Mar 6, 2018 | Game ON news

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

News:: Kongregate is making its own PC game platform

Carving out a sustainable piece of the PC digital distribution market won't be quick or easy, but I'm looking forward to seeing Kongregate try exactly that later this summer. The popular browser game portal has announced Kartridge, "a new community-driven, developer-centric PC platform."

It'll be home to premium, free-to-play, name-your-price, and ad-supported games from developers "big and small," with no upload fees. "Content will be technology and monetization agnostic."

Kongregate hopes to "bring something to both players and developers that was missing in the market," according to CEO and co-founder Emily Greer. "Through a combination of editorial curation and algorithm-focused game surfacing, our goal is to show the right game to the right player at the right time. This approach will help surface titles that are getting lost in other marketplaces and will help players find new content they didn't know they'd love." That last point is what has me interested.

Kongregate dot com will carry on like before, and Kartridge will hold a closed beta before launch.

Announcing Kartridge, a New Downloadable Gaming Platform [Kongregate]

Kongregate is making its own PC game platform screenshot

News:: Amid Evil brings Heretic vibes to Steam next week

New Blood Interactive has a good thing going for fans of old-school shooters. The publisher is repping both Dusk and Amid Evil, the latter of which is almost ready for release. Keep an eye out for this Heretic- and Hexen-inspired FPS to pop up on Steam Early Access next Monday, March 12. It'll run $20.

A game like Amid Evil is best appreciated in motion, and today's footage -- a five-minute preview of its endless mode -- is a fine starting point. I know you're feeling antsy, and you're ready to bounce, but I don't want you Logging Off today before you've seen an electric trident work its magic.

As for the main game, at launch, three of the seven planned campaign episodes will be playable; they're said to have their own settings and enemies. Should be a fun throwback for fantasy FPS fans.

Amid Evil [Steam Early Access]

Amid Evil brings Heretic vibes to Steam next week screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/amid-evil-brings-heretic-vibes-to-steam-next-week-493067.phtml

News:: Do not spend your tax refund at GameStop

_{[We reached back 3 years ago into our promoted blogs vault to pull out this personal favorite of mine during the worst season of the year, tax season. Seeing GameStop bring back their weird, tax refund themed marketed campaign compelled me to bring Spielerdad's blog back out to say, just spend your tax refund wisely, if nothing else. ~Marcel Hoang]}

It's pretty obvious that GameStop's marketing and communications department has an editorial calendar. It seems that every holiday or event throughout the year, GameStop deploys an e-mail saying that it's a perfect reason to go to one of their horrible stores.

Do not spend your tax refund at GameStop screenshot

News:: Hitman: Blood Money playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility

Hitman: Blood Money is one of those games you could keep coming back to year after year.

There are just so many ways missions can unfold. You can act like Agent 47 should. You can go off script as a total doofus. You can learn the precise ins and outs of how the AI operates and screw with characters in ways the developers never would have predicted. It's a playground begging for creativity.

With all that in mind, it's sweet to see Blood Money available on Xbox One via backward compatibility. This is worth another look if you passed up the old games but fell in love with Hitman (2016).

Hitman: Blood Money and LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today https://t.co/qPMRNrLoTQ pic.twitter.com/Ud3RaAYtpq
— 💬 Larry Hryb (@majornelson) March 6, 2018

Hitman: Blood Money is also joined by Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. Which, sure, why not?

Major Nelson [Twitter]

Hitman: Blood Money playable on Xbox One through backward compatibility screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/hitman-blood-money-playable-on-xbox-one-through-backward-compatibility-493060.phtml

News:: YS VIII should be launching in April for PC

According to NIS America president Takuro Yamashita, Ys VIII's long awaited PC port will finally be launching in April. In an interview posted on YouTube channel "Greg's RPG HeaveN," Yamashita stated, "Translation-wise, there’s no problem, but we’ve had some small issues about porting to the Steam version."

Apparently these issues came down to PC's not having fixed specifications and the speed of the gameplay not being up to snuff. Regardless, everything now seems to be in order and PC gamers will finally be getting their hands on the game. No firm date was given, however.

I'm honestly awestruck at how many times I've written about Ys VIII heading to PC and being delayed, but hopefully the game finally reaches the platform this month just to put NIS at ease.

Exclusive News: NIS-President announces April Release-Date of Ys VIII PC-Version [YouTube]

YS VIII should be launching in April for PC screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ys-viii-should-be-launching-in-april-for-pc-493052.phtml

News:: God of War is getting a special edition PS4 Pro bundle

God of War is rapidly approaching release, but not everyone owns a PS4. Since we're moving into the 4K era and Sony has a "4K" console, why not capitalize on that market of gamers looking forward to Kratos' return without Sony's latest machine? Launching on the same day as the reboot (which is April 20, 2018), this God of War PS4 Pro bundle adopts a design inspired by Kratos' axe and emblazons the machine with some cool Norse artwork.

Better yet, this bundle includes a physical copy of the game, so you won't be saddled with a lousy download code. That won't matter in terms of storage (damn you, modern console installations!), but this bundle will include a 1 TB PS4 Pro, so you'll have a decent amount of storage space. It will retail for $399 USD ($499 CAD), so you're getting the game for free with the purchase.

If you want to read more about how the art team came up with this console design, you can check out an interview with Shannon Studstill of Santa Monica Studio over on the PlayStation blog. While I don't necessarily care for God of War, even I have to admit how nice that console looks. Beats my plain ass black one.

Introducing the Limited Edition God of War PS4 Pro Bundle [PlayStation Blog]

God of War is getting a special edition PS4 Pro bundle screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/god-of-war-is-getting-a-special-edition-ps4-pro-bundle-493050.phtml

News:: The Gamergate play really isn't about Gamergate

_{[Image courtesy of Actors' Equity Association/Jessica Palopoli]}

"When the Bay Area announced [the play] was going to get workshopped last summer, the Tweet announcing it included 'hashtag Gamergate,' so immediately that made it to Reddit and I was heading into work when all of the sudden I had 40 Twitter notifications," playwright Walt McGough explained to me the afternoon after his most recent play, Non-Player Character, wrapped up its debut run at the Children's Creativity Museum theater in San Francisco. I was there on closing night, sitting in the front row, after a single tweet from the SF Playhouse Twitter account somehow appeared on my feed with the word ‘Gamergate’ front and center. And as I took my seat within tripping distance of the actors, I anticipated nothing more than the absolute worst.

The absolute worst, in regards to Gamergate and fictional stories inspired by it, would be the “Intimidation Game” episode of Law & Order: SVU. That show really hasn’t been good since Christopher Meloni left to pursue political arguments on Twitter -- and even when he was on it, SVU writers valued hard-to-believe twists over simple, effective storytelling -- but its take on Gamergate was an absolute dumpster fire. So over-the-top, so audacious in its interpretation of gamers, the industry, and the controversy, it makes its Rihanna/Chris Brown episode look well-researched and grounded. Its only redeeming factor was it cast Logan Paul as an asshole in the episode months before he cast himself as that in real life.

That was my expectation, and thankfully the play wasn't 90 minutes of unwatchable garbage. Whereas “Intimidation Game” sought to entertain through ridiculous fantasy, Non-Player Character offers a more restrained interpretation of the origins of the controversy. So restrained that, in fact, the end result is a production that doesn't have much to do with actual Gamergate.

The Gamergate play really isn't about Gamergate screenshot

News:: Inside is getting a mysterious $375 collector's edition, and it has ties to sex dolls

Mystery boxes are always a gamble. Mystery boxes that cost $375 are an expensive gamble. That's a risk you'll have to take if you want the most expensive version of Inside.

Playdead and iam8bit have teamed up for a new collector's edition of Inside that's prohibitively expensive. The reason it costs so much is because this is a ménage à trois of collaborators, as sex doll manufacturer RealDoll is also involved. We just don't know how involved.

Everyone's being extremely coy about what this $375 package actually contains (apart from a physical copy Inside on PS4, and Steam codes for both Inside and Limbo). The fun guess is that it's something that you could hypothetically bang; the reasonable guess is that RealDoll, a company experienced in making all sorts of silicone molds, is creating a replica of something that happens at the end of the game.

But, we won't actually know until it's too late to buy one. Pre-orders go on sale on March 8 on iam8bit, and they run through June 8. After that, there's no more purchasing this collector's edition -- at least without going through a secondhand seller. Then, it'll ship sometime early next year. That's a year-long tease for a mystery box. The waiting is the hardest part. The $375 price tag is the hardest part.

Inside is getting a mysterious $375 collector's edition, and it has ties to sex dolls screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/inside-is-getting-a-mysterious-375-collector-s-edition-and-it-has-ties-to-sex-dolls-493059.phtml

News:: State of Decay 2 hits Xbox One and Windows 10 in May for $30

State of Decay 2 has secured a May 22, 2018 launch for Xbox One and Windows 10.

That still-a-ways-out release date is to be expected given that we haven't heard much about the co-op zombie survival title as of late, but the price point is a nice surprise. The game will run $30 normally, and there's also a $50 Ultimate Edition with early access on May 18, two add-on packs when they become available, and a digital copy of State of Decay: Year-One Survival Edition for Xbox One.

It's worth reiterating that State of Decay 2 is a Play Anywhere game, so if you buy it on Xbox One, you'll own it for Windows 10 as well and vice-versa. The title is also a part of the Xbox Game Pass, meaning subscribers will be able to play it at no extra cost right at launch on May 22.

After making it through Metal Gear Survive, I'm very much in the mood for this one. I just need to keep reminding myself not to get too attached to the survivors. Tragedy can strike at any moment.

Xbox Exclusive State of Decay 2 Releasing May 22 – Pre-orders Start Today [Xbox]

State of Decay 2 hits Xbox One and Windows 10 in May for $30 screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/state-of-decay-2-hits-xbox-one-and-windows-10-in-may-for-30-493055.phtml

News:: Indie brawler 'Way of the Passive Fist' is out now on Steam and PS4

If you love stylish, '90s-style 2D side-scrolling brawlers like Golden Axe or Aztez, you'll dig the debut release from Household Games, a new studio made up of DrinkBox Studios, Queasy Games and Silicon Knights members. Way of the Passive Fist is available now on PlayStation 4 and Mac/PC/Linux via Steam for $15. It will also go live on Xbox One at midnight, March 7th.

Source: Household Games/Twitter

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/06/indie-brawler-way-of-the-passive-fist-steam-PS4/

News:: Far Cry 5's map editor includes assets from Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and more

Although Far Cry 5 will see its brand of gun-toting carnage relocated to a disquieting county in Montana, the game's post-release DLC is a toybox of scenarios. Not only will FC5's add-on campaigns feature war-torn Vietnam, zombie mayhem and even outer space, but Ubisoft has announced the game's map editor will revisit the publisher's back catalogue.

Renamed Far Cry Arcade, the editor will allow players to build their own single and multiplayer maps out of assets from previous Far Cry titles as well as other Ubisoft games, such as Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs, allowing players to make their own adventures featuring items and settings from the aforementioned games. Maybe we'll get an Ezio vs that-guy-from-Watch-Dogs death match (but probably not.)

The Far Cry Arcade is part of Far Cry 5's Season Pass, which also includes single-player campaigns Lost on Mars, Hours of Darkness and Dead Living Zombies.

Far Cry 5 launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One March 27.

Far Cry 5's map editor includes assets from Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs and more screenshot

News:: Look for a Geralt cameo in another game this year

CD Projekt RED got Witcher fans all fired up this morning. On Twitter, community lead Marcin Momot seemed to tease that Geralt will have a cameo in another game "later this year."

What if Geralt was going to step out of the @witchergame for the very first time to make an appearance in one of the upcoming games later this year? pic.twitter.com/dMTn1Im6HD
— Marcin Momot (@Marcin360) March 6, 2018

If your gut reaction is that Soulcalibur VI would be a great home for Geralt, I feel you.

His name has definitely come up in comments sections as a hopeful contender, and his inclusion seems feasible when you think back on previous guest characters. Also worth mentioning: sources speaking to Let's Play Video Games have suggested that Geralt is a lock for Soulcalibur VI.

I'm really looking forward to the game, which isn't something I've been able to say about the series for quite some time. Having a witcher on the roster would just be icing.

Marcin Momot [Twitter]

Look for a Geralt cameo in another game this year screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/look-for-a-geralt-cameo-in-another-game-this-year-493046.phtml

News:: South Park has a reservation at Casa Bonita for March 20

Casa Bonita, a real-life garbage restaurant, is a staple of South Park lore because of an all-time banger episode from 15 years ago. South Park: The Fractured but Whole plans to revisit that famous locale very soon.

From Dusk Till Casa Bonita is The Fractured but Whole's first piece of proper story DLC, and Ubisoft has just revealed that it'll release on March 20 -- two weeks from now. It's priced at $12. This is technically the second add-on though, because a combat arena expansion launched late last year.

This particular add-on riffs on From Dusk Till Dawn (which is exactly one half of a good movie) as it sees the goth vampire gang kidnapping Kenny's sister. Mysterion, Coon, and The New Kid set out to rescue her. There will be bad Mexican food and Black Bart's Cave. You're gonna have yourself a time.

South Park has a reservation at Casa Bonita for March 20 screenshot

News:: Ubisoft wants to shoot down hate speech in Rainbow Six: Siege

Like many online shooters... Well, like all online games in general, Rainbow Six Siege has its fair-share of rude, offensive, shouty players. The anonymity of the internet turns everyone into a tough guy, right? Regardless, Ubisoft have announced that they are hoping to crack down on hate speech in the team-based shooter via a new ban-system.

"We will be implementing an improvement on the system we have been using to ban players that use racial and homophobic slurs, or hate speech, in game," says Siege's community manager, Craig Robinson, speaking on the game's Reddit. Siege will be tracking the frequency with which racial, homophobic and similar derogatory terms are used by individual players, with player bans being issued ranging from two days to life, dependent on the given case.

Banned players will be informed of the reason for their suspension, with their account branded "Banned for Toxicity". Ubisoft says this is the first step in their plans going forward to improve the online communication experience. Naturally, the Reddit thread ended up locked, as the news led, of course, to a shit-load of arguments. The new measures will be implemented on PC only for the time being, as such matters on PS4 and Xbox have to be handled by the in-house Code of Conduct reporting system.

It's great to see steps being taken to eradicate hate speech and improve everyone's fun-times, which is surely the whole reason we play? But the subject of toxicity in games is so deeply embedded, that it feels like a situation, so prevalent, that it can never be truly policed. Regardless, anything a publisher attempts to stamp this miserable trope out of gaming is a good move and hopefully, in time, we will improve online gaming's soiled rep.

Rainbow Six Siege chat toxicity update [Reddit]

Ubisoft wants to shoot down hate speech in Rainbow Six: Siege screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/ubisoft-wants-to-shoot-down-hate-speech-in-rainbow-six-siege-492997.phtml

News:: PSA: Bloodborne hits PlayStation Plus today and fans are celebrating with an event

It goes without saying that every Souls game has my full recommendation. Even if you can't get past the first area and just take in the atmosphere, that's enough for me. Today, a whole lot of PS4 owners are going to be able to enter the Souls world for the first time with Bloodborne, which is arriving today on PlayStation Plus as a freebie for PS+ subscribers.

To celebrate the Bloodborne community is kicking off a special fan event and are bringing back "Return to Yharnam." It smartly begins on March 10, after a large amount of folks are home from work and have had the time to download the game.

It'll run through March 24, and the idea is to create a new character, use co-op features as often as possible, and attempt to use PVP to "defeat at least two players in each era" before moving onto the next one. An official Discord is available for old and new players alike (here), and the campaign is getting traction on social channels.

What I love about this resurgence events is that I'm typically just playing a lot of old games by myself anyway, so seeing people just fill in brings a smile to my face. After some discussions about Bloodborne at MAGFest recently I got the itch to play through it again and this is the perfect excuse.

Return to Yharnam [Reddit]

PSA: Bloodborne hits PlayStation Plus today and fans are celebrating with an event screenshot

News:: Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 gets new update and 'Infected' mode

Out of the blue, Activision have released new content for 2015's Call of Duty entry, Black Ops 3. The new update takes care of a few bugs, as well as adding a new map, new multiplayer mode and other features to the three-year-old shooter.

The new mode "Infected", which has appeared in the CoD series previously, sees one player on a mad dash to "infect" all of the other players on the map, who will then themselves join the horde It essentially sounds like "Tag", just with more hand-grenades. Players will be able to enjoy this mode on the new Redwood Snow map, an icy variant of the forest classic.

The new patch also features various, non-descript "General performance updates". Older CoD titles are well-known for having extended lifespans, with many players choosing to stick with their favourite multiplayer iteration, rather than move on to more contemporary games in the series.

Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Version 1.27 is live on PS4 and Xbox One, and is coming to PC today.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 gets new update and 'Infected' mode screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-3-gets-new-update-and-infected-mode-492983.phtml

News:: Nintendo finally allows use of My Nintendo Gold Points to buy games

It's one small step for My Nintendo kind, but at least there's something to use Gold Points on now instead of discounts for games you probably already own and earned points for.

As a reminder Gold Points are obtained through a 5% rebate of sorts on digital purchases (physical is 1%), and starting this week, you can use them directly on the eShop for discounts. Don't get too excited though, as the conversion is extremely low -- as in, one point equals one cent.

As Nintendo points out, a $60 game nets you 300 Gold Points, which is a $3 discount. It's not quite as deep as PS+ and Xbox Live Gold when it comes to discounts, but it's something, and that's more than Nintendo has done in the first year of the Switch's existence.

My Nintendo Gold Points [Nintendo]

Nintendo finally allows use of My Nintendo Gold Points to buy games screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-finally-allows-use-of-my-nintendo-gold-points-to-buy-games-492996.phtml

News:: Sony’s latest PS4 Pro bundle is an ode to ‘God of War’

If you were a fan of the original God of War, then chances are you're pretty hyped about the reboot. If you're planning on playing the Sony-exclusive game but haven't picked up a PS4 yet, then you may want to check out the Limited Edition God of War PlayStation Pro bundle. This will launch on the game's release date, April 20th, and retail for $400 in the US and $500 in Canada. You can pre-order it now.

Source: God of War

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/06/sony-ps4-pro-bundle-god-of-war/

News:: Far Cry 5's 'Inside Eden's Gate' mini-movie is now live on Amazon Prime

In preparation for the release of upcoming open-world shooter Far Cry 5, Ubisoft have made a short prequel movie, introducing us to the game's setting, Hope County, and its terrifying cool-kids-club, Eden's Gate.

The 30-minute film, which is available to watch now on Amazon Prime, tells the tale of a hapless bunch of Vloggers who visit the sleepy Montana town with hopes of making some ha-ha-larious internet vids. Things take a turn for the worst once they stumble across Eden's Gate and its frightening head honcho, Joseph Seed.

Foreboding stuff, but no-one ever accused the Far Cry games of being happy-go-lucky. Amazon Prime viewers can check out the promotional flick right now. Far Cry 5 launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One March 27.

Far Cry 5's 'Inside Eden's Gate' mini-movie is now live on Amazon Prime screenshot

News:: The $375 'Inside' special edition features a RealDoll 'creation'

Iam8bit, purveyors of gaming soundtracks on vinyl and other cool tchockes, is teaming up with RealDoll and developer Playdead for its next project. Details for the Inside special edition are scarce, but it'll include a PlayStation 4 disc with the game, and Steam codes for Inside and Limbo. Oh, and it'll cost $375. From the pre-order page: "Iam8bit x Playdead x RealDoll are collaborating on a mysterious collector's edition for Inside. We will NOT tell you what it is. Maybe it's what you're thinking... maybe not. We can confirm that there are several items included, one of which is a PlayStation 4 game disc. The rest is up for speculation."

Source: iam8bit

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/06/inside-realdoll-special-edition/

News:: Rocket League just got even more Batman DLC

Rocket League has no shortage of DLC, and now they're expanding upon an already established partnership with DC to bring out more cars, decals, player banners, and wheels. The big ones are definitely the 1989 Batmobile from the fantastic Micheal Keaton film (you wanna get nuts!?) and the contentious Tumbler in its Dark Knight Rises incarnation.

Also up are decals for Aquaman (I hope James Wan brings it when the film is out), Batman, Cyborg, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Those same characters also have banners (along with a general banner for DC), and the wheel choices are Wonder Woman and Flash.

I want to see the most Frankensteined kit possible -- maybe a Burton Batmobile with a modern DC logo slapped on it, combined with those Joel Schumacher looking neon Flash wheels. I hear that combo instantly boosts you one competitive rank.

1.42 [Rocket League]

Rocket League just got even more Batman DLC screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/rocket-league-just-got-even-more-batman-dlc-493000.phtml

News:: U.K. PlayStation owners can get 25% off a 12 month PS Plus subscription

Sony are currently offering their UK PlayStation customers the chance to sign up for a year of the PS Plus online service at 25% off of its usual price.

The service, which offers online gaming, exclusive discounts and provides players access to a selection of free games each month, usually runs at £50 for the year. But players signing up to the service before March 23 can bag themselves 12 months of PS Plus for a little over £37.

The monthly free titles are spread across PS4, PS3 and PS Vita platforms, and usually of solid quality. This month includes titles Bloodborne and Ratchet and Clank, for example. It should be noted that Sony recently announced that the free games service would no longer include PS3 or PS Vita titles from March 2019 but, for now, its still a great way to get your hands on some fresh backlog fodder.

12 month PlayStation Plus discount offer [PSN Store]

U.K. PlayStation owners can get 25% off a 12 month PS Plus subscription screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/u-k-playstation-owners-can-get-25-off-a-12-month-ps-plus-subscription-492990.phtml

News:: Someone crafted a makeshift pinball machine for the Switch

Although it does take a bit of work, content creator Stemage has laid the foundation for a cheap, sub $30 custom pinball controller for the Switch on his YouTube channel.

In short he uses a docked switch on a vertical-facing television screen, an Amazon cardboard box, the cheapest Switch controller he could find, and a fight stick wiring kit. As seen in the video below it works, and there are a few pinball games to choose from, most notably Pinball FX3.

Stemage says that this is just a proof of concept, and he'll build a legitimate cabinet for it eventually. His wishlist is for certain games to allow support for nudging with the d-pad (which would make the setup more authentic), and for pinball titles to support a vertical orientation option by default. Reasonable demands!

Someone crafted a makeshift pinball machine for the Switch screenshot

News:: Kingdom Hearts Orchestra embarks on new World Tour this Summer

The Kingdom Hearts Orchestra, fresh off of a successful run of shows in 2017, will return this year to play another tour of concerts around the globe.

The World Tour 2018 begins in June in Los Angeles, followed by various states across the U.S. The show will also leave North America to hold concerts in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Germany and South Korea. That's some air miles.

There will be a range of exclusive merchandise for sale at the events, including clothing, accessories and CDs. Yoko Shimimura will be in attendance at some venues, with 100 lucky fans getting the opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet with the series composer.

The 2018 tour itinerary is as follows:

Kingdom Hearts Orchestra embarks on new World Tour this Summer screenshot

News:: Review: CHUCHEL

I can’t say I’ve ever heard of CHUCHEL before I accepted this review. A code appeared for us describing a cool soundtrack and hunting for cherries, but it wasn’t until someone replied saying Amanita Design was behind the game that my interest got piqued. Machinarium is basically comfort food to me, so I had to give this game a try.

I’m very glad I did, too, because CHUCHEL is a quirky, funny, brilliantly paced adventure game that had me smiling every step of the way.

Review: CHUCHEL screenshot

News:: Super Mario Encyclopedia now available to pre-order

A pre-order page is now up on Amazon for Nintendo's upcoming tome, The Super Mario Encyclopedia. Published by Dark Horse, this must-have volume will encompass every aspect of the series' history.

Two versions of the book are currently listed, a standard hardcover edition that's priced at around $30, and a super-fancy Limited Edition which rolls for a little under $80. The latter features one of four different covers, a question-block slipcase, ribbon bookmark and a sky and cloud design running across the edges of its 256 pages.

The compendium is full of info from seventeen titles in the series, filled with trivia, interviews and tips. The book will also look at the hundreds of characters, items and obstacles that have been thrown in the Italian duo's path of the last several decades.

The Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia is available for pre-order on Amazon now, ahead of its October 25 release date.

Super Mario Encyclopedia now available to pre-order screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/super-mario-encyclopedia-now-available-to-pre-order-492979.phtml

News:: Rumor: Blizzard is allegedly porting Diablo 3 to the Switch after all

Just last week, Blizzard doled out one of the biggest teases in recent memory, trumping a mere character preview for one of their several competitive offerings. They posted a Diablo nightlight and the words "Sweet dreams," leading many to believe that it was a confirmation of a Diablo 3 Switch port.

It's a joke that's been used a lot since the system was even first announced, but Blizzard stated that it was instead a "fun engagement piece." Blizzard isn't great at keeping things up wraps though, and a source for Eurogamer contends that a Switch port is indeed in the works.

According to their source it is "in production," though they could not confirm if it would include the Reaper of Souls and Rise of the Necromancer expansions/DLC. Yeah, I'd probably play it again as a Crusader or Necromancer on the go.

Sources: Yes, Diablo 3 is coming to Nintendo Switch [Eurogamer]

Rumor: Blizzard is allegedly porting Diablo 3 to the Switch after all screenshot