Feb 21, 2018 | Game ON news

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

News:: Rad Rodgers is now available on consoles

This news crept up on me, but Rad Rodgers is now available on Xbox One and PS4. Being released as a free update for previous owners on PC, the game now includes an additional five levels and some tuning to fix issues with game balance and puzzle design. This isn't a proper conclusion to the game, mind you, but it does bring it closer to the original vision that developer Slipgate Studios had in mind.

For its original PC release, I found the game to be full of promise, but lacking in some departments. My biggest complaint was at the lack of consistency in design which has hopefully been addressed in this update. Even if it hasn't, I found that original version of Rad Rodgers fun, so I have no doubts this new version is just as good.

Rad Rodgers is now available on consoles screenshot

News:: New Gundam Breaker adds Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, details new mechanics

The latest issue of Famitsu Weekly has revealed the next set of playable Gunpla that will be appearing in the upcoming New Gundam Breaker. Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, Gundam Bael, and Gundam Kimaris Vidar from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans will all be playable. The magazine also revealed details on two new mechanics the game will have.

While it's not the biggest update, it's pretty significant.

New Gundam Breaker adds Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, details new mechanics screenshot

News:: Shining Resonance Refrain releasing worldwide this summer

Last month we reported that the Australian Classification Board had given Shining Resonance Refrain a rating, which would indicate that the game would be releasing internationally. Today Sega has confirmed that it will indeed be releasing worldwide this summer, and on more platforms than the PlayStation 4.

You can catch the announcement trailer below.

Shining Resonance Refrain releasing worldwide this summer screenshot

News:: Contest: We've got 15 copies of Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten DX to give you

[Contest ends tomorrow, knuckleheads, so get on this while you still can!]

Hi there. Are you looking for a free game for either your PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One? Wonderful, because we've got 15 keys (six PC, six PS4, three Xbox) to give away to you, our beloved cheap bastard Dtoiders!

Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten DX is a tactical-RPG-meets-tower-defense game that boasts tons of customization tools and also the ability to name your character Buttface, which is something that speaks directly to my heart. It releases for consoles this week, and to celebrate, developer Level Up Labs wants to give copies away instead of selling them! What a world! Check this serious trailer for serious business about the game.

Contest: We've got 15 copies of Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten DX to give you screenshot

News:: Heroes of the Storm now has voice chat

After testing voice chat in Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard has implemented the feature in the live game.

The company laid out its approach in a blog post, but the short of it is about what you'd expect: voice chat is optional, and the game has separate channels for team voice and party voice.

"If you're in a party, you'll automatically be added to your party's voice channel, and only party members will hear what you have to say." Conversely, "if you're in a partial party and using the party voice channel, you'll be unable to speak to or hear allies outside your party unless you switch to the team voice channel." By default, players have to opt-in at the start of a match to join the team channel.

Should you encounter any loud-mouthed ne'er-do-wells, there will be an "Abusive Voice" reporting option along with a new "voice silence penalty that's separate from chat silence penalties."

If a player is reported enough for voice violations, they can receive a silence that "will prevent them from speaking in team voice for the duration of that penalty. They can, however, still join the team voice channel to listen to allied comms, and can still join and use the party voice channel normally."

Be good to each other out there, and bring on the wombo combos.

Introducing: Voice Communication [Blizzard]

Heroes of the Storm now has voice chat screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/heroes-of-the-storm-now-has-voice-chat-490964.phtml

News:: Assetto Corsa Competizione will be hitting Early Access this summer

Fans of diehard racing simulator Assetto Corsa are in luck today, as 505 Games has announced that a brand new entry in the series is in development. Titled Assetto Corsa Competizione, the new game will be hitting Steam Early Access this summer!

Developer Kunos Simulazioni has transitioned over to the Unreal 4 engine, which is allowing them to include things like rain, night races, more accurate course recreation and brand new car physics. Competizione will be focusing exclusively on the GT3 class of cars, so what is lacking in variety is sure to be made up for in quality of simulation.

Assetto Corsa Competizione will be hitting Early Access this summer screenshot

News:: Cyberpunk shooter RUINER is worth another look with today's update and sale

Reikon Games' cyberpunk twin-stick shooter RUINER is worth a second look this week.

With today's Annihilation update, the studio has added a 10-stage Arena: Colosseum mode with online leaderboards, four new finishers, and two unlockable outfits. It's available now on PC.

PS4 and Xbox One players will get Annihilation "in the next few days," and it'll come with previously PC-only bonuses like New Game+, Speedrun mode, and new weapons, finishing moves, and outfits.

Anthony reviewed RUINER for us last September. He dug the "exceptional gun and melee based combat" and said it would "fit perfectly in a dark room with your headphones cranked to maximum."

If you originally passed the game up but are feeling more open to it nowadays, it's half price right now on PC and PS4 (with a similar discount planned for Xbox One in March).

Cyberpunk shooter RUINER is worth another look with today's update and sale screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/cyberpunk-shooter-ruiner-is-worth-another-look-with-today-s-update-and-sale-490954.phtml

News:: The 300 Week 7: THIS IS T'CHALLA!

Welcome back to The 300, a recurring feature that chronicles my attempt to see 300 movies in theaters in 2018. I’ll be watching new releases, classics, and hidden gems as a way to explore the wide world of cinema in all of its forms.

As always, there are three rules for The 300:

The movie must be at least 40 minutes long, meeting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' definition of a feature film.
I must watch the movie at a movie theater, screening room, or outdoor screening venue.
While I can watch movies I've seen before 2018, I cannot count repeated viewings of the same film in 2018 multiple times.

While I’ve already spent a lot of time at Metrograph, I wound up at BAM Rose Cinemas a bunch in the last week. In the lead up to Black Panther, they had a great film series on black action heroes and black superheroes, and a new series going on right now celebrating the work of Oscilloscope Laboratories. As the year goes on, expect to see BAM show up a bunch more on these features.

And again, I’m staying away from the Alamo Drafthouse given their history of sexual assault and harassment issues. The local franchise owners are probably good people, but I won’t be back until Tim and Karrie League step down.

And so, onward.

The 300 Week 7: THIS IS T'CHALLA! screenshot

News:: The Overwatch League returns today and you can earn tokens by watching

Following the Stage 1 Finals that saw London Spitfire prevail against New York Excelsior, the Overwatch League picks back up today with the start of Stage 2. New maps, new players, and new tactics brought on by changes to Mercy and Junkrat -- I'm excited to see how it all unfolds over the coming weeks.

For day one of Stage 2, we've got Seoul Dynasty vs. Los Angeles Valiant at 4:00pm Pacific, Dallas Fuel vs. Shanghai Dragons at 6:00pm, and Los Angeles Gladiators vs. San Francisco Shock at 8:00pm.

I'll be tuning in as best I can tonight, but I'm most looking forward to seeing London Spitfire face the Outlaws again on Thursday and NYXL on Friday. These are the rematches I live for!

If you plan on following along for Stage 2, you may want to take the time to set up your Overwatch account to earn League Tokens (for team skins). The instructions can be found over here, but essentially you can earn one token per map win by watching on Twitch, MLG, or OverwatchLeague.com.

That's not a whole lot considering individual skins cost 100 tokens each (the equivalent of $5), but it can certainly add up over time. Blizzard and Twitch are also offering League skins "not yet available in game" as viewers collectively meet global Cheering milestones. Find more on that here.

The Overwatch League returns today and you can earn tokens by watching screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-overwatch-league-returns-today-and-you-can-earn-tokens-by-watching-490942.phtml

News:: At long last, The Behemoth's Pit People finally has a release date

It feels like The Behemoth's Pit People (simply called Game 4 once upon a time) has been at the last 30 Penny Arcade Expos I've attended. This is probably an exaggeration, but the sentiment still stands -- this game has been floating around for a while now. Finally, it's ready for a proper release.

After a year in Early Access on both PC and Xbox, The Behemoth has just announced that Pit People will launch on March 2. For a game that has been five years in the making, it's only nine days from release date reveal and actual release. Funny how that works sometimes.

However Pit People turns out, it's almost guaranteed to be a far cry from the likes of Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater that The Behemoth cut its teeth on. This is a turn-based strategy game rather than an action platformer-type. Still, The Behemoth hasn't steered us wrong yet.

At long last, The Behemoth's Pit People finally has a release date screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/at-long-last-the-behemoth-s-pit-people-finally-has-a-release-date-490975.phtml

News:: Japan is getting a Hokuto ga Gotoku demo tomorrow

While we still have no word on whether or not Hokuto ga Gotoku is coming West, we'll soon be able to check out the game thanks to the miracle of the internet. Japan is getting a demo on the PlayStation Network tomorrow, so all you need to do is create a Japanese PSN account and get to downloading.

The demo includes two scenarios to get you accustomed to the gameplay. One is a tutorial battle against Kenshiro's longtime foe, Shin, while the other includes a bunch of side activities like driving a buggy and being able to explore a bit of the new town, Eden. While the language barrier might be a bit of a problem (navigating the PSN is a nightmare in English, let alone something you can't read), previous Yakuza demos have been pretty straight forward. I know I'm definitely checking this out, because I can't wait to see how this game looks in motion.

Hokuto ga Gotoku demo launches February 22 in Japan [Gematsu]

Japan is getting a Hokuto ga Gotoku demo tomorrow screenshot

News:: Trailblazers is a team-based racing game about painting the track

In the upcoming 3v3 futuristic racing game Trailblazers, you'll work together with your teammates to paint the track. Doing so will set you up for success in subsequent laps, as driving over your team's color gives your vehicle a boost. The longer you stay on the line, the faster you'll go. And certain racers have different skills. One might be boost-focused, while another is more adept at painting.

It's sort of like WipEout's driving meets F-Zero's characters meets Splatoon's ink. Heck of a premise!

Trailblazers is the work of Supergonk, a Guildford-based studio with former Codemasters, Bizarre Creations, and Lionhead developers. It's planned for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and yes, Nintendo Switch. There's even local multiplayer and "online matchmaking with full split-screen support."

I call dibs on the space frog.

Trailblazers is a team-based racing game about painting the track screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/trailblazers-is-a-team-based-racing-game-about-painting-the-track-490933.phtml

News:: Vita-exclusive Assault Gunners is getting ported to PC and PS4

You'd be forgiven if the name Assault Gunners doesn't ring a bell. It's a mech battler that released for the Vita in 2012 and it was only available in Japan. Saying it had limited exposure would be an understatement.

Assault Gunners is about to have the opportunity for a lot more people to know its name. Publisher Marvelous Europe (who's probably best known for Senran Kagura) is porting the game to PlayStation 4 and PC on March 20 under the new title of Assault Gunners HD Edition. The standard version will be priced at $10.

Those might not be the only platforms that this port finds its way to. Recently, the Australian ratings board gave Assault Gunners a rating on Switch. Because this game was originally a PlayStation-exclusive, it's possible that Sony has some sort of ongoing deal that prevents other console versions from launching at the same time. The press release we received makes no mention of a Switch port.

Speculation aside, it's just one month until this Vita-exclusive Japanese-only game from six years ago breaks free of those restrictions. That's kind of neat. Mechs don't have real lives per se, but Assault Gunners just got a second lease on life.

Vita-exclusive Assault Gunners is getting ported to PC and PS4 screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/vita-exclusive-assault-gunners-is-getting-ported-to-pc-and-ps4-490952.phtml

News:: Ys Origin will land on Xbox One this spring

From out of nowhere, DotEmu has announced that Ys Origin will be coming to the Xbox One this spring. This marks the first time the series has landed on any Xbox platform and it comes in the wake of a refocus from DotEmu on publishing more retro franchises. Since Ys Origin was a pretty big hit on PC, PS4 and Vita, it only made sense to bring the game to Xbox One.

There isn't much else to go on, but the publisher has uploaded a short clip that gives us a quick look at the game on Xbox One hardware. It definitely still looks like Ys Origin, so that is nice.

Ys Origin will land on Xbox One this spring screenshot

News:: N64 game 40 Winks smashes Kickstarter goal in mere hours

The cancelled Nintendo 64 port of 40 Winks (known as Ruff and Tumble in Europe) will finally see release on the console, some 20 years later, thanks to studio Piko Interactive and a slew of generous Kickstarter backers.

Originally scheduled for release back in 1998, the Rare-esque adventure title 40 Winks was put to sleep permanently after commissioners GT Interactive were hit with huge financial problems. This lead to the company's eventual sale to Infogrames, who cancelled development. The PlayStation version of the title made it to shelves, but the N64 port, to be outsourced to Eurocom, never saw the dawn.

Retro-loving studio Piko Interactive have re-awoken the project, opening a Kickstarter page with aims of finally bringing 40 Winks to the N64. Amazingly, they absolutely smashed their $14,000 goal in just 10 hours. The current pledge total stands at over $64,000, with 20 days remaining.

As a result, the Nintendo 64 will see its first cartridge release in some time. 40 Winks will launch in both a standard edition - complete with full-colour box and instruction manual - and a Special Edition, which will also include exclusive artwork, a poster and, of all things, a 40 Winks POG. Having hit the $60K stretch goal, a limited edition N64 controller will also be manufactured to celebrate the game's long-awaited release.

40 Winks is scheduled to launch later this year on Nintendo 64. And you won't believe how odd it feels typing that.

40 Winks for Nintendo 64 [Kickstarter]

N64 game 40 Winks smashes Kickstarter goal in mere hours screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/n64-game-40-winks-smashes-kickstarter-goal-in-mere-hours-490909.phtml

News:: Review: Retro-Bit NES Power Stick

When I first opened the Power Stick by Retro-Bit, nostalgic memories came flooding back. Images from my childhood of playing games in front of the glow of the television screen in the middle of the night cuddled up under a blanket, and tossing my NES Advantage joystick across the room because I thought it was complete and utter rubbish and I completely hated it back then. Why the heck would I want to use a clunky joystick instead of a nice, comfortable controller? I liked the arcade, but had no desire to bring the experience home necessarily.

That said, I wasn’t all too confident in my own ability to enjoy the Power Stick by Retro-Bit for what it was; a rough approximation of an old device fondly remembered by some nostalgic fans. I still have some gripes about the controller after spending a good amount of time with it but now feel there is a good reason to have an arcade stick for NES in my library, and this is due mainly to the overall customizability of the stick -- what it is capable of doing rather than what it was actually designed to do as an out-of-the-box product.

Review: Retro-Bit NES Power Stick screenshot

News:: PUBG is overhauling the crate system to scale back a bit on microtransactions

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' crates have nudged players a little too aggressively toward microtransactions ever since the game's 1.0 release. Currently, spending in-game points will result in getting a Desperado crate about 40 percent of the time -- that's the one that costs real money to actually open.

Developer PUBG Corporation has a new system that better suits both the people who want to spend money and the folks who just want to open the free crates. Tomorrow, PUBG is adding both the Fever (paid) and Militia (free) crates. Accompanying that rollout is a recalibration of how frequently each one drops. Now, paid crates will randomly appear 20 percent of the time instead of 40 percent.

However, high rollers can simply nab a microtransaction-fueled crate rather than hoping for a one-in-five drop. Right next to the random crate is the option to purchase a Fever crate straight away. It seems like a win-win-win. PUBG Corp can still emphasize a monetization model, people can spend money if they wish, and the rest are left getting more of the free crates.

Spring Crate Is Here! [Steam]

PUBG is overhauling the crate system to scale back a bit on microtransactions screenshot

News:: Someone reached level 100 in Kingdom Hearts by grinding over 200 hours on the first island

So this is an interesting one. You remember how in the first Kingdom Hearts there's that initial island where you learn the ropes? Well a lot of you don't know this, but you gain a tiny amount of experience from that training, and you can repeat it ad nauseum and gain levels from it. How long does it take to reach level 100? Well, according to one streamer who recorded his adventure, 210 hours.

Aaroneous Gaming said it best themselves "it's been a long month," but he did it. A lot of you might be thinking "what's the point?!" but more power to him; it looks like he enjoyed himself, and bringing the spotlight back to the Kingdom Hearts series in light of the pretty awesome trailers for III is a cool thing.

Aaroneous Gaming [Twitter]

Someone reached level 100 in Kingdom Hearts by grinding over 200 hours on the first island screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/someone-reached-level-100-in-kingdom-hearts-by-grinding-over-200-hours-on-the-first-island-490898.phtml

News:: The new Doctor Who logo sure says 'Doctor Who'

In the forthcoming eleventh series of the revived Doctor Who, everything will be new—new Doctor, new companions, and new TARDIS. Just to hammer in that fact, the BBC has unveiled the new logo for lead actress Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall's first series. It looks 'aight.

If the network wanted to emphasize a whole new look for the esteemed franchise, they might have succeeded. It's a departure from the logos of the Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffatt eras, looking a little more sleek and minimalistic. The words "Doctor" and "Who" sit next to each other like in those logos, rather than on top of each other like in the classic series (yes, this is a real thing that people used to care about). Some have already pointed out that it looks like the Horizon Zero Dawn logo, with all the lines and whatnot.

The BBC thought that there was enough hullabaloo for the reveal of this typeface to warrant the following press release:

Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker today teased the new series of Doctor Who by unveiling a new logo and insignia for the brand to over 700 of the world’s top TV buyers and international press at BBC Worldwide’s annual showcase event in Liverpool.

In an evening devoted to the new incarnation of Doctor Who, Whittaker built excitement in anticipation of the new era of The Doctor, leaving global broadcasters in no doubt as to the sense of wonder, joy and mystery the forthcoming series promises audiences.

The Doctor Who logo is an iconic and powerful trademark for the franchise that is recognised all around the world. The updated logo and insignia mark a new era of WHO. BBC Worldwide commissioned creative agency Little Hawk to create the brand new designs, working closely with Showrunner Chris Chibnall and Executive Producer Matt Strevens.

BBC Worldwide Executive Creative Director, Rafaela Perera says: “The Doctor Who logo and insignia are the quintessential signifier for the brand. Our aim was to create modern and elegant designs that were anchored in the things that we love most about Doctor Who.”

The sound for the animated logo is created by Matthew Herbert. It will launch with a 10 second animation which features the TARDIS blazing a trail through the logo. All official Doctor Who merchandise featuring the new logo will be available at selected retailers from 20 February 2018.

Doctor Who is a BBC Studios production for BBC One and a BBC America co-production. BBC Worldwide are the international distributors for Doctor Who.

Doctor Who series 11 is expected to air sometime in the fall of 2018.

The new Doctor Who logo sure says 'Doctor Who' screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-new-doctor-who-logo-sure-says-doctor-who--490802.phtml

News:: DC Super Heroes content hittting Rocket League next month

Psyonix, Warner Bros. and DC Comics have teamed up to release a selection of super hero-themed DLC for four-wheel soccer game Rocket League. The DC Super Heroes DLC Pack features vehicles and cosmetic features based on the muscle-bound chumps that make up the Justice League.

Two new battle vehicles are included, both being cinematic variants of the Batmobile. So whether you're a fan of the long, sleek design from Tim Burton's 1989 movie, or the wall-destroying tank of Chris Nolan's Dark Knight Rises, then both of your preferences are covered.

Also included in the download are a selection of decals and banners for Bats himself, along with chums Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern and everyone's favourite dick, Superman. Wonder Woman and Flash also get their own custom wheel designs.

The DC Super Heroes DLC Pack will launch on March 5 on all formats, priced at around $4. Rocket League is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

DC Super Heroes content hittting Rocket League next month screenshot

News:: Review: Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition

I still remember seeing the first teaser trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII 12 years ago. It was beautiful and captivating while also ripe for mockery with its emo-as-hell protagonist. 12 years ago that game was supposed to only be a few years away, but it wasn’t until a decade and a name change later we’d finally get our hands on it as Final Fantasy XV. 10 years is a long and no doubt expensive development cycle, so it’s no wonder Square Enix is trying to get the most out of this lush and lavish world it’s created.

Between the DLC, the movie, the VR fishing game, Brotherhood, A New Empire, and the rest of the mobile spin-offs, and the upcoming Royal Edition, Square Enix is milking this cow for all its worth. Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition is the latest product to emerge from those udders and is further proof Eos is a world worth exploring even if the journey isn’t nearly as exciting as it should be.

Review: Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition screenshot

News:: Twitch is cashing in on your love for Overwatch League

The Overwatch League is blowing up and Twitch wants to make some extra money off its exclusive streaming partnership. To encourage viewership, you'll be able to earn Overwatch League Tokens (what you use to buy League skins). You'll pick up one token per live map finish, and a "percentage" of viewers of the "conclusion of the final map" during a live 'cast will randomly win 100 tokens.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/21/twitch-overwatch-league/

News:: Splatoon's Inkling Girl coming to paint your lounge in Figma form

Those purveyors of finely-crafted, highly-poseable models, Good Smile, are to release a new Figma of "Inkling Girl", poster character from Nintendo's arena-shooter series Splatoon. The colourful toy was revealed at the weekend's WonderFest 2018 event.

The Figma features the orange-headed cutie-pie ready for action, armed with little more than a ink blaster and comically oversized sneakers. As is the standard for characters in the Figma range, Inkling Girl will feature multiple points of articulation, allowing for a variety of dynamic poses.

Inkling Girl will be released in both a standard format and a deluxe edition. The latter will include interchangeable parts to allow her to be adapted into her Splatoon 2 form. Neato. No release window has been announced by the manufacturers thus far.

Splatoon's Inkling Girl coming to paint your lounge in Figma form screenshot

News:: BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle will feature an original story mode

The debate over its amount of DLC content rages on, but has admittedly subsided a bit once pricing details became available. Regardless of where you currently stand with BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, at least there seems to be more content on disc than originally realized.

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle will feature an original story, titled Episode Mode, that will allow players to experience the story from each of the title's perspectives (RWBY, BlazBlue, Under Night In-Birth, and Persona 4 Arena).

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is set to hit PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC May 31 in Japan, and June 5 in the United States

[via Famitsu]

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle will feature an original story mode screenshot

News:: Shadow virtualizes a high-end gaming PC on your desktop clunker

In the early days of computing, local storage and processing weren't actually a thing. Instead, your individual computer acted as a terminal, pulling data from a central processing server. Well, the French startup Blade likes it that way and has released a similar system but with a 21st-century twist. Its cloud-computing system, dubbed Shadow, can impart the performance of a $2,000 high-end gaming rig onto any internet-connected device with a screen. And now the company is bringing Shadow to California.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/02/21/shadow-virtualizes-a-high-end-gaming-pc-on-your-desktop-clunker/

News:: Wrap up warm for tonight's new Fire Emblem Heroes content

Super-popular mobile battler Fire Emblem Heroes will be getting some new content real soon, as new characters, and a whole new story chapter, land on Nintendo's free-to-play game later today.

The new narrative, Blood and Snow, takes place within a icy wasteland, and will allow players the opportunity to access new Fallen Heroes Hardin, Celica and Robin. You can check out the new fighter's skills in the trailer below.

The summoning focus begins today at 23:00 PT, and tomorrow at 02:00 ET / 07:00 GMT, according to the information revealed in the new trailer. Once the focus is over, the new characters will be made available in future summoning events.

Fire Emblem Heroes is available now on iOS and Android.

Wrap up warm for tonight's new Fire Emblem Heroes content screenshot

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018