Thursday, January 25, 2018

News:: Gran Turismo Sport's January update is now available

It has been some time since we last heard about updates to Gran Turismo Sport, but with the game being in a much better state than at launch, I'm eager to check these new features out. January's patch is a bit lighter than the December one, but it still includes a couple of neat cars, some new tracks and even some new events for the "GT League" campaign.

The first bit is four new events for "GT League." They each focus on a single racing discipline and two of them lock you to specific car manufacturers. The first is the "Raptor Survival," which is all about Ford F-150's. The second is "J-Sport Meeting," which deals with Japanese sports cars. In third comes "La Festa Cavallino," where you'll race in Ferrari's and the final event is the "Gr.3 Endurance Series," which is all about long duration races.

New tracks include the "Monza Circuit" (which was available in Gran Turismo 5 and 6) and three variations for the "Autodrome Lago Maggiore (a new course to the series). The ten cars include a mix of different models from popular manufacturers, the best of which is the now discontinued Dodge Viper GTS. How Dodge can just get rid of their most iconic car is beyond me, but I suppose you have to make way for the Demon.

Gran Turismo Sport's January update is now available screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/gran-turismo-sport-s-january-update-is-now-available-484499.phtml

News:: Yume Nikki lives on with 3D follow-up Dream Diary

The recent resurfacing of the cult horror game Yume Nikki suddenly makes a lot more sense. Come February 23, 2018, we're officially getting a follow-up -- and a 3D one at that!

As the upcoming game's Steam description puts it, "The RPG Maker team at Kadokawa has paired up with Active Gaming Media's development team of ardent YUME NIKKI fans to bring you this modern indie title in the form of YUMENIKKI -DREAM DIARY-. This diverging follow-up combines influences from the original game and other recent indie juggernauts to create something wholly unique."

It's wild to see an RPG Maker title from 2004 reenter the world looking like this:

Crucially, Dream Diary "was created under supervision and with the full cooperation from the original creator, Kikiyama themselves." It's also said to include characters that have been "dormant in Kikiyama's imagination (and design documents)" for more than a decade.

I don't have a history with the original -- and I'm sure I'd react to this new project much differently if I did -- but I think it's an intriguing next step. If nothing else, it's neat to see Yume Nikki in the limelight.

Announcing YUMENIKKI -DREAM DIARY- [Steam]

Yume Nikki lives on with 3D follow-up Dream Diary screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/yume-nikki-lives-on-with-3d-follow-up-dream-diary-484485.phtml

News:: Microsoft Mixer will offer more ways to fund game streamers

Microsoft is making it easier to stream on Mixer for a living. The service has outlined plans for multiple ways to reward streamers, starting with Direct Purchases. If a Mixer Partner is playing a game (including DLC), you can buy that content directly from the stream, which gives them "a percentage" of the game price. The option will initially focus on games in Microsoft's online store, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when it means you can buy an Xbox One title knowing a favorite channel will get a cut. The feature is in testing now but should be available "soon."

Source: Mixer



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/25/microsoft-mixer-will-offer-more-ways-to-fund-streamers/

News:: This Shadow of the Colossus vinyl is a sight to behold

Creating memorabilia for Shadow of the Colossus has to be something of a double-edged sword. On one hand, there's no shortage of awe-inspiring material to draw from. On the other, Shadow of the Colossus is so revered anything paying tribute needs to be similarly incredible but with its own artistic flair.

Leading up to the release of the Shadow of the Colossus PS4 remake, this double LP vinyl from iam8bit perfectly straddles those two lines. It's a majestic work of album art (Nimit Malavia is the artist) that captures the mood of the game while still contributing its own stylistic spin. The major sigils emblazoned in the center of each record is a particularly nice touch. And, you know, it's also the beautiful and moving soundtrack from Kow Otani.

Unfortunately, this vinyl won't be ready for the remake. It begins shipping sometime in the spring of this year, and sells for $40. If you don't want to wait that long, there's a similar already-released Last Guardian collection that's just as stunning.

Shadow of the Colossus 2xLP Vinyl Soundtrack [iam8bit]

This Shadow of the Colossus vinyl is a sight to behold screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/this-shadow-of-the-colossus-vinyl-is-a-sight-to-behold-484481.phtml

News:: This Shadow of the Colossus vinyl is a sight to behold

Creating memorabilia for Shadow of the Colossus has to be something of a double-edged sword. On one hand, there's no shortage of awe-inspiring material to draw from. On the other, Shadow of the Colossus is so revered anything paying tribute needs to be similarly incredible but with its own artistic flair.

Leading up to the release of the Shadow of the Colossus PS4 remake, this double LP vinyl from iam8bit perfectly straddles those two lines. It's a majestic work of album art (Nimit Malavia is the artist) that captures the mood of the game while still contributing its own stylistic spin. The major sigils emblazoned in the center of each record is a particularly nice touch. And, you know, it's also the beautiful and moving soundtrack from Kow Otani.

Unfortunately, this vinyl won't be ready for the remake. It begins shipping sometime in the spring of this year, and sells for $40. If you don't want to wait that long, there's a similar already-released Last Guardian collection that's just as stunning.

Shadow of the Colossus 2xLP Vinyl Soundtrack [iam8bit]

This Shadow of the Colossus vinyl is a sight to behold screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/this-shadow-of-the-colossus-vinyl-is-a-sight-to-behold-484481.phtml

News:: Rainbow Six Siege is getting a limited-time cooperative PvE mode called Outbreak

Ahead of the start to Rainbow Six Siege's third year, Ubisoft has revealed something that feels very different. It's a new mode called "Outbreak" and it's not exactly about acting as a counter-terrorism unit. It looks more like it's about being a counter-zombie unit.

Outbreak, as Ubisoft explains it, is a four-week three-player cooperative mode that has players fighting a mysterious infestation in the town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. (Ubisoft's not to blame for the dumb name; Truth or Consequences is a real town. It's also where former WWE persona Cactus Jack is billed as being from.) That infestation has everyone quarantined inside buildings, lest they risk spreading the epidemic. At a glance, it seems very much like Rainbow Six Siege meets The Division.

This is a limited-time event, and most people probably won't find their ultimate goal in containing the outbreak. Rather, there's a new set of 50 cosmetic items that are attached to Outbreak Packs. These packs cost 300 credits each, and players get four packs the first time they log into the new mode. Ubisoft also promises that each pack contains a unique item and that there are no duplicates.

We'll have definitive answers on what exactly Outbreak is in just a few weeks. Ubisoft has a full reveal planned for the Six Invitational which begins on February 13. 

Upcoming Rainbow 6 Retail Changes and Outbreak Packs [Rainbow Six]

Rainbow Six Siege is getting a limited-time cooperative PvE mode called Outbreak screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/rainbow-six-siege-is-getting-a-limited-time-cooperative-pve-mode-called-outbreak-484468.phtml

News:: You'll only have to wait until April for Pillars of Eternity II

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is fast approaching. After securing $4.4 million in funding through Fig last year, Obsidian is already circling a PC release date for the CRPG sequel: April 3, 2018. That's soon.

If you're invested in this world and are ready to set sail in Pillars of Eternity II, no further questions needed, there are a few different editions to consider.

  • Standard Edition ($50): just the game.
  • Deluxe Edition ($60): the game, the soundtrack, an in-game pet, a Deadfire-themed special in-game item, a digital pen-and-paper RPG starter guide, a digital map, and Volume II of the Dark Horse digital guide book.
  • Obsidian Edition ($75, digital): everything from the Deluxe Edition and three DLC expansions.
  • Obsidian Edition ($80, physical): everything from the Deluxe Edition, three DLC expansions, a cloth map, an explorer's notepad, and a set of postcards.

Pre-orders for all of these editions will also include a few in-game items: the Black Flag, a white hawk named Beakhead, and the St. Drogga's Skull weapon.

With Pillars of Eternity II, Obsidian is promising "a vast open world explorable by the player's own customizable ship, character customization with enough options to make any RPG player want to make a hundred characters, and an exciting narrative that truly delivers on the reactivity that makes our games special." Needless to say, expectations are running high after the last game.

You'll only have to wait until April for Pillars of Eternity II screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/you-ll-only-have-to-wait-until-april-for-pillars-of-eternity-ii-484469.phtml

News:: Newest PUBG update changes pre-game lobbies to enhance performance

The latest update for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has changed the way pre-game lobbies function. Previously, all 100 players would be dropped onto a small segment of the map while a countdown timer ticked down before the festivities. While waiting, players were able to grab some weapons and dick around to kill time (and potentially test out different guns).

Now, the 100 players will be separated into smaller groups on different islands all without firearms. This is, supposedly, to help improve the performance of servers and gameplay by reducing the server load at the start. "Lots of interaction among multiple players in such a small area had a high impact on the servers," reads the official update. "To solve this, we have introduced multiple areas where players gather before the match start."

The other big piece of news is that PUBG Corp. is testing out a new anti-cheat method for the game. Since this is all in the testing phase, you can expect some crashes while starting your game. Never screams "I'VE LEFT EARLY ACCESS" like more crashes.

While I still love PUBG and am hopeful for the game's future, even I can't defend how unfocused the studio appears. From yesterday's story about no clear roadmap to how prevalent bugs still are in the game, I don't think 2018 is going to be very kind to PUBG. Maybe I just need to buy some loot boxes to ease the pain...

PC 1.0 Update #3 [Battlegrounds]

Newest PUBG update changes pre-game lobbies to enhance performance screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/newest-pubg-update-changes-pre-game-lobbies-to-enhance-performance-484397.phtml

News:: Deals roundup: Dragon Ball FighterZ Standard to Ultimate Edition

Unlocking tomorrow morning at around 9:00 AM Pacific, Dragon Ball FighterZ is arriving on all major platforms worldwide (except Japan which gets a February 1 release date). We've rounded up all the deals from PC to console for your browsing pleasure.

For PC players, FighterZ is not exactly a cheap game if you choose the premium editions - the FighterZ and Ultimate Editions clock in at $94.98 and $109.97, respectively. The only thing we can say about this pricing is that at least Bandai Namco decided to be upfront about it. The good news is, the discount on the Standard Edition is at about 18% off to $49 (use coupon code BALLZ at checkout) while you can get a 12% discount on the premium editions with the character pass.

On the console front, the best deal in our opinion is at Best Buy because they are throwing in a Funko Pop! Future Trunks figurine as an added pre-order bonus. All platforms from legitimate retailers include the pre-order bonus "Day One Edition" of early unlocks for SSGSS Goku and SSGSS Vegeta (that's Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan aka Super Saiyan Blue - for those who haven't kept track).

Dragon Ball FighterZ Deals

PC

Console

Standard vs. FighterZ vs. Ultimate Editions


For $35 more than the Standard Edition, the game's FighterZ Edition nets you the FighterZ pass, which includes eight new characters at a future date. Ultimate Edition comes with the same pass along with a few more digital goodies for an extra $15 on top of that $95. You'll receive the anime music pack (11 songs from the series) and a commentator voice pack. We're not sure if that's worth the extra cost - but if you're a hardcore DBZ fan then maybe this is what you're looking for.

With the 12% discount at Fanatical, the Dragon Ball FighterZ - FighterZ Edition (that's one repetitive name) comes to $83.58, while the most expensive Ultimate Edition is priced at $96.77. The same 12% discount is also available at GamersGate.

In our opinion, you're better off just buying the Standard Edition from GamesPlanet (if you're a PC gamer) as of writing, and when the FighterZ pass comes along down the road there will invariably be a deal of some sort available out there. Note that GamesPlanet's Steam copy of FighterZ is region locked and can't be activated from Japan, India, and Pakistan (but it's good everywhere else in the world).

All deals above are valid as of writing and the Steam keys are being sent immediately after purchase.

Game deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

Deals roundup: Dragon Ball FighterZ Standard to Ultimate Edition screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/deals-roundup-dragon-ball-fighterz-standard-to-ultimate-edition-484306.phtml

News:: State senator wants to regulate loot boxes in Washington

Despite its long-awaited single-player story and gorgeous graphics and sounds, Star Wars Battlefront II will likely be remembered for one thing: Loot boxes, or the mismanagement of. The game's rewards took so long to earn that players were incentivized to buy crates of randomized extras that could speed the process up...or not. That uncertain outcome paid with real money, which is becoming increasingly common in games, sounds like gambling to some legislators, and Belgium moved to ban SW Battlefront II-style loot boxes outright. This month, a Washington Senator introduced a bill that would require the state's gambling commission to determine whether loot boxes are, in fact, gambling -- and suggest how to regulate them across gaming.

Via: Glixel

Source: The News Tribune



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/25/washington-state-senator-regulate-loot-boxes/

News:: Hamster celebrates one million ACA Neo Geo sales on Switch

Japanese retro-enthusiasts Hamster, renown for their ACA Classics range of arcade re-releases, have put out a tweet celebrating one million sales on the Nintendo Switch platform.

The company spent 2017 pumping out waves of classic Neo Geo titles on modern formats, announcing at year's end their ultimate goal of publishing over 800 retro titles. Clearly the marketing model has been a smash on Nintendo's hybrid-console, given these celebratory figures.

As a handheld device, the Switch is pretty much perfect for classic arcades, which obviously have a quick-play vibe. Titles so far range have included some of SNK's classics such as King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown and King of the Monsters. This is not to mention of the many non Neo Geo releases that have seen new life on the Switch, such as Pulstar and Double Dragon.

Here's hoping Hamster continue the nostalgia-fest through 2018 and beyond.

Hamster celebrates one million ACA Neo Geo sales on Switch screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/hamster-celebrates-one-million-aca-neo-geo-sales-on-switch-484382.phtml

News:: Get a load of this Master Sword umbrella

File this one under "how has this not been done before?"

Gaming merchandise retailer Merchoid is coming out with a Nintendo-licensed Legend of Zelda umbrella that resembles the Master Sword. There's even a little shoulder-mounted sling to carry it in!

The umbrella is currently up for pre-order ($35) and ships this August.

Zelda: Song of Storms Umbrella Master Sword Preorder [Merchoid via GoNintendo]

Get a load of this Master Sword umbrella screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/get-a-load-of-this-master-sword-umbrella-484461.phtml

News:: DICE promises a 'revamped' progression system for Star Wars Battlefront II

Last month saw a batch of new content for Star Wars Battlefront II including two new heroes, another map, and more single-player missions. DICE is prepping a second season along those lines that's "coming soon" (and hopefully adds Obi-Wan so fans can stop requesting him already).

There's also a limited-time mode, Jetpack Cargo, planned for February. It's a capture-the-flag variant with two teams of eight players zipping around the map trying to steal each other's cargo.

But the important bit, the issue that desperately needs to be addressed because it bogs the whole game down, is further out. DICE says it's "preparing significant changes to progression that will address many of the things we've seen players asking for." Only problem? "We'll be sharing more details about these changes in March." That really feels like it's too little too late.

My interest in Battlefront II has dropped off to the point where I don't even bother logging in for the daily rewards anymore. From the sound of it, that's going to remain the case for the near-future.

Star Wars Battlefront II: The War Is Just Beginning [EA]

DICE promises a 'revamped' progression system for Star Wars Battlefront II screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dice-promises-a-revamped-progression-system-for-star-wars-battlefront-ii-484432.phtml

News:: Snag Amnesia Collection for free through Humble

On the off chance you're looking to add a little dread to your life, the Humble Store is giving away Amnesia Collection, a bundling of 2010's The Dark Descent and 2013's A Machine for Pigs.

The limited-time offer runs for two days and if you act quickly enough, you'll score a Steam key for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This isn't the first time we've seen giveaways and it won't be the last. Eventually these first-person horror adventures will find their way into everyone's library.

Snag Amnesia Collection for free through Humble screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/snag-amnesia-collection-for-free-through-humble-484451.phtml

News:: Sonic Forces' Super Sonic DLC to be free permanently

Sega have announced, via the official Sonic the Hedgehog Twitter, that the Super Sonic DLC for gotta-go-fast platformer Sonic Forces will remain a free download forever.

The DLC adds the sparkly golden Super Sonic character to the game's cast, to be used in challenges on both modern and classic stages. Originally launched for free last month, The publisher's initial plans were to add a two dollar price tag to the character this week.

However, in the tweet, Sega announced that the charge has been quashed, and that Super Sonic will continue to be a free download for anyone who picks up the game in the future.

Sonic Forces is available now on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Sonic Forces' Super Sonic DLC to be free permanently screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/sonic-forces-super-sonic-dlc-to-be-free-permanently-484374.phtml

News:: South Park: The Stick of Truth set to come to PS4 and Xbox One next month

It's the real life and it's the fantasy. It's the South Park kids mixing the both of them into a twisted high-fantasy game where a branch wields ultimate power. It's the sort of hijinks that only they could get into, but this time while wearing wizard hats. It's South Park: The Stick of Truth.

Ubisoft has confirmed that 2014's South Park: The Stick of Truth is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 13. It's the first time this game has been available as a standalone purchase on current-gen consoles (although Xbox users can play the 360 version through backward compatibility). It'll be priced at $30.

This re-release seems to be a straight port of the last-gen game, as Ubisoft hasn't mentioned anything about improvements made for new systems. Also, there's no confirmation as to whether there will be a physical edition or if this is only digital. [Update: Ubisoft has confirmed to us that there will be a physical edition of Stick of Truth.] Regardless, there's a lot of South Park currently available -- The Fractured but Whole, the impending add-ons for Fractured, and now Stick of Truth. You're gonna have yourself a time.

South Park: The Stick of Truth set to come to PS4 and Xbox One next month screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/south-park-the-stick-of-truth-set-to-come-to-ps4-and-xbox-one-next-month-484446.phtml

News:: February's Games with Gold features some free Wang

After the relatively disappointing selection with last month's "Games with Gold" offerings, Microsoft has at least provided good games for Feburary 2018. They are all fairly old and probably things you've already played, but they are all good games.

Kicking things off on the current-gen side, Shadow Warrior will be free the entire month while Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India will be avaiable from February 16 till March 15. On the last-gen side, you'll be able to nab Split/Second (a very underrated gem) from February 1 until February 15 with the HD port of Crazy Taxi (the version without the original soundtrack) going from February 16 until February 28.

February's Games with Gold features some free Wang screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/february-s-games-with-gold-features-some-free-wang-484434.phtml

News:: Atari wants your help to make 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' for Switch

How badly do you want a version of RollerCoaster Tycoon for the Nintendo Switch? Bad enough that you'd be willing to claim a direct stake in the game's success? If so, Atari has a sales pitch for you. The company's Game Partners division (tasked with making money from classic franchises) has launched a crowd investment campaign to raise money for a Switch port of the theme park construction title. Pour at least $250 into the project and you get a pro rata (proportionate) share of 50 percent of profits until you recoup 120 percent of your investment, and then a pro rata 25 percent share of profits for the 18 months following the game's worldwide launch. Ideally, you'd actually make money from backing the game's release.

Via: Kotaku

Source: StartEngine



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/25/atari-asks-for-rollercoaster-tycoon-switch-investments/

News:: Report suggests BioWare's Anthem has been delayed until 2019

We haven't heard much of anything about BioWare's upcoming Anthem since its reveal at E3, but it seems like the expected launch window of "Fall 2018" isn't going to happen. According to a report by Kotaku, three people closely tied to the project have stated that the game will not be making a 2018 release date. One person goes so far as to say the announced date was "never realistic," though nothing further is mentioned.

Also according to this report, EA won't allow BioWare to delay the game beyond March 2019, which is the end of the fiscal calendar for the company. So if fall is out, then the game is definitely coming out in 2019, at least. I suppose this would be an attempt to keep the game in the public conscious before it becomes old hat, but that time crunch sounds like hell.

The rest of the report goes over how EA might not be as trusting of BioWare after the relative failure of Mass Effect: Andromeda and how recent controversies with Battlefront II and Destiny 2 are weighing down on the project. Everything is looking like if Anthem flops, BioWare will be finished. BioWare seems to have learned from the mistakes of others, so they are pledging to be more open about the design process going forward.

While I may not have been as receptive to the company's more recent output, I wouldn't want to see BioWare close down. They've created some of the best Western RPGs ever and losing that kind of talent would just sting. It would also continue to paint EA as the destroyer of studios, which is something they really can't afford to look like moving forward. Hopefully everything works out and Anthem can be the Destiny we've always imagined.

BioWare Doubles Down On Anthem As Pressure Mounts [Kotaku]

Report suggests BioWare's Anthem has been delayed until 2019 screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/report-suggests-bioware-s-anthem-has-been-delayed-until-2019-484396.phtml

News:: Create a handheld aquarium with Abyssrium on Nintendo Switch

Since its launch back in 2016, Idle Idea Factory's aquarium-management game Abyssrium has been downloaded over 25 million times. The simple clicker title allows users to create life in a pocket-sized aquarium filled with hundreds of different breeds of fish, coral and decorative designs.

Publisher Flero Games have announced that, along with Japanese developer Polaris-X, they are hoping to reinvent the title for the Nintendo Switch. Far from being just a straight port, Flero are hoping to pump up the visuals for the hybrid console, as well as include a variety of new features and experiences not included in the smartphone iteration.

Flero Games director Richard Chang has emphasised that there is no release schedule for the title as of yet, but that the company is hard at work on bringing the aquatic experience to Switch owners worldwide. The trailer for the phone version can be seen below.

Brothers and sisters, let the fish puns commence.

Create a handheld aquarium with Abyssrium on Nintendo Switch screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/create-a-handheld-aquarium-with-abyssrium-on-nintendo-switch-484368.phtml

News:: 'RunGunJumpGun' is coming to Nintendo Switch on February 8th

Deceptively-simple automatic runner RunGunJumpGun is coming to Nintendo Switch on February 8th, according to a tweet by its developers, Good Shepherd. The game first hit iOS and Android in 2016, amassing an army of fans initially intrigued by its simple premise -- shoot, jump, survive -- and subsequently ensnared by its addictive intelligent level design and masterful difficulty curve. Under the slightly tweaked moniker ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun, the game will offer Switch players the same twitchy platforming fun -- and for just $8/£8.

Source: Good Shepherd



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/25/rungunjumpgun-is-coming-to-nintendo-switch-on-february-8th/

News:: 'Minecraft' is a microcosm of Microsoft's gaming strategy

Minecraft is pretty important to Microsoft. Not only did the company spend $2.5 billion in 2014 to own the world's most popular building-block game, but just last week it promoted Matt Booty, the head of Minecraft, to Corporate VP of Microsoft Studios. As far as Microsoft sees it, there's a direct line from Minecraft to Gears of War, Halo and all of the company's major first-party games. And now, with Booty's ascent, there's a new Minecraft boss.



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/25/minecraft-future-new-boss-helen-chiang-interview-microsoft/

News:: DreamHack Leipzig is happening this weekend, here's what's up

DreamHack, which began over two decades ago as a Swedish LAN party event, has catapulted into the global space. Now it's a multi-event tour-de-force that spans from Europe to North America, and the next event is happening in Leipzig Germany this weekend.

Billed as a gaming festival and LAN party, DreamHack has also pivoted in recent years into the eSports arena, and several large tournaments are happening alongside of it. Rocket League, StarCraft II, Hearthstone, Pokémon Championships, and League of Legends are all having events, 

Rocket League is set to be one of the highlights, as the long-awaited $50,000 Leipzig tournament will see G2 eSports, Method, PSG eSports, and Gale Force square off. The latter, mind, just won the RLCS World Championship last November, and the exact same lineup of Turbopolsa, ViolentPanda, and Kaydop are returning.

This year's StarCraft II showing is also notable given DreamHack's partnership with Blizzard in forming the first StarCraft II World Championship Series Circuit event of the year. This one has a $100,000 prize pool and features 16 players, one of which is Artur "Nerchio" Bloch from Poland, who is frequently seen in the top 20 in worldwide rankings for the game.

The regional Pokémon Championship will feature Sun and Moon play as well as the TCG (trading card game), and will be held on January 27-28, with free play opportunities. Here entrants will have the opportunity to accrue "Championship Points" that determine their placements for the Pokémon World Championships.

League of Legends' showing is through a more relaxed tournament with an EUR 2,500 prize for first place, and Hearthstone's total pot for the "Win the Winter" event (which features no direct invitations as an open tourney) is EUR 8,250.

DreamHack Leipzig is happening this weekend, here's what's up screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dreamhack-leipzig-is-happening-this-weekend-here-s-what-s-up-484391.phtml

News:: Cuphead panel with founders confirmed for EGLX, schedule

Cuphead was one of 2017's best offerings, and we still can't get enough stories of how it was painstakingly made, what was left out, and what might come next. Members of the development team have agreed to have us smell them in the flesh, so we're hosting a one-hour interactive panel during the Enthusiast Gaming Expo on March 10th at 4pm. You're invited to join us for a full hour of story time, Q&A, and SECRETS SHHHHHH.

Afterwards, there's also a Destructoid panel that weekend with Chris, Brett, Jordan, and Lyle McDouchebag's debut appearance from our YouTube shenanigans. I'll also be there complaining about how cold Toronto is every five minutes. We're not sure what our panel is exactly about, but it's probably something about video games. Also, I might throw a cheeseburger at you so don't wear anything that isn't ketchup resistant.

After the expo ends, the festival of value continues: Destructoid will be hosting an epic Battle of the Bands on Saturday Night with four live acts followed by a batshit dance party where the first few people will get a complimentary limited-edition Mr. Destructoid cardboard mask. Admission is free for all EGLX ticket holders or your first born child at the door. Two more parties are also scheduled for the weekend, we'll keep you busy and sleepless if you come out.

To learn more about the expo and get tickets visit EGLX.ca.  

Cuphead panel with founders confirmed for EGLX, schedule screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/cuphead-panel-with-founders-confirmed-for-eglx-schedule-484215.phtml

News:: Location tests reveal footage of House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn

I was pretty damn good at House of the Dead. I remember my initials being the only ones on the high score table at my local arcade, and my tacky rapid-firing technique. (See Benecio Del Toro in the Sicario 2 trailer, he does it halfway through.)

So the prospect of a new House of the Dead title should excite me, as it should most people who miss the halcyon days of arcade shooters. Now we have some footage to pour over, as Throwback Tokyo have uploaded video of House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn, taken from one of the game's location tests.

It certainly seems to be everything you'd expect from the series. Lots of camera-swinging, innocents wandering blindly into the crossfire, well-dressed (and well-armed) legions of the undead and, most importantly, dreadfully-acted cheesy dialogue.

Perhaps too much, in fact. I can imagine that the corny dialogue was a specific design choice, but I actually found that it really grated on me as the video progressed. You can have too much of a bad thing, perhaps? We also get to see some of the game's multiple pathways and a variety of weapons that can be used against the onslaught of putrifying terrors, who have now learned to form avalanches, like all zombies post-World War Z.

The footage is cool, but it doesn't rock my world. Don't get me wrong, the game looks great and a lot of fun with a buddy, but maybe since HotD's initial release I'm all zombied out. I did mark out at the reveal that we'll revisit the Curien mansion, a fictional building I somehow know inside and out.

It's great that new arcade games are still finding a home out in the wild, amongst all the crane grabbers and 2p machines that proliferate modern arcade centers. I'll definitely give the new HotD a go should it ever materialise on the shores of Skegness, where I shot my first digital zombie, some two decades ago.

House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn is coming to Japanese arcades this year.

Location tests reveal footage of House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/location-tests-reveal-footage-of-house-of-the-dead-scarlet-dawn-484370.phtml