Tuesday, February 20, 2018

News:: Sledgehammer's founders have left the studio but are staying with Activision

One of Activision's three major Call of Duty studios is getting a big shake-up. Sledgehammer Games, the developer that helmed both Advanced Warfare and WWII, has lost its figureheads.

As Kotaku reports (and Activision has confirmed), Sledgehammer co-founders Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey have left the studio. The move happened a few weeks ago -- likely over a slow transitional period -- but it's just coming to light today. Activision says both Schofield and Condrey are staying with the parent company, as they're assuming executive positions within the publisher.

Aaron Halon has been tasked as the man who's taking over the leading position at Sledgehammer. Halon was another of the studio's founding members, so he has been with the company for a long time. Also, Sledgehammer is at the back of the Treyarch / Infinity Ward / Sledgehammer cycle of Call of Duty games right now, so everyone should have enough time to get acclimated to the change in leadership.

Call of Duty: WWII Directors Leave Sledgehammer, The Studio They Founded [Kotaku]

Sledgehammer's founders have left the studio but are staying with Activision screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/sledgehammer-s-founders-have-left-the-studio-but-are-staying-with-activision-490815.phtml

News:: Defender's Quest is just as easy to love on consoles

It might look unassuming at first glance, but Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten is not so secretly one of the best tower defense titles in recent years. It's way up there. The game tells a fairly compelling story, it's mechanically solid, and even better, it respects your time with a multitude of ways to fine-tune the experience to your liking. It's one of those games that works overtime to win you over.

I've been a fan since 2012. Remarkably, the tower defense RPG is still being supported to this day (and I'm still dying for the eventual sequel). Back in 2016, Defender's Quest got a makeover on Steam with a free Deluxe Edition update that overhauled the art and introduced extra story sequences.

This week, Defender's Quest DX has made it over to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (with a PlayStation Vita version coming a little later this year). I've been absorbed with the latter this past week.

Defender's Quest is just as easy to love on consoles screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/defender-s-quest-is-just-as-easy-to-love-on-consoles-490808.phtml

News:: Vanquish is the latest cult classic to hit Xbox backward compatibility

Xbox has been on a roll lately with how frequently the backward compatibility program gets additions that make you think "oh hell yeah I'd play that again!" Last week, it was Prey. Now, it's a PlatinumGames cult classic.

Starting today, Vanquish is available to play on Xbox One through backward compatibility. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Brave were also added to ever-growing list of last-gen games that can be played on Xbox One.

Originally launched in 2010, Vanquish has found a niche following for its cover-is-good-but-movement-is-better action shooter sensibilities. It was, uh, polarizing at release.

Since then, the legend of Vanquish has only grown stronger. Sega put out a PC version last spring with uncapped framerates and resolutions. But, for anyone who wants to see Vanquish in its original state, well, that can be accomplished on Xbox One now.

@majornelson [Twitter]

Vanquish is the latest cult classic to hit Xbox backward compatibility screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/vanquish-is-the-latest-cult-classic-to-hit-xbox-backward-compatibility-490799.phtml

News:: Black Panther is black fantasy sci-fi

There’s something to be said about the excitement surrounding Black Panther. That it's profoundly impacted so many people, particularly black people, to see the world of Marvel’s Black Panther comic books adapted for the big screen is considered an affront to some individuals whose existence, both in fiction and reality, is routinely reaffirmed and so they feel entitled to what they take for granted.

I can't put a number on the umpteenth occasions fans of Star WarsStar TrekHarry PotterLord of the Rings, other Marvel and DC films, and various video games and anime series have congregated before a convention or cineplex cosplaying as their favorite characters, brandishing weapons, tools, jewelry, and other paraphernalia that is true to some fictional work or another but indisputably inspired by historical illustrations of European attire and technology (yes, even most anime). When young white males and young white females self-identify with the fictional lives of Peter Parker and Bella Swan or insist upon a work of fiction having helped them through suicidal thoughts and difficult times, no one bats a lash.

Flash GordonJohn Carter of MarsKing Kong, and other fantasy films and franchises inspired by the likes of Robinson Crusoe positively reinforce the reality of European colonialism and racial fetishism, placing indigenous people on the receiving end of their “superior” causes… Let’s not even bother counting the many films and television series based on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology, all of them conceived through the creative lenses of those of European if not Anglican descent, or discuss those opportunities to feature characters of color in films based on Egyptian mythology or Biblical epics that are whitewashed through casting and stripped of any culture from the regions from which these stories are inspired.

Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman as its titular super herodoesn’t fix the absence of indigenous and ethnic voices in mainstream sci-fi and fantasy but it’s a good start.

What Black Panther does well is cast a group of unlikely but familiar faces in a plot of political intrigue so arresting and current I half-expected Robert Redford to rise from his MCU grave to assume a role outside of Captain America: The Winter Soldier's Alexander Pierce. The film establishes parallels early on and uses symmetry to propel its plot in such a way that Boseman's T'Challa and Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger feel like two characters walking on the same path from two points on different ends of the same spectrum (yeah, you read that sentence). The politically-charged themes that resurface throughout the film feel purposeful and on-the-nose in a way that helps draw attention to the irony of what Black Panther fixes by its very existence. It fixes what we've seen before, in regard to high-concept science fiction and fantasy and who's exactly telling that story, making a feature-length film out of what's conceptually an exceptional episode of Star Trek.

Black Panther fixes the expectation of execution if not the double-standard used to dismiss its significance, which is why when people strawman argue, “There’s been black super heroes before so you enjoying and making too much of this hurts my brain,” while their comic book movies of nothing but films featuring white super heroes as the main protagonist, in a variety of thematic ways, within fictional worlds that reflect their image as diverse and realistic quietly collects dust on shelves somewhere, it doesn’t faze me in the least bit. When people say they are excited to see Black Pantherfor its portrayal of a black super hero protagonist we all know what they really mean and to argue semantics is simply an attempt to invalidate the excitement of black fans and general audiences. At long last, the roles are reversed. The indigenous often explored and exploited are now the focus, their existence made fully realized and nuanced through character and theme, and their tale is not one of benefit or suffering at the hands of a dominant colonizing culture.

Black Panther flips the script on what it means to be “other”.

The most popular science-fiction and fantasy deals with the unknown. The idea of extraterrestrial invasion, monstrous specimens, zombie epidemics, or orcs representing a threat to be dealt with resonates with whatever political or social fear dominated the conversation at any given point in human history. The film adaptation of H.G. Well’s novel War of the WorldsInvaders from Mars, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers echoed the paranoid Communist hysteria provoked and encouraged by the United States government in the 1950s. King Kong, in every iteration, is an imperialist fever dream of the east, sometimes Africa and sometimes Asia, where beauty is a European standard that is threatened by the untamed virility of “other”.

We persist into the 21st century with the reality of nationalist propaganda revisiting similar themes of dehumanization and scapegoating still looming over us, tragic events like 9/11 and perpetual war in the Middle East having paved the way for shows like 24 and Homeland and any quasi-political film thereafter to associate “bad guy” with a turban, one religion, and a brown skin tone. The American westerns of old, often depicting those indigenous to the American continents as savage (a term repeatedly used by Andy Serkis' Ulysses Klaue in reference to Wakandians), uncivilized, and in need of colonial containment, are less popular now but whenever any film revisits the plight of Native Americans it’s just that, a plight, a story about an insulated people in need of a white savior à la Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves, John Smith in Disney’s Pocahontas, and James Cameron’s Avatar.

In Black Panther, the fictional nation of Wakanda is not a devastated land at the mercy of colonial invaders. Wakandians are not an “other” who are disadvantaged, displaced, exploited, or dominated by an imperialist culture. The story of the character Black Panther, King T’Challa and his royal court, is not that of a “struggle film” dealing in drug epidemics, poverty, black American crime or a Western history of slavery, oppression and segregation. It is none of these things but acknowledges the existence of these things and that’s why it matters so damn much to so damn many.

Black Panther is a story told through the eyes of those who have been historically depicted as “other”. The film celebrates the customs and cultures found throughout the African continent, the spirituality, clothes, sounds, music, movements, speech, and designs that continue to influence the African diaspora in reverence of that influence rather than in jest.

My mind can’t help but compare it to Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America. Though most black Americans I know elevate the film for its depiction of a fictional African nation that is ruled by black African royalty, its adherence to black American comedy beats and American ideology neutralizes the impact of seeing that world fully realized for a mainstream audience. Luke Cage, though a show about a black super hero who operates out of the historically black neighborhood of Harlem, exists within a world imagined as real America, impacted by a history of chattel slavery, segregation and integration, oppressive housing tactics, “white flight”, CIA-enforced drug peddling, and police brutality.

Black Panther doesn’t shy away from the conversation of blackness and what that looks like in the dominant culture, specifically the United States, but the world of Wakanda does not adhere to the expectations of the outside world regarding black people nor is it affected by the widespread devastation of European colonialism. Wakanda is state nationalism at its finest, what most alt-right Americans long for in the United States, and whether that sits well with you as an audience member will greatly depend on what you, the audience member, think black excellence and the black experience ought to look like to the rest of the world.

A fictional and futuristic depiction of the black experience and black excellence, to me, looks like Black Panther. It looks like a world that, though grounded in reality, assumes science-fiction and fantasy tropes in the same sober and earnest fashion as Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings respectively. It explores the "what if" of African national sovereignty and explores that possibly within a practically Shakespearean tale of kingship, betrayal, and family without implication of intellectual or cultural superiority over the existence of other black media. It indirectly encourages black people and black creatives like myself to really consider how we see ourselves, how our perception of ourselves shapes our media, and how that media is viewed by a larger, non-black audience. What does it mean to see Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Letitia Wright, three beautiful dark skin black women, in positions of strength as well as vulnerability, protected and elevated by the equally dark-skinned black men in the cast? Why is that not only important to see in mainstream media but in the fictional black community of Wakanda?

Black Panther has arrived and conversation, much like before its release, continues to dissect and analyze every aspect of its existence. When it’s good, it looks like explorations into the origins of its score and the African tribal styles that influenced the wardrobe, discussions on how the world of Black Panther benefits the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, conversations on the African perspective of the film, and “What Black Panther Means to Me”. When it’s bad, it looks like political pandering on either side of the spectrum, a misconstruction of its comic book origins (and the Black Panther Party of the same name) in an attempt to claim inherent racism, and people like Ben Shapiro.

I look forward to a future where Afrofuturism is more than music videos and underrated black artists whose innate style and presentation reflects a rich and stolen history of technological advancement and civilization, the black imagery that’s historically neglected by major film studios for fear of upsetting the dominant narrative of what “other” looks like and a refusal to accept anything that isn’t upheld by a status quo of exclusionary practices.

Black Panther has surpassed $235 million in its four-day opening, making it the fifth-biggest film to make over $200 million in its weekend debut. I can't help but hope this bodes well for the future of such endeavors that provide the kind of studio backing and budgeting to creative voices not usually afforded a tent-pole film. It'll be interesting to see how audiences flock to other films of this ilk and whether the effort to bring fully realized black culture to the big screen will receive similar fanfare. Because Black Panther is still a comic book movie, subject to the idiosyncrasies of big blockbuster franchises and the popularity they incur, but one that traffics in black storytelling in a way never before seen or done on this caliber, in or outside of its genre, and that’s deserving of celebration.

Black Panther is in theaters now.

Black Panther is black fantasy sci-fi screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/black-panther-is-black-fantasy-sci-fi-490817.phtml

News:: Comments of the Week 38: But the comment is a saddening bore

Hello my little Palicoes. It is I, FakePlasticTree, once again here to bring you our weekly feature. Is it just me or has gaming news been rather slow lately? It's hard to forget the first months of 2017, but a lot of those big releases back then were generally games that were delayed into said period. 2018 doesn't have that luxury; so far it feels like that we are on a recess. But that's fine, there are a lot of games from 2017 people still need to finish, and Monster Hunter: World offers enough poor defenseless animals to slaughter. And I still miss my PS3.

Let's have a look at what you've all been up to the past week!

Comments of the Week 38: But the comment is a saddening bore screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/comments-of-the-week-38-but-the-comment-is-a-saddening-bore-487444.phtml

News:: A tribute to the woefully underrepresented robot wizards of MMOs

MMOs are a wonderful medium for expression, especially as you create your own character. Customizing an avatar that represents yourself as a unique individual in a world of hundreds, thousands, millions of others invites us to explore countless possibilities.

Sometimes we attempt to recreate our real appearances, other times we identify as an ideal fantasy of ourselves, and still others we create entirely new characters whose guises we don instead. To that end, we always appreciate more character customization options, be it skin color, clothes, class, or even species. But one possibility has gone horrifically underutilized in practically every MMO.

Robots that use magic. As in, not just characters that pilot magitech mechs like in Final Fantasy VI or Super Robot Wars X, I mean, the character is the robot. And I don’t just mean one that’s equipped with a mana-powered flamethrower either. I really mean a sentient robot who casts magic spells the same way a human would. Because why not?

A tribute to the woefully underrepresented robot wizards of MMOs screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/a-tribute-to-the-woefully-underrepresented-robot-wizards-of-mmos-490794.phtml

News:: Review: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

I've played a great deal of role-playing games in my time, whether they be Japanese or Western, from your various Final Fantasy titles to the vast and open world Elder Scrolls games, and all things in-between. As great as these games are, what makes Kingdom Come: Deliverance stand out to me -- and what keeps me playing late into the night -- is simply how deep its systems are and the extreme attention to detail in almost everything it has you do.

Everything from keeping up your appearance to honing your skills plays a certain role in Deliverance. Want to be the town drunk? Start drinking and you'll unlock various skills such as stat boosts when you're wasted. Want to learn alchemy so you can brew your own booze? Don't expect a menu-based system for crafting; instead, you'll be picking specific plants (and learning herbalism as you do so), going to an alchemy table, grinding herbs in a pedestal, and boiling them in a pot. All while hoping you haven't goofed up the recipe you read about...

...If you even can read to begin with, that is.

Review: Kingdom Come: Deliverance screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-kingdom-come-deliverance-490605.phtml

News:: Codemasters' Onrush looks good as hell and it's coming this summer

I spend too much time thinking about May 2010 and how both Split/Second and Blur released within a week of each other. Remember how crazy that was? These two over-the-top action racers -- not an over-saturated market -- squaring off just seven days apart. And they were both good! Wild stuff.

We may never see that again, but 2018 might have a less intense version of that rivalry. With the news that the Burnout Paradise remaster is coming on March 16, we also get the announcement of a June 5 release for Codemaster's Onrush. It looks to be an arcade racer that's in the exact same spirit as all of those other names. There's even a "Rush" meter for pulling off stunts and destroying opponents.

Alongside the release date is this trailer, the first extended look at how Onrush plays (sort of -- it's still a sizzle reel with quick cuts). For a more proper preview, there's going to be a beta in May for people who pre-ordered on either PS4 or Xbox One. There's not much to go on yer, but this one seems like it could be good. Wishful thinking, anyway. The world could use more arcade racers.

Codemasters' Onrush looks good as hell and it's coming this summer screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/codemasters-onrush-looks-good-as-hell-and-it-s-coming-this-summer-490781.phtml

News:: Battlefield 1's Apocalypse expansion closes out the Premium Pass today

The two-week head start on Apocalypse begins today for Battlefield 1 Premium Pass holders.

This final expansion includes new maps (Passchendaele, Caporetto, and River Somme), the Air Assault game mode (along with the maps Razor's Edge and London Calling), weapons like the meat cleaver and RSC SMG, gadgets like the AA Rocket Gun, and aircraft like the Hansa Brandenburg GI.

After spending time away from Battlefield 1, I sometimes forget how absurdly good the game looks. Wow. The second half of this trailer makes me regret never picking up the Premium Pass. Speaking of, it's on sale right now. Depending on your platform of choice, the pass is currently up to 75 percent off and the all-expansions-included Battlefield 1 Revolution is up to 67 percent off.

20 bucks for all of Battlefield 1 is a deal worth considering.

Battlefield 1's Apocalypse expansion closes out the Premium Pass today screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/battlefield-1-s-apocalypse-expansion-closes-out-the-premium-pass-today-490788.phtml

News:: Microsoft Mixer lets viewers buy games straight from livestreams

A few weeks ago, Microsoft outlined new plans for its Mixer streaming service, including Direct Purchases. The feature would enable viewers to buy whatever game (or DLC) they're watching direct from the company's store, which would then give streamers a cut of the revenue. Today, that goes live, making it easier for players to get content -- and ensure they're buying straight from Microsoft.

Source: Microsoft



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/microsoft-mixer-lets-viewers-buy-games-straight-from-livestreams/

News:: Duck Game is still coming to Nintendo Switch

The slapstick humor of Duck Game always puts a smile on my face and I'm absolutely down to play it again on Nintendo Switch. While the Switch port was ever-so-briefly announced in an indie showcase video a year ago (just the logo was shown), we haven't heard much else since.

It's still happening, though! Creator Landon Podbielski shared a status update noting that he's been working with the team at Monogame in recent months and while "release dates and features and whatnot have yet to be decided," the Switch version of Duck Game "runs really well." That's fantastic.

Podbielski is also looking to improve the existing PS4 and PC versions as well. For the former, he intends to resolve the online connectivity issues; for the latter, he's looking at "bug fixes related to the leveling/furniture systems, improvements to online synchronization, and some other fun stuff."

Oh, and he's collaborating with pals on a new game that's not quite ready to show. Here's a tease.

Duck Game Lives (Me too!!) [Duck Game Unleashed]

Duck Game is still coming to Nintendo Switch screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/duck-game-is-still-coming-to-nintendo-switch-490777.phtml

News:: PS4 players can now go through SOMA in Safe Mode

Last year, Frictional Games thoughtfully added a Safe Mode to its underwater sci-fi horror game SOMA on PC and Xbox One. The idea was to let players take in the story (which is the highlight of the whole experience, by far) without worrying about dying at the hands of pesky monsters.

"You don't need stealth in order to complete the game," the team said at the time. "Monsters might sound and act more threatening if they spot you, so there is still an incentive to being careful, but it's no longer mandatory to keep hidden." Achievements even work with Safe Mod enabled.

If you liked the sound of this stuff but you own SOMA on PlayStation 4, you're in luck.

Now we can all feel (relatively) safe together.

Frictional Games [Twitter]

PS4 players can now go through SOMA in Safe Mode screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ps4-players-can-now-go-through-soma-in-safe-mode-490769.phtml

News:: PUBG's next map will arrive in the first half of 2018

There's been some concern about where exactly PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is headed this year. The game is obviously still selling, and people are still playing it en masse, but where's the roadmap?

Writing on Steam, the development team said that it mostly comes down to anti-cheat efforts needing to take priority over "some of the major features and systems" that are planned for PUBG.

"We would like to ask for our players' generous understanding that despite the team's eagerness to share what we have been planning and working on, the timing had to be changed. We do have a lot of exciting things that we want to share with you, including new content to provide more extensive battle royale experiences as well as improvements and modifications to create a deeper and more realistic gameplay."

We'll learn more next month when "the team will reveal what you can expect from us in the first half of 2018 in terms of our development and new content plans which, by the way, include a new map."

The team is also plugging away at a system to "divide the matching pool depending on ping." (This is a different approach than the previously-proposed plan to impose a "maximum ping limit.") Under the new system, folks with lower pings will be prioritized in matchmaking.

"The team is expecting to improve the overall play experience by splitting the matching pool rather than restricting connection depending on ping. Preparations are underway to test this method in some regions, with first trials planned to start this week. Specific dates will be shared when ready."

More immediately, a new update is being tested on PC right now:

World

  • Replaced some fences in Miramar to unbreakable fences or walls in order to optimize the client.

Gameplay

  • When the player is riding in the airplane, they will no longer be able to see the inside of the airplane. This is to improve the early game client and server performance
    • Other players will be visible once they jump out of the airplane
    • When riding the airplane, you can check the number of remaining passengers via the new UI element at the bottom left of the screen

Replays

  • When reporting someone through the replay system, we now receive a 1 minute replay file centered on the point of your report
    • It is impossible to report through a replay file which has been created longer than a week ago
    • It is impossible to report the same player multiple times in the same replay file

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed the issue where the player would die from falling when vaulting and climbing
  • Fixed the issue where after reconnecting to the game, the player would get a glitched view when using ADS on their weapon
  • Fixed the issue where the player didn’t receive any damage after entering a vehicle from a prone position and then exiting while the vehicle was moving
  • Fixed the issue where after entering the vehicle (passenger seat) from prone position and using heal/boost items, the player was shown using the items in prone position instead of sitting down

Misc.

  • Made changes to prevent the reduced heal/boost time cheat

No more peeking inside the plane! It's the end of an era.

PC 1.0 Update #6 [Steam]

PUBG's next map will arrive in the first half of 2018 screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pubg-s-next-map-will-arrive-in-the-first-half-of-2018-490764.phtml

News:: Burnout Paradise Remastered is official, still lacks a good crash mode

EA's worst kept secret of 2018, Burnout Paradise Remastered, is now officially coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC this year. Owners of the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X can  get 4K playback at 60 FPS. Console gamers will be able to grab the remaster on March 16 for $39.99 while PC gamers will have to wait (and put up with Origin). If you're an EA Access member, you can start playing the game on March 9 with a 10 hour trial version.

This "definitive edition" will include all eight of the DLC packs that released for Paradise in 2009, which marks the first time any of this content is coming to PC. You'll have the amazing "Big Surf Island," the pretty good "Cops and Robbers" pack and the completely pointless "Party" pack. I still remember buying that last one hoping for split-screen and getting a round robin style game mode.

The biggest sin is that EA is not adding a more traditional crash mode to the mix. While Paradise does technically have one, it works on a per-street basis and is completely up to an RNG for whether or not cars will even populate the area. It really sucks and it makes me wish we were getting a Burnout collection rather than just Paradise. I also don't know what the PC version would bring, visually, since the original has triple monitor support (and is absolutely bonkers in motion).

That being said, Paradise is a great game and definitely worth checking out if you've somehow not played it over the last 10 years. I put a lot of time into both the 360 original and the PC Ultimate Box release, so at least I'm talking from experience.

Burnout Paradise Remastered is official, still lacks a good crash mode screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/burnout-paradise-remastered-is-official-still-lacks-a-good-crash-mode-490760.phtml

News:: 'Rocket League' DLC adds DC superhero flair on March 5th

When car-soccer game Rocket League arrived last November, it included two DC Comics-inspired customization options like The Flash wheels and player banner. On March 5th, the game will get an entire roster of Justice League cars from Warner Bros., including two different Batmobiles -- one from the 1989 film and the other from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises.

Via: PlayStation Blog

Source: Psyonix



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/rocket-league-dlc-dc-superhero-march-5th/

News:: Owlboy is the skyward hero Nintendo fans deserve

At first it was exciting to see so many games come to the Switch eShop every week. Now it's getting ridiculous.

Just this month, Celeste, Dandara, Space Dave, Old Man's Journey, Pac-Man CE 2 Plus, and Owlboy have all been competing for my time, and choosing one over the other at any given moment hasn't been easy. They all offer the player very different emotional rewards, but they are all genuine and worthwhile. Comparing them to each other is like comparing your best friends and trying to decide which one you value more. One may be funnier than the others, one may be smarter, one may be a better listener, etc., but they all care about you the same amount, so how can you pick just one? 

I don't claim to have the answer to that question, but I can tell you which one of these six games values your friendship, and the concept of friendship in general, more than all the others. You guessed it folks! It's Owlboy. The only thing I don't like about this game is that every time I boot it up, I see the name of its developers (D-Pad Studio) and then get sad that the Switch Joy-Con don't have conventional d-pads. Then I start playing the game, and everything is good again. 

Owlboy is the skyward hero Nintendo fans deserve screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/owlboy-is-the-skyward-hero-nintendo-fans-deserve-490298.phtml

News:: 'Burnout Paradise' is back with a $40 4K remaster March 16th

Burnout Paradise was one of those rare racers that transcended its genre and was just a killer game. If its recent 10th birthday had you feeling nostalgic, then we've got good news. Come March 16th, you'll be able to hit the streets of Paradise City once again, to the complete original soundtrack, and replete with all 150 cars and eight main expansion pacls -- including the "Big Surf Island" premium DLC -- in Burnout Paradise Remastered.

Source: Electronic Arts (1), (2)



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/burnout-paradise-remastered-release-date/

News:: ’Elite Dangerous: Beyond’ Chapter One arrives on February 27th

If you've been eagerly waiting for the third season of Elite Dangerous, your time has almost come. Today, Frontier Developments announced that the first chapter of the new season of the space MMORPG, called Beyond, will arrive on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on February 27th. The company also released a trailer for the third season, which you can see below.



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/elite-dangerous-beyond-release-date-finally/

News:: March's Games with Gold are an odd selection

I tend to be a bit harsh on the free game selections from both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, but March isn't looking too hot. Well, it's actually looking Superhot, because that title is being included and is the only thing I'd recommend. It is an excellent shooter with some really great puzzles and a cool replay feature that makes you look like a bad ass. Definitely a fun time and I'm super excited for the procedurally generated follow-up

That being said, I'm not sure about these other games. Trials of the Blood Dragon has been noted as a failed follow-up, pretty much all of the Pixar film based games aren't good and Quantum Conundrum has been on sale so many times, you probably likely own it already. I actually have it on Steam, somehow (and I believe PS Plus from four years ago)!

Ah well, at least we're getting one good game this month.

March's Games with Gold are an odd selection screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/march-s-games-with-gold-are-an-odd-selection-490730.phtml

News:: Doom Switch update adds motion controls

I'm still a bit bothered that Bethesda waited until the zero hour to give out review copies for Doom -- they should have been shouting about how great it was from the rooftops a week in advance. Over time though I think people got the message, and frankly, it's one of the best shooters I've played in the last five years or so.

I've also taken to the Switch edition -- which looks much worse than it does on my PC, but also supports portable play. It also now has motion controls if you feel like messing around with them. Version 1.1.1 just dropped this week, which brings a new Switch icon, motion, and motion sensitivity.

I doubt I'll ever use them as I feel right at home with a Pro Controller (or keyboard and mouse on PC), but it's great that the Switch version has another unique selling point.

Latest Doom update adds motion controls on Nintendo Switch [Nintendo Wire]

Doom Switch update adds motion controls screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/doom-switch-update-adds-motion-controls-490702.phtml

News:: The ESA says preserving old online games isn't 'necessary'

The video game industry as a whole does a piss-poor job at preserving its history -- especially when it comes to online games. The Entertainment Software Association -- responsible for E3; counts Electronic Arts, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and Ubisoft as members -- is petitioning the US Copyright Office to not make DMCA exemptions for abandoned online multiplayer games. It's an effort to block the folks at the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment in California who would like to see an exemption made to how the DMCA treats titles like the original Everquest.

Via: Torrent Freak

Source: Entertainment Software Association (PDF)



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/esa-dmca-online-gaming-petition/

News:: Monster Hunter: World peddles 650,000 digital copies in three days in Japan

In an era where so many publishers are mum on digital sales, it's refreshing to actually get hard data every once in a while. Now we can start to piece together just how successful Monster Hunter: World was, alongside of the shipment/digital combined data we have from Capcom -- at least as it pertains to Japan.

According to Famitsu, Monster Hunter: World sold roughly 650,000 units in just three days. Their data runs from January 1 to January 28, and given that World arrived on January 26, they barely had enough time for those copies to fly off the e-shelves. Another estimation involves 1.35 million units sold at retail in Japan in the initial three days since launch, putting the total at around two million sold in Japan without January 29 until present's data.

Capcom noted in their big "shipped/digital" announcement that they pushed over six million units -- and now we know at least two million came from  Japan.

Monster Hunter [Ryokutya via Silconera]

Monster Hunter: World peddles 650,000 digital copies in three days in Japan screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/monster-hunter-world-peddles-650-000-digital-copies-in-three-days-in-japan-490718.phtml

News:: Play 'Doom' with motion controls on Nintendo Switch

Doom's arrival on the Nintendo Switch back in November was something of a surprise, given the limitations of the platform, but it's quickly captured the hearts of many a gamer. Now, developer Bethesda has improved the gameplay experience even more. Polygon notes that a patch released today enables motion controls for the game.

Via: Polygon

Source: Bethesda



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/doom-motion-aiming-nintendo-switch/

News:: Review in Progress: Metal Gear Survive

For the first time in the life of the series, the future of Metal Gear is uncertain.

Now I mean that in the direst sense, because depending on who you ask Kojima either planned out the entire storyline or made it up as he went along. Either way, he had creative control and brought his insane magic touch along with him.

But he's gone now, and the team that's left has a hell of a legacy to fulfill.

Review in Progress: Metal Gear Survive screenshot

Read more...

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/review-in-progress-metal-gear-survive-489530.phtml

News:: Engadget giveaway: Win a pro controller package from Scuf Gaming!

Edge. That's what helps elevate pro gamers to the next level and Scuf Gaming offers a lot of it in its competitive controllers. The company has beefed-up versions for both PlayStation and Xbox, so you can focus on natural moves with custom settings that work for you. This week, Scuf has provided us with a B.O.T.G bundle along with a second Impact controller (both for PlayStation / PC). As always, these are built to spec at Scuf workshops in the US and UK. The bundle provides limited edition swag, a custom B.O.T.G. Impact controller, cabling and thumbstick and ring & lock kits. Plus, there's the additional Impact controller so you don't have to roll solo.

These competitive units offer on-the-fly interchangeable thumbsticks, adjustable trigger mechanisms and four paddles for improved reach. You can play via Bluetooth or a wired set-up with improved cable retention to avoid accidental breaks in the action. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below to give your gaming a professional boost. You'll have up to three chances at winning all the edge you'll need for your next mission!



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/engadget-giveaway-win-scuf-impact-botg-pro-gaming/

News:: Modders turn Nintendo Switch into a full-fledged Linux tablet

For all of its Nintendo customizations, the Switch is ultimately a tablet running a garden variety NVIDIA Tegra processor -- and that means it can potentially handle the same software as other mobile devices. To prove that point, the fail0verflow team has shown a Switch running an honest-to-goodness Linux distribution. The touchscreen, networking and accelerated 3D graphics are all functioning, as evidenced by the modders tweeting from the Switch and running a benchmark. You're not about to run Steam games on it (many Linux apps aren't built for ARM-based chips), but you could theoretically use the Switch as a basic computer.

Via: The Verge

Source: fail0verflow (Twitter 1), (2)



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/nintendo-switch-linux-mod/

News:: Another Sonic racing game rumor surfaces from another toy maker

This is the second time in so many days that there's been word of a potential Sonic racing follow-up from developer Sumo Digital, and the rumor-fire is being stoked once again.

This time it comes from Diamond Select Toys, who was interviewed at the New York Toy Fair by channel Pixel Dan. A rep basically spilled the beans that there are sets that you can use to "build a race track from the game...for the Sonic guys to race around on." It reminds me of when that one toy maker confirmed the Crash Bandicoot HD trilogy before it was revealed -- there's a gold mine of gaming info at these toy events!

Seriously though I hope this is coming. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was a fantastic racer, and took the place of Mario Kart for several years in my house. We're due for some friendly competition with Nintendo.

Another Sonic racing game rumor surfaces from another toy maker screenshot



via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/another-sonic-racing-game-rumor-surfaces-from-another-toy-maker-490716.phtml

News:: Dissidia Final Fantasy NT goes for the nostalgia tendon with Tactic's Orbonne Monastery arena

As I've said in the past, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is a silly brawler that more often than not appeals to people who are more into an all-stars mashup than a serious fighting game, and this upcoming bit of free DLC is no exception.

A new trailer from the official Square Enix channel is previewing Orbonne Monastery; that classic location from Final Fantasy Tactics that pretty much anyone, even those who only played it for a few hours and were turned off by it, will recognize.

I think they nailed the simple elegance of it based on the footage we have so far, and it looks especially great for 1v1s. My hope is that over time Square Enix and developer Team Ninja can continue to support NT, and help it reach its true potential.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT goes for the nostalgia tendon with Tactic's Orbonne Monastery arena screenshot

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via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-nt-goes-for-the-nostalgia-tendon-with-tactic-s-orbonne-monastery-arena-490700.phtml

News:: The Morning After: Mars 5K

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

This morning we're serving up Apple updates, some information on Elon Musk's next big tunnel plan and a check-in on a very long Martian road trip.



via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/20/the-morning-after-mars-5k/