Mar 12, 2018 | Game ON news

Monday, March 12, 2018

News:: Contest: Win a copy of Super Rare Games' physical edition of Human: Fall Flat for Switch!

[Contest ends tomorrow - get your entries in now!]

Do you guys like winning super rare physical editions of previously digital-only releases for brand new consoles that everyone can't stop talking about? So do I!

Good news, then - our friends over at Super Rare Games have given us three copies of the just-released Human: Fall Flat for Nintendo Switch to give away to the beautiful people of Destructoid!

Contest: Win a copy of Super Rare Games' physical edition of Human: Fall Flat for Switch! screenshot

News:: Rad Rodger's 1.5 patch is a major improvement

In the comments section of my rather scathing review of Rad Rodgers, one of the devs behind the game, a man named Fred, was wondering what happened. In a rather refreshing show of humility, he wasn't upset that I disliked the game, but questioning why I even encountered so many bugs.

Apparently there was a series of glitches in the release version that caused most of the problems I had encountered and a new patch had addressed those issues.

Rad Rodger's 1.5 patch is a major improvement screenshot

News:: Xbox Head tweets support of PS4/Xbox One crossplay on Fortnite

Microsoft's Phil Spencer made an appearance on twitter this weekend to briefly show his support of Epic Games' juggernaut Fortnite going cross-play on all formats.

After a Fortnite fan posted a tweet telling Spencer that they were hoping for cross-play to be implemented between PS4 and Xbox One players, the Xbox head simply and succinctly replied "Me 2". This was then amusingly followed up by the Fortnite twitter themselves, who replied to Spencer with "We 3".

But, currently, all of this is merely wishful thinking, as Sony are notoriously against the concept of PS4 players cross-fraternizing with Xbox owners. While both companies are willing to cross-play with the PC format, in games such as Street Fighter V, Minecraft and Killer Instinct. Sony still seem dead-set against Team Green and Team Blue meeting on the battlefield.

The Fortnite party is set to get even bigger, with recent news that not only is a mobile port of the game on the way, but that too will feature cross-play with all other formats. The Battle Royale player base is set to grow and grow.

Xbox Head tweets support of PS4/Xbox One crossplay on Fortnite screenshot

News:: First 'Hearthstone' expansion of 2018 delves into ‘The Witchwood’

Weeks after laying out this year's plan for Hearthstone, Blizzard has announced the first expansion of 2018: The Witchwood. Once it lands, the Year of the Raven will begin -- and all of 2016's cards will be retired from the main Standard format. The haunted forest-themed set will introduce 135 cards and several card types that introduce new styles of play. And like the last two content additions, players will get solo content for free. The announcement didn't give a release date, but if the last two years are any indication, The Witchwood will likely drop next month.

Source: Hearthstone

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/12/first-hearthstone-expansion-of-2018-delves-into-the-witchwood/

News:: Report: Australian eShop lists Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for Switch

Various sites are reporting that a listing, which popped up on Nintendo Switch's Australian eShop today, appears to show WayForward's platform-adventure Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is set to drop anchor on the console next week.

Pirate's Curse, the third game in the beloved Shantae series, sees the then no-genie-hero team up with her arch enemy, notorious pirate Risky Boots, in order to take down the evil-er Pirate Master, who has returned to envelop Sequin Land in Dark Magic. The game features vast, colourful levels, inventive enemies, genuinely touching and witty dialogue and an amazing score.

The 2014 title is already available on a whole host of formats, from Nintendo 3DS and PS4 to PC and Wii-U. If the listing, an image of which can be seen below, is legit and correct, then we will hopefully see the game making its Switch debut March 20. As of this writing, no such listing has been reported for the U.S., Japanese or European territories.

Report: Australian eShop lists Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for Switch screenshot

News:: Overwatch League team releases player over hateful speech

Overwatch League player Felix "xQc" Lengyel has been suspended twice for using both homophobic and racist slurs, and he's now bowing out entirely. Dallas Fuel and Lengyel have announced that they've "mutually agreed to part ways" in the wake of his conduct. It was in the "best interest" of both sides to release Lengyel before his contract expired, team owner Mike Rufail said. Lengyel's latest suspension won't let him play or practice with any team during Stage 2 of the League's inaugural season, and letting him go now lets the Fuel sign others during the transfer window while giving Lengyel a chance to sign with someone new.

Source: Overwatch League

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/12/overwatch-league-team-releases-player-over-hateful-speech/

News:: Captain Wilkins leaps into battle tonight in Wolfenstein II's final DLC

Bethesda will release the last piece of DLC for it's chaotic shooter Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus tonight, as The Deeds of Captain Wilkins launches on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The final part of The Freedom Chronicles -- following previous expansions The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe and The Secret Diaries of Agent Silent Death -- Captain Wilkins sees the titular All-American infiltrate a Nazi stronghold, hunkered down on Alaska's Kodiak Island. Wilkins will join former comrades in an effort to destroy The Reich's powerful new weapon, The Sun Gun.

Available as part of The Freedom Chronicles DLC pass, or for purchase separately, The Deeds of Captain Wilkins goes live in at midnight tonight on PS4 and Xbox One and at 19:00 ET / 23:00 GMT on PC.

Captain Wilkins leaps into battle tonight in Wolfenstein II's final DLC screenshot

News:: Here are the winners of The Emotional Games Awards 2018

Last week saw The Emotional Games Awards 2018 take place in Laval, France. It was the second year for the ceremony, which exists to "reward and promote games which bring on the most complex emotions in the players".

The jury consisted of seven people, taken from various areas of the video game industry, as well as philosophers and neuro-science specialists. It is, admittedly, quite the niche idea for an awards ceremony. I personally think emotion, complex or otherwise, is relative in all forms of video game, regardless of genre. There are games that have made me cry, for example, that I'm pretty sure would never have ever seen nomination in such a ceremony.

Still, I do fully support anything video game related getting positive recognition, especially during yet another boring "Games are Evil" zeitgeist. I've lived through more of those than I care to remember. So, congratulations to the Emotional Video Game Award Winners 2018, which are as follows:

Here are the winners of The Emotional Games Awards 2018 screenshot

News:: More characters headed to Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet

Namco Bandai have revealed that more gun-toting pairings are coming to their third person RPG-shooter Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet. The upcoming waves of DLC will call in reinforcements in the shape of the series' former stars.

The next wave of DLC will see Clarence and Shirley of Alternative Gun Gale Online enter the fray. They will be joined later down the line by Alicization Arc's Alice and Eugeo. Alongside these returning characters, the DLC packs will feature a new story episode, The Start of Entrenchment, as well as new gear with which to customise your base.

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

More characters headed to Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet screenshot

News:: Did You Know Gaming's new video looks at Zelda: Link to the Past

Trivia-buffs Did You Know Gaming? uploaded their newest video at the weekend and it would be remiss not to make mention of it, as it is for a SNES classic, a series classic and one of the finest RPG's in history, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

The five-minute video, narrated by Arlo, is filled with tidbits about the 1991 release, in a sentence which just gave me a moment of clarity about my advancing age. The new video takes a look at possible translation goofs, Miyamoto's creative decisions, LttP's memory-intensive score and its abandoned "futuristic" concept.

It's a fun way to while away your coffee break, as well as a wistful reminder of just how damn good Link's 16-bit adventure was. Now, where did I put my fold-out map?

Did You Know Gaming's new video looks at Zelda: Link to the Past screenshot

News:: Hot damn! Gal Gun 2 is coming next month

I am one trophy away from platinuming Gal*Gun: Double Peace for the Vita. It probably shouldn't have taken me this long as it's a pretty short game, but it's one I like to take my time with. I don't just want to blow through it, never to touch it again. No, I want to enjoy it like a fine wine or a good steak or a mystery novel featuring a crime-solving dog that's always trying to bury the bones he finds at crime scenes. I could see myself taking another few months to 100% the game, but it looks like I'll have to wrap it up in a few weeks instead.

Just a few months after it was first revealed, publisher PQube Games has announced Inti Creates' Gal*Gun 2 will launch in the West next month. It launches in Japan on March 15, so this incredibly quick turnaround means the rest of the world won't have to wait long to pleasure some high school girls with guns.

Hot damn! Gal Gun 2 is coming next month screenshot

News:: Creepy launch trailer released for tomorrow's Assassin's Creed: Origins expansion

Ubisoft have released a final trailer for their upcoming DLC to Egyptian stealth-em-up Assassin's Creed: Origins. The Curse of the Pharaohs expansion launches tomorrow, after a slight delay caused it to slip from its original release date of March 6.

The DLC's story campaign, which stands apart from the main game's narrative, sees protagonist Bayek travel into the Valley of the Dead, where he will no doubt come face-to-face with the animated remains of rulers' past, who stir within the cavernous, regal tombs.

Curse of the Pharaohs is part of Origins' Season Pass, and as such will be available to download tomorrow. Non-Season Pass holders will still be able to purchase the DLC separately.

Assassin's Creed Origins is available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Creepy launch trailer released for tomorrow's Assassin's Creed: Origins expansion screenshot

News:: SXSW Review: Ready Player One

I've used the "insert X here" sub-header joke before, and now I really wish I hadn't because in other instances it was just a joke, but in the case of Ready Player One, Stephen Spielberg's new film based on the insanely popular book of the same name, it is so insanely appropriate it that it isn't a joke at all. The film is nothing but inserted cultural references, a mash of quick cuts to all your favorite characters that you're supposed to freak out seeing next to each other on screen.

That's not always a bad thing. There can be a certain magic to using cultural references, pulling in something that makes the audience connect because they know that you get a joke, know a character or are just showing off you're nerd cred. That can be fun and even emotionally effective. Ready Player One is none of these things, really, and it suffers instead of succeeds because of its desperate need to show off that it "gets it." It's kind of like that time in [insert culture reference here].

SXSW Review: Ready Player One screenshot

News:: Streamer completes zero hit run of the Dark Souls Trilogy

A dedicated Dark Souls fan has completed a run of the game's entire trilogy without taking a single hit. The_Happy_Hob streamed the nerve-wracking achievement, a year in the making, on his Twitch channel. The final moment (which contains loud profanity) can be seen right here.

To qualify for the No-Hit run, Hob was required to play through all three titles without being struck by a single enemy, outside of a scripted death to Seathe the Scaleless. Last month, Hob made it to the very end of the run, but took a heartbreaking hit on the final boss of the final game. Damn.

But that's ancient history, as the dedicated player finally completed the notoriously difficult trilogy this weekend, understandably losing his mind upon taking down Dark Souls boss Gwyn (Hob ran through the games in reverse order). Great work!

All of The_Happy_Hob's recent runs can be viewed over on his Twitch archive.

Streamer completes zero hit run of the Dark Souls Trilogy screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/streamer-completes-zero-hit-run-of-the-dark-souls-trilogy-493909.phtml

News:: Atlus holding Persona Dancing live stream later this month, reveals 'Music Video' mode

Atlus Japan are to hold another live stream later this month to promote upcoming rhythm-action titles Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night.

The stream will be hosted over on NicoNico Live and will feature guest stars such as playing the hot-stepping sequels. Alongside new gameplay footage, interviews and even some music courtesy of DJ Waka, The team will be revealing some new characters and details pertaining to the game's modes and features.

The live stream begins March 21 at 19:40 JST and is scheduled to run a little shy of two hours. In related news, Atlus revealed shots of the game's "MV" (Music Video) mode, which will feature multiple characters performing in various settings together. These include the Phantom Thieves rocking out in the Morgana van, and the P5 girls doing a burlesque number that's reminiscent of something from Bob Fosse's Cabaret.

Persona 3: Dancing Moon Night and Persona 5: Dancing Star Night are set for release in Japan May 24 on PS4 and PS Vita. A box set, which includes Persona 4: Dancing All Night, will also be available.

Atlus holding Persona Dancing live stream later this month, reveals 'Music Video' mode screenshot

News:: Review: Bravo Team

Whatever else virtual reality has become in the years since its commercial debut, it's beyond dispute that it has become, in large measure, the new home of the lightgun genre. For every creative, even transcendent VR experience, there are half a dozen shooting galleries capitalizing on VR's most easily-realized promise: The visceral thrill of holding a gun and shooting at targets.

Bravo Team is, for better or worse, one of those. Coming from SuperMassive, the game is a modern-day lightgun title aiming to bring a touch of Rainbow Six or Time Crisis to a surprisingly crowded field.

Unfortunately, given what's on offer, it's hard to believe that the same studio that produced Until Dawn and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (one of the better PlayStation VR launch titles) could come up with this.

Review: Bravo Team screenshot

News:: Japanese twitter reveals details on Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion

Last week, during their Direct presentation, Nintendo announced a huge expansion pack coming to their arena-shooter Splatoon 2. Courtesy of the game's Japanese twitter, there's some fun new info related to the Octo Expansion's features.

The story expansion features all-new character "Agent 8", who awakens in a mysterious laboratory with only a hazy recollection of her identity. Players will control Agent 8 as she makes her way through the strange, dreamlike landscape, aided by her pal Cap'n Cuttlefish, and on radio by Off the Hook's Marina and Pearl, rocking their 2Pac/Biggie Smalls cosplay.

Japanese twitter reveals details on Splatoon 2's Octo Expansion screenshot

News:: Shadow of the Colossus team Bluepoint at work on another remake

In an interview with Digital Foundry, Bluepoint, the development team behind the recent remake of PS2 classic Shadow of the Colossus, have revealed that work is already underway on a remake of another, yet undisclosed, title.

Bluepoint's Marco Thrush made the statement when asked about whether the company planned to use its expanded art team and resources on creating their own original title: "Well, we could but we're doing another remake," said the studio's President and co-owner. "This project served us as a great point of growing the art team to the point where we can take on a full triple-A game major scope of art content. So now our next step is, let's improve the art pipeline, let's improve the engine, let's improve workflow for artists, let's grow on the art side some more to handle our next project because it's a bit bigger... let's work on design and add new stuff to get to the next remake."

The recent PS4 release of Shadow of the Colossus performed admirably, even making it to number one in the UK Charts. The title chosen for Bluepoint's next project remains to be seen, of course, but some internet folk are already hoping that the company will make the natural transition to the 2001 existential hit, Ico.

Shadow of the Colossus is available now on PS4

Shadow of the Colossus team Bluepoint at work on another remake screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/shadow-of-the-colossus-team-bluepoint-at-work-on-another-remake-493905.phtml

News:: SXSW Review: Blockers

Prom! That magical experience of near mythical importance for high school students. You'll dance. You'll drink. And then you'll definitely lose your virginity, because only losers haven't after prom has come and gone. The tradition, started with 1999's American Pie, continues nearly 20 years later in Blockers, the cock in the title being implied, or represented in marketing materials with the silhouette of a large chicken.

The game has changed slightly since audiences learned of the forbidden love between man and pastry. Instead of 4 teenage boys making a pact to lose their virginity, it's 3 teenage girls. Oh, and we have a woman directing the major studio release of an R-rated comedy.

As director Kay Cannon said onstage at SXSW 2018, presenting the movie's world premiere, this movie might not have been possible five years ago. It's the right time for the right comedy, one with a female perspective, both from the helmer's point of view, and from a protagonist's. "I'm a woman. And I directed something. It's R-rated and studio released!" Cannon said, clearly elated in the reception to her directorial debut. She should be elated, Blockers is funny. Very funny, Despite it being familiar ground, it's fresh.

SXSW Review: Blockers screenshot

News:: What's your favorite type of shoot 'em up?

Whether you realize it or not, new shoot 'em ups are being released all the time on the PC, PS4, and most recently, the Nintendo Switch.

While some genres have waxed and waned over the years or have been relegated to niche communities, shmups have sort of always been there. Even if a lot of the spark was through ports, mobile releases, or remasters, games like DoDonPachi, Ikaruga, and their ilk, will always be relevant.

And with the release of Danmaku Unlimited 3 looming on Switch this week, it got me thinking -- what types of shmups do you all play? Note that the poll below isn't mutally exclusive, as vertical shooters and also be bullet hells, but do your best or just explain yourself in the comments.

I had to rep bullet hell of course, and my justification is always the same -- they somehow manage to mash action and puzzle-solving together. Each new boss or confrontation is like an elaborate maze, a door waiting to be unlocked. As I find out the best way to move around all of the bullets and keep uptime on the boss I can't help but smile -- even if a lot of those bullets are pelting me in the face while I'm picking the game up.

What's your favorite type of shoot 'em up? screenshot

News:: Microsoft’s mad scientists are making AR more tactile

Unless you hate fun, Microsoft's best division is far and away its Research group, which has given us the nearest thing to a Holodeck, a live-action version of Minecraft and much more. Microsoft's gang of crazy researchers is at it again, showing off a bunch of new controllers for augmented and virtual reality. They're strictly experimental for now, but show a lot of potential for making AR and VR more fun and useful.

Source: Microsoft

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/12/microsoft-research-tactile-controllers/

News:: The Morning After: Elon Musk at SXSW 2018

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/12/the-morning-after-elon-musk-at-sxsw-2018/

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Monday, March 12, 2018