Tuesday, January 30, 2018

News:: Minecraft on Switch and Wii U gets some Microsoft skin packs

Minecraft still has not received the "Better Together" update on Nintendo platforms, but we're getting a step closer to that reality. Launched just today, people with a Switch or Wii U can dress up as Master Chief from Halo, some of the characters from Gears of War, some characters from Banjo-Kazooie skins and even characters from the Disney film Moana. Yeah, I don't get that last one.

I reported a few months back how Master Chief would finally be gracing a Nintendo platform, but I'm still in awe that this has actually happened. If only other companies were as happy to let people experience what they want, where they want it, but we'll just have to make due with a blocky, chunky Chief on Switch for now.

Moana and Xbox Characters Come to Minecraft! [Minecraft.net]

Minecraft on Switch and Wii U gets some Microsoft skin packs screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/minecraft-on-switch-and-wii-u-gets-some-microsoft-skin-packs-485421.phtml

News:: Humble is selling Rockstar Games on the cheap to save the rainforest

Want a way to pick up a bulk of Rockstar Games' back catalog and help a good cause? Then head over to Humble where donating $1 or more will get you Grand Theft Auto III, GTA: Vice City and the grisly stealth game Manhunt. Bumping up your pledge to $8.13 adds Bully: Scholarship Edition, GTA IV, GTA: San Andreas, L.A. Noire and Max Payne 3 to your haul.

Via: Rockstar Newswire

Source: Humble



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/30/rockstar-games-humble-bundle/

News:: New Gundam Breaker will include every mobile suit from previous entries, other details emerge

The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has a new interview with the developers of the upcoming New Gundam Breaker. Some of it is obvious information from previous games, and some of it is brand new for this one. That being said, it does help paint a much better picture of what to expect from the final game.

A lot of major details have been cleared up, although some issues remain.

New Gundam Breaker will include every mobile suit from previous entries, other details emerge screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/new-gundam-breaker-will-include-every-mobile-suit-from-previous-entries-other-details-emerge-485368.phtml

News:: EA delays ‘Anthem’ until 2019

During last year's E3, BioWare unveiled its next colossal project: Anthem, a sci-fi shooter that looked to rival Activision's Destiny 2. But a week ago, sources told Kotaku that the game, originally slated to arrive in 2018, would be pushed back a year due after its development fell behind schedule. Electronic Arts denied that reason but confirmed that, yes, Anthem won't come out until early 2019.

Via: The Verge

Source: The Wall Street Journal (Twitter), EA Q3 2018 Prepared Remarks (PDF)



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/30/ea-delays-anthem-until-2019/

News:: Spec Ops: The Line and The Darkness II are playable on Xbox One

Three good but very different Xbox 360 games are newly playable on Xbox One today.

There was no shortage of cover-based shooters during the last console generation, but Spec Ops: The Line cut through the noise with its poignant story. The Darkness II was another chance to tear people apart with demonic tendrils, an opportunity that should always be cherished. And The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, a puzzle game about paradoxes and pie, was just plain fantastic.

There's work to be done, sure, but the Xbox One backward compatibility list continues to impress.

Also, let us never forget that Faith No More's Mike Patton voiced The Darkness.

Major Nelson [Twitter]

Spec Ops: The Line and The Darkness II are playable on Xbox One screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/spec-ops-the-line-and-the-darkness-ii-are-playable-on-xbox-one-485370.phtml

News:: PUBG's Miramar is getting more buildings and better loot

I've yet to come up with a good plan of attack for Miramar in PUBG. If we're talking Erangel, no problem -- I'm familiar enough with the map to know what tends to work, what doesn't, and where to head no matter how unfortunate the flight plan. But Miramar? Nope. The desert is a treacherous, open, nerve-wracking place with tricky terrain. I'm still slowly learning the ropes and how best to approach it.

There's even more for me to take into consideration today. PUBG has a new test update on PC:

Miramar

  • Added more buildings and cover across the map to improve the engagement experience
  • Added more off-road routes for easier vehicle navigation
  • Upgraded the item spawn level of certain areas for loot balancing (some areas will spawn better loot)
Replay
  • The replay system has now been updated to a newer version and past replay files cannot be played anymore
Bug fixes
  • Fixed the issue where heal and boost items could be used underwater
  • Fixed the issue where characters would get stuck in certain areas on Miramar
  • Fixed the issue where wall textures on some Miramar buildings were not displaying correctly
  • Fixed the issue where certain buildings near by Hacienda del Patron were not displaying correctly

Generally speaking, I like how exposed Miramar is and how it encourages an active playstyle. Looking at these changes, the big one for me is better loot. I'll happily take more loot, Brendan. Now and forever.

Besides those improvements, PUBG Corp. is working out a new anti-cheat solution.

"We would like to collect data about potential compatibility issues, analyze it, and solve any issues that may emerge," the development team said. "If you experience a crash, please take a screenshot that shows the error and report it here. If the current test build is consistently crashing for you, we recommend that you play on the live servers instead. Thank you for your understanding."

PUBG's Miramar is getting more buildings and better loot screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pubg-s-miramar-is-getting-more-buildings-and-better-loot-485353.phtml

News:: Expect to see Star Wars Battlefront II microtransactions 'in the next few months'

We've known that paid microtransactions would one day return to Star Wars Battlefront II.

EA said as much back in November, noting that "the ability to purchase crystals in-game will become available at a later date, only after we've made changes to the game." More recently, we learned DICE is "preparing significant changes to progression" and plans to share tangible details in March.

Today, EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said Battlefront II's new monetization scheme will appear "in the next few months," as reported by the Wall Street Journal. "We'll do it when we think it's ready."

Sales of Battlefront II came in lower than expected (and lower than its predecessor), with 9 million units sold during the fiscal quarter (October through December) versus EA's projection of 10 million units.

Not that this will come as any surprise now, but the game's widely-criticized approach to loot boxes and the surrounding controversy were highlighted as a big factor for the sales discrepancy.

I'm curious to hear the particulars of the new progression system but I can't say I'm hopeful.

@saraheneedleman [Twitter]

Expect to see Star Wars Battlefront II microtransactions 'in the next few months' screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/expect-to-see-star-wars-battlefront-ii-microtransactions-in-the-next-few-months--485378.phtml

News:: EA confirms a delay for BioWare's Anthem, allegedly to make room for Battlefield

Last week's report from Kotaku that Anthem will miss its Fall 2018 release window has turned out to be true. EA confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that Anthem has been pushed back to "early 2019."

"It's not a delay," EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said. He's seemingly playing the semantics game, as Kotaku's sources had indicated that the project is behind schedule. But there's no word more fitting for the arrival of something later than originally planned.

Rather, Jorgensen says that it's the launch of a new Battlefield game that has EA wary of releasing Anthem in the fall. That's a fair point -- you don't want one game in your portfolio cannibalizing the sales of another. But this logic would hold more water if EA hadn't just done exactly that with Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1 in October 2016.

Maybe EA is learning from its mistake (albeit, mistakes it should have easily avoided in 2016). Or maybe Anthem is a little behind schedule. Regardless, it's currently set for the first quarter of 2019.

@saraheneedleman [Twitter]

EA confirms a delay for BioWare's Anthem, allegedly to make room for Battlefield screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ea-confirms-a-delay-for-bioware-s-anthem-allegedly-to-make-room-for-battlefield-485373.phtml

News:: Jessica Valiant is out for revenge in new Wolfenstein II DLC

Today sees the release of the next DLC adventure for Bethesda's violent shooter Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The second DLC chapter sees ruthless assassin Jessica Valiant out dealing death to the Nazi propaganda machine.

Valiant, codename "Agent Silent Death," is charged with eliminating several head honchos of The New Order, currently located at film studio Paragon Pictures. This mission is of personal interest to Valiant, as the dead-men-walking are also responsible for Jessica's own personal heartbreak, and now sweet vengeance glistens on her ruby lips.

The Diaries of Agent Silent Death is available today as part two of the Freedom Chronicles Season Pass. Episode Zero and The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe have already been released. The final part, The Amazing Deeds of Captain Wilkins, is scheduled for March.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch port will be released sometime in 2018.

Jessica Valiant is out for revenge in new Wolfenstein II DLC screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/jessica-valiant-is-out-for-revenge-in-new-wolfenstein-ii-dlc-485324.phtml

News:: Hasbro's viral video-inspired headgear scores your mood for lulz

Teen YouTube is a strange place to the over-30 set, populated with pranks, game streams and possibly most inscrutable of all, challenge videos. YouTube challenges basically ask people to film themselves doing some hard or ridiculous thing, like flipping a water bottle onto a table or eating spoonfuls of ground cinnamon. Some have even garnered some mainstream fame -- The Tide Pod challenge has been making headlines lately, if only because it's so dangerous. One particular group of challenges that's been growing in popularity are the ones where people "try not to" do things like laugh, cry or get annoyed. However, that last one may get a little more attention if Hasbro's viral video-inspired Don't Lose Your Cool game takes off.



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/30/hasbro-viral-video-heart-rate-game/

News:: BJ Blazkowicz is Doomguy's great-grandpa

Although no one was actively wondering it, the id Software co-founders recently confirmed what we all suspected: Commander Keen fucks. That little dude with a yellow helmet is the dad of one of the most badass video game heroes of all-time.

Tom Hall and John Romero, both co-founders of id, took to Twitter to address the lineage of the developer's most famous protagonists (as reported on by Ars Technica). The official canon is that Wolfenstein's BJ Blazkowicz is Commander Keen's grandfather, and that Commander Keen is Doomguy's father. That means that BJ is Doomguy's great-grandpa. As for the generation that's unaccounted for, Hall jokingly says that Keen's dad was a newscaster named Blaze. 

So all of the heroes from id's first three series are biologically linked. And what a universe they exist in -- with its Nazis, aliens, and portals to hell. They might not have many traits in common, but they all share DNA and an itchy trigger finger.

@ThatTomHall [Twitter via Ars Technica]

BJ Blazkowicz is Doomguy's great-grandpa screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/bj-blazkowicz-is-doomguy-s-great-grandpa-485365.phtml

News:: Join the Flixist staff and revel in the mysterious world of ninjas

Hello, Internet.

We're looking for some writers for Flixist. If you're the type of person who can string some words together in a coherent sentence, and also enjoys watching movies then we may want you! If you live in LA that would be even better as we've got a host of opportunities for screening movies out there, and no one on staff who lives in la la land.

To apply for a position we'll want to see what you can do. To get the ball rolling simply send an email to matthew@flixist.com with your basic info and why you want to write for the site. You need to be 18 to apply. That's in terms of actual age. Most of us on staff never grew up mentally beyond the age of five.

For all those considering applying, please realize that this is a time commitment and while it pays, it is minimal. It is, however, awesomely fun, and you'll learn the secret handshake that everyone who writes for Niero knows. So that's nice.

Join the Flixist staff and revel in the mysterious world of ninjas screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/join-the-flixist-staff-and-revel-in-the-mysterious-world-of-ninjas-485275.phtml

News:: Review: Call of Duty: WWII: The Resistance

Call of Duty is back to World War II. After blasting off into another galaxy so far away from the original ideals of the series, it made sense. After all we were getting to the point where all three Call of Duty developers (which is still wild to think about) were tangoing with far-future concepts. It was a bit much.

Call of Duty: WWII is good, but safe. That principle applies directly to its first DLC.

Review: Call of Duty: WWII: The Resistance screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-call-of-duty-wwii-the-resistance-483882.phtml

News:: Monster Hunter: World's matchmaking on Xbox seems to be working now

Monster Hunter: World is a lot of people's first Monster Hunter game. Most who aren't familiar with the series are going to be overwhelmed by everything there is to learn. It seems like nothing's as intuitive as you'd think it'd be in Monster Hunter.

That holds true for the matchmaking, as joining your friends in cooperative hunts isn't as simple as just sending an invite. Xbox players have had a more frustrating experience since the game's launch, though. Unbeknownst to most people, aspects of matchmaking have been non-functional.

Late Sunday night, the Monster Hunter Twitter account confirmed that the SOS flairs, squad session search, filter search, and matchmake features haven't been working on Xbox. However, other online features, like joining a party member's quest (assuming they're through all appropriate cutscenes and whatnot) have worked. So it left people thinking that they didn't understand some component rather than assuming it was broken.

As of last night, it should all work. Capcom rolled out a fix that brought all of these systems online. I just tested this out by responding to an SOS flair, and I was immediately added to a Barroth hunt with two people who were not good at hunting Barroths. So it seems like Monster Hunter: World's matchmaking problems on Xbox are fully resolved. That means now it's on you if you can't figure out how to get into a game.

Monster Hunter Matchmaking Working Now [reddit]

Monster Hunter: World's matchmaking on Xbox seems to be working now screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/monster-hunter-world-s-matchmaking-on-xbox-seems-to-be-working-now-485344.phtml

News:: VR runner 'Sprint Vector' launches on February 13th

Ever wanted to run in virtual reality without smacking into a real wall? You'll have a chance shortly. Survios has revealed that its VR foot racing game Sprint Vector launches February 13th for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR. The sci-fi runner stands out with a unique control scheme where you pump your arms to run, and your head to turn. In theory, you can get a feel for what it's like to race at breakneck speed without having to actually, well, sprint.

Source: TriplePoint



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/01/30/sprint-vector-launches-february-13/

News:: Kiryu's clan is best in this new Yakuza 6 video

One of the new mini-games in Yakuza 6 is something called "Clan Creator." If it wasn't evident from the title, you take street punks and make a clan out of them. It looks kind of fun and is pretty reminiscent of a similar feature from Yakuza 4. It also makes Kiryu look like even more of a bad ass, since he can take literal trash and turn it into an ace fighter.

I do like that the Yakuza series is always willing to try new things and this mode looks pretty awesome. Mixing the over-the-top animations with an RTS style system could be an immense amount of fun, but we'll just have to wait and see. If nothing else, the trailer gets me more hyped for March.

Kiryu's clan is best in this new Yakuza 6 video screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/kiryu-s-clan-is-best-in-this-new-yakuza-6-video-485323.phtml

News:: Have a rad time this weekend with Fallout 4's free PC trial

Bethesda's Fallout 4 is in for the long-haul. The open-world RPG, which launched way back in 2015 (can you believe it?) has maintained a growth of new fans, with steady, consistent sales and several returns to the Top Ten of the UK charts, nearly three years after its release.

If you're a PC owner, who never got the chance to check it out, this week sees a free trial for the popular adventure title . You can play Fallout 4 from February 1 through February 4 and, if you get a kick out of its desolation, then you can purchase the full game with a hefty 33% price discount. That'll save you some bottlecaps.

If that's not enough, Bethesda are also slashing the price of the game's Season Pass, and its individual expansion packs, by up to half their original cost. So, if you've ever fancied taking a stroll through the Commonwealth and seeing if its the kind of place you'd like to settle down. Be sure to jump on the opportunity this weekend.

Have a rad time this weekend with Fallout 4's free PC trial screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/have-a-rad-time-this-weekend-with-fallout-4-s-free-pc-trial-485274.phtml

News:: Blizzard rolls out nerfs for Mercy and Junkrat in Overwatch

Blizzard has been trying to tone down Mercy's toolkit for a while now, and there are more changes to contend with as of today's Overwatch update. The nerfs-in-testing have surfaced in the live game.

Fresh off the PTR, her ultimate ability Valkyrie no longer makes Resurrect instant and it also doesn't grant another charge of Resurrect. What's more, the speed boost to Guardian Angel has been decreased by 50 percent and Valkyrie now runs for 15 seconds instead of 20 seconds like before.

"Mercy's recent Resurrect changes have helped in allowing enemies to have more counter play in dealing with her, but she was able to use Resurrect through Valkyrie enough to largely mitigate the impact of the previous changes. Additionally, we're toning back the amount of mobility Valkyrie provides through Guardian Angel and reducing its duration to overall reduce the power of this ability."

Also in this update: a nerf for Junkrat! Just one, though.

Concussion Mine won't deal as much damage to targets that are farther away from the explosion's center, so "he can still dish out similar damage but he must now be more accurate with his tosses."

Mercy was my main during the early days of Overwatch, before Blizzard blessed her with Valkyrie, so I haven't really had to deal with the character's recent ups and downs. (Aside from competing against her, I mean. She tends to show up in a lot of matches!) That said, even if I prefer playing as Lúcio and Zen these days, it'll be nice to have Mercy in a stable place again. One day. Maybe.

"We will likely be iterating on these changes in the coming weeks," Blizzard says.

[ALL] Overwatch Patch Notes – January 30, 2018 [Blizzard]

Blizzard rolls out nerfs for Mercy and Junkrat in Overwatch screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/blizzard-rolls-out-nerfs-for-mercy-and-junkrat-in-overwatch-485339.phtml

News:: We chatted with the World of Warcraft team about the massive level scaling rollout and what it means for the game's future

Odds are if you started World of Warcraft in the last few years, you may not have even seen several of the zones -- or entire expansions for that matter. Old content has long been a burden or a boon for MMOs, and when you're knee deep in six expansions, the prospect of starting one up can seem insurmountable.

Patch 7.3.5, which dropped earlier this month, changes that with a complete world overhaul, introducing level scaling into the mix. I talked to Paul Kubit (senior designer) and Shani Edwards (producer) about how the community has been taking to this shakeup.

We chatted with the World of Warcraft team about the massive level scaling rollout and what it means for the game's future screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/we-chatted-with-the-world-of-warcraft-team-about-the-massive-level-scaling-rollout-and-what-it-means-for-the-game-s-future-485180.phtml

News:: First Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer has a giant Pez dispenser

Ant-Man is easily Marvel's most underrated film. Not the Edgar Wright classic we were sure to get (still bitter), but people don't give it the props it deserved. The movie was a little heist film in the middle of a giant Marvel universe, and it just turned out fun, while also being a nice break from the bigger cinematic universe. Of course now Ant-Man is kind of an Avenger, and that means things are opening up a bit.

The first trailer for Ant-Man and the Wasp is the first film since Civil War to focus on one of the Avengers who was arrested for siding with Captain America, and that means that AMatW will be a lot more heavily connected to the Marvel universe as a whole. This isn't entirely a bad thing. It still appears the story will be pretty self-contained with not even a whiff of a cameo from another hero to bolster it up. The last few Marvel films have been more crossovers than solo projects, but this one already has two heroes so why add more. Plus, entirely ditching that self-contained feeling of the original wouldn't be so great as I think Ant-Man and Wasp work really well in their own world. 

You may also be scratching your head about when this is taking place. Infinity War comes out before this, and traditionally with Marvel films that means that Ant-Man and the Wasp would take place after that. However, there's clearly no Thanos or the side effects of him invading earth in this film. That's because it takes place right after Civil War ends. That means this is both a prequel and a sequel at the same time. 

Aside from that it looks like they're getting really creative with using the shrinking and growing powers in fights. Hopefully the trailer isn't showing us all the cool stuff that returning director Peyton Reed has cooked up. 

First Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer has a giant Pez dispenser screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/first-ant-man-and-the-wasp-trailer-has-a-giant-pez-dispenser-485293.phtml

News:: Dtoid is hosting Canada's largest gaming event! EGLX returns, March 9-11, 2018

We're excited to announce that Destructoid will be presenting next year's Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo. What does that mean, exactly? It means that it's going to get weird, emotional, and definitely more about the community: We're conducting a community survey on what you'd love to see at a Destructoid convention, as well as opening panel and speaker submissions today. 

Submit your panel idea & community survey

To become a part of our expo, simply fill out this form and let us know what you want to see and do at EGLX. New to our convention? Check out the video below!

Dtoid is hosting Canada's largest gaming event! EGLX returns, March 9-11, 2018 screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dtoid-is-hosting-canada-s-largest-gaming-event-eglx-returns-march-9-11-2018-469022.phtml

News:: A lot of Rockstar's best games are all lumped together in the newest Humble Bundle

Publisher-centric deals are no stranger to Humble's home page. Every Humble Bundle usually has some sort of discernible theme, and a lot of times it's just a collection of games from a company like Ubisoft or Square Enix. Rarely does a publisher have this many beloved titles all for sale in one place though.

Rockstar is the, uhh, rockstar of the latest Humble Bundle. Here are the games you can grab. People who contribute to the "pay what you want" tier (but at least $1) get:

A lot of Rockstar's best games are all lumped together in the newest Humble Bundle screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/a-lot-of-rockstar-s-best-games-are-all-lumped-together-in-the-newest-humble-bundle-485336.phtml

News:: You'll be able to ride a chocobo in Everybody's Golf next month

Upcoming Final Fantasy content might be just the excuse I need to get back into Everybody's Golf after a long break. As part of the series' 30th anniversary, Square Enix is prepping a crossover with the cheery PlayStation 4 golf title. Folks, this is not a drill: you'll get to ride a chocobo around courses.

According to Famitsu, the DLC is planned for February 26 in Japan. Along with the chocobo (which will cost 500 yen), Everybody's Golf will also land a Final Fantasy-themed golf cart and an anniversary cup. The latter will offer participants some cactuar-themed clothing and a moogle costume.

No word on a western release yet, but if Assassin's Creed Origins of all things can get Final Fantasy content, it's bound to be coming. I look forward to seeing folks zoom around on their chocobo.

[Via Ryokutya2089]

You'll be able to ride a chocobo in Everybody's Golf next month screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/you-ll-be-able-to-ride-a-chocobo-in-everybody-s-golf-next-month-485319.phtml

News:: Review: OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes

As Cartoon Network begins losing the major cartoon shows that brought the network to the forefront of animation over the last decade, they're going to need to turn to shows with a great amount of promise and throw all of their support behind them. 

One such show is OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, a series as perfectly fitted to a video game as one can be. A charming, electrically charged show with an infectious energy I couldn't wait to see play out in a game. But despite its perfectly tailored premise and personality, OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes falls prey to the trappings of every other licensed beat-'em-up. 

Review: OK K.O.! Let's Play Heroes screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-ok-k-o-let-s-play-heroes-484393.phtml

News:: Fire Emblem Heroes announcement coming on live stream tonight

Nintendo have announced on twitter that they will be streaming an announcement tonight concerning popular mobile game Fire Emblem Heroes. Little is known about the content of said announcement, but Nintendo describe the upcoming FeH Channel stream as "super-relaxing."

In fact, it's so chill that expectations are it'll be little more than thirteen minutes in length. The stream goes live this evening at 19:30PST, 22:30ET or a red-eyed 03:30GMT. The announcement can be watched on the official YouTube page, which is also embedded below.

Fire Emblem Heroes announcement tonight [Twitter]

Fire Emblem Heroes announcement coming on live stream tonight screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/fire-emblem-heroes-announcement-coming-on-live-stream-tonight-485268.phtml

News:: BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle will feature a simplified control system option

At the recent EVO Japan event, Arc System Works had a playable build of their upcoming fight-fest BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, with reports coming in that the game features a simplified control scheme option, tweaked from its namesake title.

As reported by Siliconera, the team-based fighter is being designed with a wider audience in mind, due to the inclusion of brands such as RWBY. As such, the game will feature "Smart Combos" for ground and air, which can be performed by mashing a single button. This mode will also remove certain D-pad commands, with Dragon Punch maneuvers being performed by simply hitting Square and Cross together. Ground Dashes will be performed by holding forward, though air dashes will still require a double-tap.

This isn't the first time super combos and similarly cool looking attacks have been stripped down, both King of Fighters XIV and the recently-released Dragon Ball FighterZ include these features, designed around allowing new players to do cool shit with a minimum of fuss. In fact, BlazBlue itself has a "Stylish" mode, which reconfigures the controls, mapping special attacks onto an "SP" button.

Whenever "Easy Mode" mechanics show up in fighting titles there is always some grumbling, both from hardcore fighting game fans who work hard at their execution and see skillfully-performed combos as their reward, while some beginners complain that such a mentality is "elitist"-- a baffling accusation which suggests the time a player pours into a game shouldn't reflect how good their abilities might become.

I don't really see the problem in having a simplified option. In my experience, the better player wins out regardless of whether they are using standard inputs or not. The controls might be different for both players, but the fight is generally won in the head, and not always in the hands. An experienced player with standard inputs is at no real disadvantage to a newer player with simplified inputs.

On the other hand, the inclusion of an easier option opens a game up to fans who may not be quite so dedicated to the genre. It also gives beginners a chance to develop an instinct for the flow of a fight, which may lead to them progressing from just mashing an auto-combo ad-infinitum to developing techniques of their own. Simplified controls open a door for new players, whilst not really allowing them an unfair advantage over experienced ones.

Whichever side of the debate you take, it looks like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is one of at least three fighters launching this year with easier control mechanics, alongside Dragon Ball FighterZ and SNK Heroines: Tag-Team Frenzy. It seems that in developer efforts to revitalise the fighting game genre on a larger scale, mashing Square is as good an idea as they have got.

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle launches June 5 on PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle invites new players with Auto-Combos [Siliconera]

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle will feature a simplified control system option screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/blazblue-cross-tag-battle-will-feature-a-simplified-control-system-option-485263.phtml

News:: What's your weapon of choice in Monster Hunter World?

Looks like we all spent the weekend hunting monsters. I know I sure did. This is my first Monster Hunter game, and I gotta say it's taken a little getting used to. There is a lot to learn, discover, and keep track of, and even with over a dozen hours on the clock I still feel like I'm barely scratching the surface of things. There are so many choices and options available it's a little overwhelming, in a good way.

There was one choice I didn't have any problems with though -- my starting weapon. I knew as soon as I saw it that I was going to pick up the switch axe. 

What's your weapon of choice in Monster Hunter World? screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/what-s-your-weapon-of-choice-in-monster-hunter-world--485235.phtml