a Wireframe alternate costume. It was badass enough that Little Mac was finally going to be included in the franchise, but then to go all the way back to the roots of the series, the original Arcade exclusive Punch-Out!!. Though technically not Little Mac, the playable character here was nothing but a wireframe outline of a boxer that allowed players to see the incoming attacks from Bald Bull, Glass Joe, and Piston Hurricane.

Most gamers probably only remember Punch-Out!! from its NES entry or its follow-ups on the SNES and Wii. Soon enough, Switch owners will get the chance to play the arcade original as part of the Arcade Archives collection. The wireframe alternate costume is a lovely throwback and reference to Nintendo’s roots. The fact that I can dress wireframe Mac up in the famous pink sweatsuit is all the more wonderful.

It's nearly Halloween so let's name our favorite character costumes screenshot

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News:: These Sonic Funko toys gotta go somewhere fast

I know Funko Pop! toys get a bad rap, but I never quite saw what the problem was. Eye read folks' bad views of them on Twitter and the like, but I just don't perceive any issues. Sonic the Hedgehog had a series released before, but those were based on "Classic" Sonic, and now Modern Sonic has its own line of tiny figures. 

Eye spy three Sonics, two Shadows, and one Dr. Robotnik/Eggman. Super Sonic looks pretty good, however, so who knows what eye should think anymore. 

You'll see these Sonic Funko figures on shelves later this Winter. 

These Sonic Funko toys gotta go somewhere fast screenshot

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News:: UK orders shutdown of online casino games aimed at kids

Have you ever seen a gambling machine or website that was all too conspicuously aimed at children? British regulators certainly have. The country's Gambling Commission and advertising overseers have ordered over 450 gambling sites to "immediately" remove casino games they say are targeting the under-18 crowd. The cartoonish graphics, cute characters and even game names (such as Piggy Payout) serve as gambling advertising that's "likely" to appeal to kids, according to an official letter. And these aren't just free titles -- bets range as high as £600 (about $792), so this could be particularly damaging if a child got access.

Via: The Times

Source: Gambling Commission



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News:: Is the end nigh for single-player games?

Earlier this week, EA announced that Visceral Games, the studio responsible for a new Star Wars game under Amy Hennig, was being shut down with immediate effect. This led to a lot of speculation as to whether this was the end for the fully single-player experience. There was speculation over whether this was greed on the part of EA, whether the consumer is at fault for not supporting one of the oldest formats of gaming, or whether other factors were at play.

Setting aside the fact that we can't extrapolate from one studio shutdown that an entire genre is doomed, single-player games are clearly less popular than they were 20 years ago, if you take a look at the different formats of gaming that are available nowadays. In past times, many people simply couldn't play multiplayer games, even if they wanted to, because the neighbour's kid had to go to their dad's at the weekend, or their siblings were too young to "get" how a controller worked. Now, servers full of opponents from around the continent, or even around the world, are available for bouts 24/7, and the vast majority of people have a good enough internet connection to support this (ahem, excluding myself).

This alone shouldn't mean that single-player games are dead in the water, though. There are enough people who yearn for simple, old-style Resident Evil games, or JRPGs that can only have a multiplayer experience forcefully tacked onto them. However, there are enough further problems with single-player games, beyond sheer popularity, that they are in grave danger, if both studios and consumers don't go out of their way to support the format. So, what can we do to keep the games of our childhood going? A few things, probably.

Is the end nigh for single-player games? screenshot

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News:: The next Persona fighting game depends on BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle according to series director

At the Arc Revolution Cup in Toushinsai 2017, tournament champion (and Shadow Ken player) Reni asked series director Kazuhisa Wada whether or not another Persona fighting game would happen because a new entry would "make [him] really happy."

Wada's response was extremely vague, saying "It depends on [BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle]".

The problem with the statement was the vague Japanese phrase used. It could have been interpreted in one of two ways. Meaning either the sales of Cross Tag Battle would determine if another will be developed, or that development is on hold until the crossover is done. He potentially meant the latter, as having to support not only Cross Tag Battle and a new Persona game, but also the upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ, could possibly be too much work for Arc System Works.

With BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle set for sometime in 2018, it's clear that if a Persona 5 Arena is in the cards, it won't be happening until 2019 at the earliest. That being said, if they put in at least Joker and Makoto in the upcoming game, I'd be content until then.

Persona 4 Arena Series Director Says Next Game Depends on BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle [Persona Central]

The next Persona fighting game depends on BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle according to series director screenshot



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News:: PREPARE TO SPOOK: Dtoid's Master Gaming Contact List

[We're a week off from Spooksday; I'm working some sort of fancy-ass Halloween party, but otherwise, the Overwatch Halloween event and I have plans. What's your favorite Halloween event this year? Do you have any plans? The Master List will keep on updating until I run out of things to do  -Panda]

Good morning/afteroon/tomorrow, my friends/robots/Gardevoir/Current Dtoid Meme Here

It has been made aware to me that, just perhaps, you all enjoy video games. It might even be said that you... like to game with others? Now now, don't be that way, I don't mean to lump you into some sort of box. You're all just such lovely folks, it pains me to watch you, struggling in vain to connect with each other, striving to engage in...

PREPARE TO SPOOK: Dtoid's Master Gaming Contact List screenshot

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News:: NeoGAF goes down due to staff walk out, sexual harassment allegations

One of the things that made NeoGAF stand out from the crowd was its strict membership policy. Unlike more accessible communities like Destructoid, you couldn't just sign-up for a NeoGAF account in a few seconds. Gaining the right to post on the site took time, and not everyone was allowed in. This exclusivity led to a razor sharp focus on the newest and most interesting game information, and a fierce loyalty from its staff. From the looks of it, that loyalty may have been tested for the last time.

Allegations of sexual harassment against NeoGAF owner Tyler 'Evilore' Malka have reportedly led at least 11 site modders and administrators to walk-out, leaving the site offline as of this writing. These allegations come after a 2012 post where Evilore self reported that he grabbed the ass of a woman that he did not know, without consent, "to show her that [he] wasn't being taken advantage of". It's possible that Evilore will find a new team to replace his former staff, just like Harvey Weinstien may end up starting a new film production company, but it's clear NeoGAF's reputation will never be the same. 

NeoGAF goes down after sexual harassment allegations prompt admin/moderator exodus [PCGamesN]

NeoGAF goes down due to staff walk out, sexual harassment allegations screenshot



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News:: New Dragon Ball FighterZ screens show Captain Ginyu and Nappa's big mouths

I'm sure this sounds like a broken record at this point, but Dragon Ball FighterZ just keeps looking better and better. I'm hooked on Captain Ginyu and Nappa through images alone. Bandai Namco uploaded a few screenshots to their Facebook page featuring the duo's moves, and I'm all in for their huge mouth beams. 

Nappa can summon Saibamen for a few special moves, and not only can Ginyu use his ultimate body swap technique, but calls in some members of the Toku Sentai Ginyu Force for a move or two. That's good because Recoome's always given me trouble in every game he's in so the fact he's locked into an assist special is very good news. 

Also, there's a bit of a look at some of the story mode as well. Wonder what Frieza's getting into. 

Dragon Ball FighterZ releases early 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, February 1 in Japan, and February 2018 in Europe. 

New Dragon Ball FighterZ screens show Captain Ginyu and Nappa's big mouths screenshot

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News:: Classic Tetris World Championships to air Sunday

I've always loved watching Tetris matches because Tetris is one of the only games I can arguably defend as perfect. So, when you have an arguably perfect game, it's always amazing to see the best players in the world put their skills to the test.

Thankfully the Classic Tetris World Championships scratch that itch for me every years and after almost a full day of qualifying rounds on Saturday, 32 players have emerged from the scrum to test their might at becoming Tetris world champion.

The qualifying rounds had a bit of spectacle to them with Koryan maxing out his qualifying score, a feat that only Harry Hong has done since the competition switched to its current format. It is not surprising to see that the top five finishers from last year's competition have all qualified, but there are some new faces among the crowd. The full qualifying leaderboard, as well as tournament bracket, can be found below.

Classic Tetris World Championships to air Sunday screenshot

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News:: Weekend deals: 20% off Cuphead, PUBG, and $20 Witcher 3 GOTY

This weekend is filled with decent deals, once again in the domain of PC gamers. You can currently pick up Steam copies of Cuphead or Playerunknown's Battleground for 20% off with a few extra step, which is worth the hassle given these are two of top-selling title on PC right now. Digital retailer GMG is offering a 20% off discount for most regions on either Cuphead, PUBG, or ELEX provided you create an account on their store and request for a unique coupon code here on this page. For more details, check out our page here which list all the other games this unique coupon can qualify for.

In other deals department, next Tuesday's Destiny 2 is also on tap for 15% off across most region. US gamers can grab it at GMG for 15% off, while UK/EU gamers can check out GamesPlanet and take 10% off with the coupon listed below. We've previously seen a $10 off discount for a physical copy as well at Newegg but that deal has since expired. IF we spot anything before Tuesday's release, we'll add 'em to the list below.

In sales event, The Witcher 3 Complete/GOTY is now only $20 across all major platform, with the DRM-Free copy $20 at GOG, while the console versions will require PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold. The individual DLCs and expansions are all at lowest ever price as well thanks to this Witcher anniversary sale. Other sales event includes PSN's Halloween sale, a WinGameStore Fall Sale (with tons of cheap Steam games), and GameStop hawking retro Gamecube and N64 bundles with starting price of $89 (yeah reliving your childhood isn't cheap).

If you spot any issue with any deals below, let us know in the comments and our unpaid interns will get right on them. (Just kidding we pay our robots fair oil wages).

Top Weekend Deals

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Weekend deals: 20% off Cuphead, PUBG, and $20 Witcher 3 GOTY screenshot



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