For everybody that's watched Ghost in the Shell and thought to themselves, "yes, I too would like to experience tearing tanks apart with my bare hands," your day has come. Well, sort of. Bandai Namco has partnered with VR Zone Shinjuku, a 40,000-square foot VR arcade center, to develop an eight player competitive shooter based on the GiTS universe and they're calling it Ghost in the Shell: Arise Stealth Hounds.
Via: VR Scout
Source: VR Zone Shinjuku
If you still don't own an SNES Classic Edition, you'll have a chance to get one tomorrow, November 25th. Best Buy has announced that it will sell Nintendo's mini, retro console in stores across the US starting at 9AM local time. Not surprisingly, you'll have to be at the door early since stock will be limited. There's going to be a cap of one per customer, and Best Buy said in a blog post that it's going to offer a first-come, first-served ticketing system for customers waiting in line.
Via: CNET
Source: Best Buy
The free codes just keep pouring in: Ironsight is a new FPS due early next year, but grab a code and you can check it out right now. The game puts you ten years into a dystopian future where capitalist jerks with practical haircuts compete for resources and supremacy. There's over 100 weapons, 14 maps, and drones! You can do terrible things with drones, just like in real life. There's more info on the official site. Grab a free code while they last!
Grab an Ironsight Closed Beta Key
[Ad disclosure: We didn't receive cash or sobbing fellatio - the dev just sent us codes, thanks!]
Bandai Namco has decided that Christmas will be coming on December 11. The company announced that a live stream for the Super Robot Wars franchise will be airing on that day, containing the latest updates for the series.
It's not known what will be in the live stream but it will likely be a new game, with an English version as well.
Tamagotchi is celebrating its 20th birthday this year with the release of a special anniversary edition, which was good enough to land on our holiday gift guide. But, the festivities don't end there, as the virtual pet is (at long last) making the leap to smartphones in 2018. My Tamagotchi Forever for iOS and Android gives the pixellated blob with a face a much-needed makeover. The game is set in colorful "Tamatown," home to other cutesy inhabitants that you can make friends with -- much like Nintendo's latest mobile offering, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
Source: Bandai Namco (YouTube), My Tamagotchi Forever
Asymmetry in board games is a tricky thing. Do it wrong, and asymmetry can lead to imbalance, which can lead to flipped tables and scattered pieces, or at the very least a muttering of "I'll never play that again."
So most games that employ asymmetry go light on it. Maybe everybody is doing the same thing, but has different minor powers. Or everybody is cooperating toward the same goal and major differences between players is there to allow for synergy rather than to promote imbalance.
It's rare to see a game attempt to do what Root is doing. It's a competitive game with substantial differences between the four player factions. Not only do they have different powers, but they score points by doing different things, have access to different sections on the cards, and even interact with the board in distinct ways. For the little time I got to spend with it at PAX Unplugged, I hope it works.
Speaking in the latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu, The Pokemon Company have revealed that Pokemon-branded video games have officially shipped over 300 million units.
From 1996's Pokemon Red & Blue to 2017's Pokemon Ultra Sun & Moon, stopping along the way at Stadium, Snap, Pokken and yes, even Hey You, Pikachu! The legendary franchise only 90's kids will remember has remained a juggernaut of the video game industry.
The number is based on over 76 titles published within the last 21 years featuring the little critters, it takes into account both physical and digital sales. While Pokemon was a little after my time, I'm aware of the deep connections it has with multiple generations of gamers who remember the first run of titles like they were yesterday, while Pikachu and co. are still appealing to new fans every day.
Kudos to you, Pokemon, perhaps you really were the very best, like no-one ever was.
Pokemon titles have shipped over 300 million units [Famitsu]
Superhot was slick as heck last year. The stark red-on-white low-poly models were one part of that, but the real draw was its unique "time only moves when you do" mechanic, allowing for careful planning and some Matrix-esque bullet-dodging. It took the first-person shooter almost into the realm of turn-based strategy.
So it makes a little bit of sense that Superhot: The Card Game is a thing. Card games are not going to replicate the rush of a clutch quickscope headshot or an airborne triple kill, but they sure as heck can manage the plan-and-execute loop of the thinking person's shooter.
Want to try a new game on Steam? Way of Redemption combines sports and action games in a multiplayer online sports arena. They sent a little widget to unlock 6,000 PC keys, so grab yours by completing the actions below (it's hosted by them, you'll get an email).
Notes from the developer, Pixel Cream:
"Welcome to the Arena of the Gods: For thousands of years, vanquished heroes of past centuries have been fighting for redemption by the gods here. Players take on one of six fallen champions trying to regain their former glory. The goal of the fast-paced matches is to destroy the enemy portal by using smart combos of jumps, blocks and shots. To beat other heroes, tactical abilities, fast reaction skills and a strategic overview are required. The game mechanics of Way Of Redemption are easy to understand but difficult to master. Each hero comes with an individual set of skills and the different arenas require different strategies. Players can compete in a head-to-head duel or in co-op mode with another player - both online and offline. A progress system to unlock new content, leagues and ranked matches, or individualized heroes with over 11,000 possible combinations should also provide long-term motivation. Players with a passion for eSports and action games can win one of our keys for Way Of Redemption on Steam.
Way of Redemption Steam Key Giveaway
Capcom really seem to going all on the promotion of upcoming open-word adventure title Monster Hunter: World, with multiple commercial, articles, videos and tie-in promotions appearing weekly. Given the community's natural excitement for the game, It almost feels like overkill, but the game is sure looking fine, and I guess you gotta keep that hype-train a-rollin'.
Two videos, comprising around twenty minutes total, have been released of the epic adventure title in action. The videos give you a look at the world itself, its myriad of weird and wonderful creatures, some of the fantastical weapons available to your party and even the character customisation options for your personal Hunter.
I'm sure, for many, discovering this stuff live is part of the fun, but for those salivating for more footage, including an amusing Palico cooking session, you can check out the new videos below.
Monster Hunter: World launches on PS4 and Xbox One January 26, with a PC release scheduled sometime thereafter.
World of Final Fantasy: Meli-Melo is a new free-to-play RPG that's coming to iOS and Android sometime next year. Now that the groans are out of the way, we can get to the real story -- Chibi Cloud.
Meli-Melo's newest trailer debuted this week, which showcases the cute artstyle borrowed from World of Final Fantasy proper, which was released a little over a year ago. Of course Cloud isn't the only one on parade, as classic enemies are in again, as well as various other marquee characters.
Shamefully I still haven't played World of Final Fantasy. I hear great things though, so I'm glad that this subseries is still alive -- free-to-play mobile release or not, it could lead to another console follow-up.
Marvelous have announced that Shinobi Refle: Senran Kagura, which launched on Nintendo Switch via the eShop yesterday, is currently not dated for a Western localisation.
The game sees players hang out with and "heal" franchise character, Asuka. This basically amounts to rubbing areas of her body, or performing tasks such as running a brush or a "electromotor massager" over her arms and legs in the game's "Fabulous Refle" mode. I think that's about it...
In an interview with DualShockers, Senran Kagura producer Kenichiro Takaki stated that he'd like to bring the game West, but doesn't know what Nintendo of America "would think of it". When fans brought the comment up on Twitter, Marvelous tweeted that there were no current plans for localisation.
No plans for Shinobi Refle: Senran Kagura localisation [Twitter]
I love it when community members of a game really dive into the lore and fluff, and that's exactly what happened with this story here. Elite: Dangerous player Benjamin "Heisenberg6626" Bahr has been working tirelessly for the last year (!) for a way to communicate with a seemingly hostile alien race called the Thargoids.
While players all across the globe have given up on them, Bahr collaborated with a real group called Canonn Interstellar Research to study the Thargoid's vocal patterns, and created this own "message" to send to them in response. It's important to note that the game doesn't have the capability for the Thargoids to actually understand that message, but the effort is there, and the idea is fascinating in and of itself.
Even the video, which walks us through the process step by step, is in-character. Although I was never really heavily into RP (role-playing) myself in various games like World of Warcraft, I love living among those that are -- it's like people watching taken to an extreme, and the intricacies of it could easily be taught at a university somewhere.
It's that time of year where the public take their lives into their own hands in order to bag themselves a bargain. Where shoppers of various ages, backgrounds and creeds gather together as one amorphous mass to barge through malls and stand on each other's heads in the spirit of new TVs. Black Friday is upon us once more.
So, as multiple digital and high-street outlets slash prices across hundreds of thousands of products, is there anything that you, our beloved community, are hoping to come away with this weekend? Perhaps a new console? a bucket-load of games? a home cinema system, or maybe even just that one indie title on Steam that has finally dropped from $2.99 to $1.14?
Whether a big spender, a shrewd selector or even someone who will likely go without purchasing a single item, let us know below what, if anything, is on your shopping list this weekend. For me personally, well, it's nothing, although I may get DOOM on PC if I can find it cheap enough.
And, if you are braving the high-street today, please be safe, people tend to go a little borko when there's cheap goods for the taking, and it 'aint worth risking yourself over. Have a great weekend, guys 'n gals!
This week Nintendo released a new package for Breath of the Wild -- the "Explorer's Edition."
Only available on Switch, this version is exactly the same when it comes to what's on the disc (cart), it just has some extras in the case. Specifically, a two-sided game map, as well as a 100 page "explorer's guide." It hasn't been said how many copies are being sold, but this was specifically pivoted as a Black Friday week promotion.
Right now it's available readily everywhere so it's not rare in the slightest, but again, it isn't known how many Nintendo printed or if they'll keep printing it.
The latest issue of Japanese publication Famitsu features a wealth of art, screenshots and info on upcoming strategy sequel Valkyria Chronicles 4, which surprised fans with its sudden announcement earlier this week.
Very minor spoilers ahead, of course...
Claude, the game's hero, will lead his comrades into battle via his mid-sized tank, The Hafen, which is named after his hometown. Backing him up is his estranged childhood friend Riley and an emotionally curt sniper (aren't they always?) named Kai Shuren. Claude must rely on his allies, the Hafen and his intuition about the weather (apparently) to garner victory in battle.
Infantry classes will be divided into Scouts, Lancers, Shocktroopers, Snipers, Engineers and the all-new Grenadier class. The latter are very long-range attacker who fire RPGs, mortar-style, across the battlefield, flushing the enemy out of cover and providing high-damage against vehicles, they are very weak at short-range combat.
Though no further information was given about the release date, it was mentioned that the game development is a solid 90% complete, so here's hoping it will rolling into battle very soon.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 arrives on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in 2018.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 Famitsu article [Siliconera]
When I first saw the Kickstarter for Super Mighty Power Man, I was equal parts intruiged and turned off. The name, first off, aping Mega Man and Mighty Number 9 isn't really a great idea, but the concept of another 8-bit style platformer is enough for me to at least give it a try. So while I didn't pledge, it went on my radar.
I'm glad I didn't pledge apparently, as the Kickstarter has been canceled -- which is actually good news, according to the developer Box Hedge Games. As part of a backer update (visible to the public) they noted that they have been "approached by several publishers," and are currently discussing ways to fund the game outside of crowdfunding.
Another reasoning for the cancellation is because they "didn't want to over-promise and end up being late," which actually does make sense -- assuming that they would have reached their goal. It doesn't really matter to me how this played out, it's on my radar regardless!
Super Mighty Power Man [Kickstarter]
If you're picking up a game console like the Xbox One X or PlayStation 4 Pro this holiday season, congratulations: You already have a great controller for your new system. Traditionally, third-party gamepads have always been a bit subpar, the kind of thing you buy cheap and pawn off on an unsuspecting younger sibling at playtime. But what if you want to game on your mobile device (or an Apple TV)? Or what if you're looking for an edge in your favorite console title? We've taken a look at the available controllers out there to find the best one for your needs, no matter which system you prefer.
The fourth trailer in Atlus' Dragon's Crown Pro character series has been released, following previous videos showcasing the Fighter, Amazon and Elf characters.
This week's preview focuses on the stout and ferocious Dwarf, a hammer-wielding fireball of pure destruction. Shaped literally like a box of pure muscle, this melee fighter certainly isn't the fastest member of the motley crew, but quickly and easily lays waste to all foolhardy enough to oppose him with head-caving strikes and bone-smashing grabs.
The updated version of Vanillaware's PS3 & PS Vita brawler is shaping up pretty nicely, with new features, a fully orchestrated score, cross-play with previous releases and crisp 4K visuals. There are also some neat extras available, including the game's soundtrack and a digital game-book.
We are still yet to hear of a Western localisation, though recent rumours have pointed to such an announcement forthcoming at the Playstation Experience, which takes place in Anaheim next month. Hopefully we'll hear some good news there.
Dragon's Crown Pro launches on PS4 in Japan February 8.
In case you forgot, Blizzard added in a restriction for new Overwatch characters a while back -- before playing any hero in competitive mode, they need to have been out for at least a week. Now, Moira's time has come.
While her effectiveness in competitive is yet to be seen, she's been pretty useful in quick play. She's perfect for finishing off heroes, has a high rate of survivability, and in many instances, is fully capable of solo healing.
For me, she's been one of the most fun additions to the game in months, and I've gravitated toward her more than any other post-launch hero.
Splatoon fans rejoice! Version 2.0 is now live in Nintendo's popular and colourful arena-shooter Splatoon 2, bringing enough new content, change-ups and extras to make your head burst into globules of pink and green.
On the cosmetic front, the update adds new gear for your squad, including clothing and hairstyles, five new tunes have been implemented into the soundtrack and Amiibo functionality has been adapted to work better with the game's photo mode. Various fixes have been made to the menu system to provide a more streamlined process, and the first of four new battle arenas has been added to the game.
On a balance front, changes have been made to the game's general multiplayer mechanics, as well as a ton of tweaks to weapons, damage levels and ink coverage. Alongside all of these gameplay changes, various bugs have been ironed out across the board.
The full list of patch notes can be found below. Don't forget the Hydra Splatling weapon goes live at 18:00 PT this evening, with Europe and Japan to follow tomorrow morning. This is set to be a fun and exciting weekend for squid-kids everywhere. Enjoy!
Splatoon 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Destiny 2 players have always surmised that something fishy was going on with the experience system post level 20, and one researcher claims that there is now proof of funny business.
Sprawled out on a gigantic post filled with data on Reddit, EnergiserX near-definitively explains that the more you play, the less experience you earn toward Bright Engrams (read: microtransactions) after you reach the level cap. Experience losses apparently go up to roughly 95% in some cases. So sort of sum it up, EnergiserX explains, “The scaling factor will increase at least to the point where you’re only really earning 4% of what you should. Public Events will only ever earn you 50% of what they say, as the end of event XP alone is enough to trigger a 50% scaling factor."
For years Bungie has failed a lot of people when it comes to responding to issues like this. First we had the "chest cooldown," where players were inexplicably losing out on items opened in world chests because Bungie implemented an invisible timer for earning loot -- now this.
We have other, sometimes bigger developers finding out these issues and solving them in mere days with patches, and then there's Bungie. This is 2017, and it's an incredibly weird way to do business -- even in the '90s developers were responding to players on forums. The running joke since Destiny has been that "Bungie is merely a small indie company, and doesn't have time for problems like this," but after two major releases riddled with holes, the honeymoon is over.
Here is What is Really Going on With XP in Destiny 2 [Reddit]
Can you believe that Final Fantasy XV is about to turn a year old? Neither can I.
Come to think of it though it does feel like XV's prescence has been felt for a very long time, given its beginnings as another game and the myriad spinoffs and side projects its involved in. Seriously, click that link -- I'm keeping a running total of all of the things XV has spawned and its insane.
To sort of recap the last year or so, Square Enix has announced a new "Active Time Report" stream, which will kick off on November 29 at 22:00 JST. In addition to regaling us with a year of XV, it'll talk about multiplayer, the upcoming Episode Ignis, and "surprises."
Final Fantasy XV [Square Enix via Gematsu]
Bandai Namco have opened a mysterious teaser website, for a currently unknown project.
The site features a pop-art style image of a microwave, accompanied by the simple instruction: "CLICK". Doing so causes the door to open and an egg to fall out, followed by the message "10 Days Left".
And that's that. I guess we'll find out more in ten days, or until someone leaks the surprise early, whichever comes first. Also, as a general rule, don't put eggs in the microwave, they have a tendency to explode.
[The preceding announcement featured zero egg puns.]
Bandai Namco "Microwave" Teaser [Official site]
UK residents still hunting down a SNES Classic of their very own (or perhaps for a loved one) should hit the link below and go get one while the getting's good.
The popular retro console, pre-loaded with 21 classic game, comes bundled with a USB power adapter and is priced at £79.99. Orders will ship from Monday are limited to one per customer.
SNES Classic + USB Power Adaptor [Nintendo UK Store]
Developers are still eager to show their gratitude to Nintendo's late Satoru Iwata. Gamers have learned that Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon include a clear, heartfelt tribute to the company's long-serving president. It requires that you have a creature carried over from Pokémon Silver (thankfully available in the eShop) and a trek to the Game Freak building in Heahea City, but it's worth the effort to read a short-but-sweet anecdote about one of Nintendo's most appreciated leaders.
Via: Eurogamer
Source: Serebii.net, Joe Merrick (Twitter)
Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.
Black Friday is here. With some help from our friends at Wirecutter, we've distilled some of the best deals right here. As you process yesterday's carbs and bird protein, take a look at some of the tech news you might have missed.
There hasn't really been a good skateboarding game since Skate 3 in 2010. Don't even try to mention Tony Hawk 5, either: that game was awful. Session, an upcoming skateboarding simulation game by Crea-ture Studios, aims to change that with a neat-looking dual-stick title that focuses on using physics to pull off cool, realistic tricks. If funded, Session will be available for Xbox One and Steam — sorry PS4 fans, this one isn't for you.
Source: Kickstarter
