Mar 22, 2018 | Game ON news

Thursday, March 22, 2018

News:: Zelda took the top honors at the Game Developers Choice Awards

Early this year as game-of-the-year lists were still coming out, CJ spoke about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's potential victory lap come March 2018. The open-world adventure game was showing up all over the place, and it had just been nominated for the Game Developers Choice Awards.

Well, the awards ceremony took place last night, and wouldn't you know it, Zelda is still pulling in wins. Nintendo took home Best Audio, Best Design, and Game of the Year for Breath of the Wild.

The Independent Games Festival Awards followed the show, highlighting games like Baba Is You, Celeste, and the grand-prize-winning Night in the Woods. I wonder what Mae would say about that.

You can find the full list of winners below.

Zelda took the top honors at the Game Developers Choice Awards screenshot

News:: Nintendo is hosting an eShop sale for Switch, 3DS, and Wii U

If you're anything like me, you might be scoffing at the idea of loading up on even more Nintendo Switch games. I've put all of five minutes into Bayonetta. I'm midway through Celeste. I could keep scrolling right on my Switch home screen and I'd find numerous other unfairly-neglected titles.

But maybe you're a more responsible shopper than I am. Maybe you've been biding your time, waiting for the right deals to pop up before bloating your backlog. This week is your week. Right now in North America and Europe, you'll find a bunch of discounted Switch, 3DS, and Wii U games on the eShop.

Looking at the Switch list, several titles stand out: SteamWorld Dig 2 ($14.99), SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition ($14.99), Kamiko ($2.99), Aeigis Defenders ($15.99), Crypt of the NecroDancer ($14.99), and Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King ($12.74). The UK sale has a wider range of games, too.

Many (but not all) of the currently-running deals last until Thursday, April 5.

Nintendo is hosting an eShop sale for Switch, 3DS, and Wii U screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-is-hosting-an-eshop-sale-for-switch-3ds-and-wii-u-495560.phtml

News:: PUBG's new Event Mode brings rotating game types

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds will soon have another match type, one the developers describe as a "periodically changing preset Custom Game where we will be trying new things and experimenting with different game parameters." Event Mode, as its known, is playable on the test servers.

To start off, you'll be able to test your mettle as part of an eight-player squad on Erangel with double the drop rate for rifles. "We know it's not a huge change from the public matches," the team said, "[but] this is just to get things rolling. The future of the Event Mode holds exciting things!"

We've seen this sort of rotating-game-type offering in plenty of other multiplayer games, to say nothing of PUBG's closest competitor Fortnite, and it sounds like a nice change of pace to me.

Most importantly, "Event Mode will be unranked but you will receive BP at the end of each match."

Event mode is here! [Steam]

PUBG's new Event Mode brings rotating game types screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/pubg-s-new-event-mode-brings-rotating-game-types-495552.phtml

News:: You only have 18 minutes to complete 'Black Future 88'

While a number of games have incorporated a countdown timer to increase the pressure upon players (looking at you, Dead Rising), few have taken it to extremes quite like Black Future '88, a wild new synthpunk platform shooter from indie studio, Superscarysnakes.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/18-minutes-black-future-88-gdc/

News:: Hands-on with the sci-fi game that falls apart as you play

You're never going to play Clunker Junker in your living room or on your desktop PC, no matter how many GPUs it has. Hardware is the issue here, but it's not a matter of processing power -- Clunker Junker requires two LED-adorned arm cranks, plus four crates with glowing lights and doors that come crashing down when they're unlatched during gameplay. The game itself, to be fair, runs on a laptop, but that's about as traditional as this thing gets.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/hands-on-space-shooter-arcade-diy-indie-gdc/

News:: Rock the night like your life depends on it in Afterparty

Indie-outfit Night School Studios, renown for existential mystery game Oxenfree, have released a trailer for their next mind-warping adventure, Afterparty. A story of two friends who must escape hell through the strategic consumption of alcohol.

After Milo and Lola find themselves trapped in hell after a premature demise, the besties ascertain that their only way out of the underworld is to schmooze and booze their way through Satan and his minions. Thus, the player guides the two pals through a riotous night out involving karaoke, bar games, tipsy psychology and drinking... lots of drinking.

I really like the neon visuals, and the delivery of dialect through social media style thought-bubbles. The audible vocal style isn't quite as magnetic for me, personally, but I really dig the vibes given off from this trailer. It looks like a unique title, worth keeping an eye on.

There's a bit of a wait however, as the Afterparty doesn't begin until sometime in 2019.

Rock the night like your life depends on it in Afterparty screenshot

News:: Fire Emblem Warriors DLC Pack #3 and Version 1.5.0 detailed

In what feels like the missing Nintendo Direct announcement, details for the final DLC pack for Fire Emblem Warriors have been revealed along with the related update, Version 1.5.0. The DLC will be arriving on March 28, and is confirmed to be $8.99 USD if you do not own the season pass.

Let's take a look at what could be the last major content added to the game.

Fire Emblem Warriors DLC Pack #3 and Version 1.5.0 detailed screenshot

News:: Nintendo reveal artwork of Splatoon's original ink-blasting rabbit concept

Everyone knows the song "You're a kid now, you're a squid now, you're a kid, you're a squid... etc". But things could have been oh-so-different for arena-shooter Splatoon, had Nintendo gone with its original concept of an army of rabbits.

Speaking at GDC 2018 in San Francisco yesterday, Splatoon Producer Hisashi Nogami spoke about the original designs that went into creating the popular, colour-stained Switch game, with new tidbits concerning the game's original protagonists, a concept previously revealed on "Iwata Asks..." several years back.

Originally, the lop-eared cuties were chosen due to their territorial nature and distinctive colouring, but the concept was changed to squids when they started asking themselves why rabbits were firing ink and diving into streams to swim into battle. Y'know, like a squid might?

Soon after the conference, Nintendo tweeted out some original artwork of the abandoned idea, which you can check out below.

Nintendo's speaks on Splatoon's "rabbit" concept [Nintendo / Kotaku]

Nintendo reveal artwork of Splatoon's original ink-blasting rabbit concept screenshot

News:: PC Port Report: Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Ni No Kuni II is a charming RPG where the president of some great human nation gets blown up by a missile and transported to a magical world of talking rats and half-cat kings, armed only with a bitchin' ponytail and a handgun. On paper, it sounds more like a fantasy fish out of water story than a JRPG, but Revenant Kingdom's tale of clashing worlds, deposed kings, and gun-toting presidents works because no one bothers to stop and point out how silly it all seems.

In his review, Chris Carter touched on the dichotomy that drives the game forward. Its central characters, the greenhorn king Evan and capable Roland, stand in contrast to one another immediately. They're from two different worlds, but because their survival depends on it, the duo grows to rely on one another. This central theme carries extra contextual weight considering that Ni No Kuni II marks developer Level-5's first release on PC and the recent batch of JRPG-style games coming to the traditionally Western-dominated platform.

PC Port Report: Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom screenshot

News:: Wirecutter's best deals: The UE Roll 2 Bluetooth speaker drops to $50

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/wirecutters-best-deals-ue-roll-2-bluetooth-speaker-sale/

News:: Elder Scrolls Online returns to the High Elves of Summerset for the first time in ages

I find myself enjoying the general lore of Elder Scrolls more than a few of Bethesda's gaming renditions. I've always been interested in the Dunmer, a hobby that was not only indulged with reckless abandon in Morrowind and its several add-ons, but a full-on expansion for Elder Scrolls Online as well.

The elves are back, but this time they're High (Altmer), and we're going to Summerset. Bethesda just confirmed that the next expansion for ESO is simply called "Summerset," and will arrive on June 5, with an early access program for PC coming on May 21.

Despite being a fairly closed off nation, Queen Ayrenn has opened up the island for all to visit, though once again you'll have to deal with the evil forces of the Daedra. You'll be able to complete a new storyline, join the Psijic Order (with its own combat skills/powers), battle in Cloudrest, a 12-player trial, and work on your jewelry crafting skills.

It's great how much ZeniMax and Bethesda were able to turn this game around, and I'll be there when this expansion arrives in June.

Elder Scrolls Online returns to the High Elves of Summerset for the first time in ages screenshot

News:: Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner - MARS zero shifts into a September worldwide release

Hot off the heels of the September release date for Japan, Konami has announced that the remaster of Zone of the Enders 2 will launch worldwide the same month. Alongside the announcement came a helpful video, showing off the remaster in comparison to the original and HD versions of the game.

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner - MARS zero shifts into a September worldwide release screenshot

News:: EA is teaching AI troops to play 'Battlefield 1'

It's been a couple of years since AI-controlled bots fragged each other in an epic Doom deathmatch. Now, EA's Search for Extraordinary Experiences Division, or SEED, has taught self-learning AI agents to play Battlefield 1. Each character in the basic match uses a model based on neural-network training to learn how to play the game via trial and error. The AI-controlled troops in the game learned how to play after watching human players, then parallel training against other bots. The AI soldiers even learned how to pick up ammo or health when they're running low, much like you or I do.

Source: EA

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/ea-teaching-ai-troops-battlefield-1/

News:: How realistic is this Andy Serkis Unreal Engine rendering?

The uncanny valley is a concept you've probably heard a lot about, and every few years, some developer or hype train tries to explain that they've "cracked the code." Remember when people touted Heavy Rain as the one true herald, the project that would shepherd all of us out of the dark ages of photo-realism in gaming?

That day probably hasn't come yet for some, even with this incredibly well-acted performance from the talented and underrated Andy Serkis. As shown at GDC, studios 3Lateral and Epic Games have managed to push the Unreal Engine to its limits, showcasing a Serkis rendering that serves as a dramatic reading of lines from Macbeth.

Serkis, an animated fellow in real life, is the perfect person to show this tech off with, but I'm hung up a bit on the mouth movements; specifically around the dimples area. Still, it's hard to be down on this in any real way -- it's fantastically rendered and a huge leap forward for the industry.

How realistic is this Andy Serkis Unreal Engine rendering? screenshot

News:: It took 18 years, but Rune: Ragnarok is Human Head getting back to where it all started

Human Head Studios, a company that has been around for 20 years, is known by most people for two very specific things: It released Prey which is remembered fondly, and it started making Prey 2 until Bethesda put the kibosh on that. Kind of lost in the studio's history is Rune, the Norse mythology game that first proved Human Head was more than capable of serving as a lead developer on projects.

In a GDC meeting with Human Head co-founder Chris Rhinehart, it's made clear why the studio's going back to its roots. "It was our first game and we always wanted to bring it back," Rhinehart tells us. The slightly-longer version is "After Prey, we started talking about how it'd be cool to come back to Rune. We hatched different ideas and kind of explored small prototypes and talked to different publishers. A year ago, we connected with ESDF and they were looking to do a viking-based game and we were looking to bring back Rune, and we thought it would be a great fit. So we decided to resurrect it."

It's easy enough to see how Human Head ended up on a Rune reunion tour, but actually creating the game is very different 18 years later. There are modern conveniences and expectations that have to be accounted for. There needs to be a certain degree of variety to keep players invested.

It took 18 years, but Rune: Ragnarok is Human Head getting back to where it all started screenshot

News:: New Hyrule Warriors Switch footage mostly focuses on the baddies

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition continues to look enticing, despite the fact, and I've said this many times before, that I've played the Wii U edition into the ground.

For many who haven't played the 3DS iteration this is going to be a sort of homecoming, as there are many DLC characters you probably haven't played yet -- most notably Yuga and Ravio, showcased in the below video, focusing on the dualities of light and dark, ending on the ever-imposing Ganondorf.

Of course the Yuga footage is juxtaposed to Ravio, a new fan-favorite item-peddler from Link Between Worlds. Hyrule Warriors Switch launches today in Japan, and will arrive on May 18 in the west.

New Hyrule Warriors Switch footage mostly focuses on the baddies screenshot

News:: Prison break co-op adventure A Way Out releases launch trailer

Hazelight Studio's stealth adventure A Way Out launches tomorrow, and Electronic Arts have released a launch trailer to get you and your fellow escapee prepped for the longest night of your lives.

A Way Out, directed by Josef "Fuck the Oscars" Fares, sees players take control of convicts Vince and Leo who, after one bowl of porridge too many, decide to take leave of their concrete abode and make their escape into the great outdoors. Players must guide the duo from the confines of their cell to the perimeters of the prison walls and beyond, with cutscenes and in-game dialogue driving the story.

A Way Out can be played in local co-op or online, but is two-player mandatory, there is no single-player mode or an alternate A.I partner. Given the split-second timing and co-ordination of Vince and Leo's plans, that's probably a helluva good thing.

Will the guys see the sun once again? or will your pal with the non-wired connection let you both down? Get busy living or get busy dying tomorrow, when A Way Out launches on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Prison break co-op adventure A Way Out releases launch trailer screenshot

News:: Nintendo is bringing back competitive Smash and Splatoon 2 at E3 this year

Nintendo might shy away from unofficial events a little too often, and in the wrong way, but they sure can kick off officially sanctioned tournaments.

Once again Smash and Splatoon will return to E3, but this time it'll be based around Splatoon 2, and the newly announced Super Smash Bros. (the latter will have a presumably limited roster until everyone gets revealed). The events (Invitational for the former, World Championship for the latter) will run from June 11-12, which hints that Nintendo's Direct will probably reveal Smash before the actual convention starts on June 12.

If you're interested in qualifying, the official rules are below:

Nintendo is bringing back competitive Smash and Splatoon 2 at E3 this year screenshot

News:: With 'Siren,' Unreal Engine blurs the line between CGI and reality

Epic Games has been obsessed with real-time motion capture for years, but the company is now trying to take its experiments with the technology one step further. Enter "Siren," a digital personality that it created alongside a few prominent firms in the gaming industry: Vicon, Cubic Motion, 3Lateral and Tencent (which just became a major investor in Ubisoft). The crazy thing about Siren is that she comes to life using live mocap tech, powered by software from Vicon, that can make her body and finger movements be captured and live-streamed into an Unreal Engine project.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/siren-epic-games-unreal-engine-vicon/

News:: Nintendo demonstrate more ideas with Labo's Toy-Con Garage in new video

Nintendo have released a follow-up to last week's Labo video, showing how software package Toy-Con Garage can be used to make all manner of fun inventions and games.

The new video starts with the creation of a remote-control tank and a pint-sized Kaiju. Using the software's basic coding system, which assigns actions to the Joy-Con's various buttons via "nodes", users can make the tank move using the rumble feature. When the camera picks up the marker sticker on the monster's head, further vibrations will cause the cardboard destroyer of worlds to tumble "Mission Face-Plant accomplished!"...apparently.

Mad on power, the narrator then shows how you can use further nodes to include button presses, add sound effects, and more. We then see the science behind Labo's marker sticker, which interact with the Joy-Con's infra-red beams to create action and reaction. All this leads to a sweet-looking organ grinder device, my favourite Labo invention so far.

Whilst Labo isn't for me - and I understand that perhaps jaded sociopaths approaching forty are probably not its target audience - I do think some of these home made devices are very cool, and that imaginative kids will create some fascinating tools with it.

The first Nintendo Labo kits launch April 27 on Switch.

Nintendo demonstrate more ideas with Labo's Toy-Con Garage in new video screenshot

News:: The video game industry is finally asking where the women are

Ubisoft is participating in the Women in Gaming Rally at GDC this week.

It's one of the first things the 20 or so journalists pooled between the open bar and the canapes on the second floor of Hotel Zetta were told -- mentioned right after the evening's embargo information and just before spokespeople split the reporters into three groups and shepherded them to their appropriate meetings. There were three sessions, each 20 minutes long and covering distinct topics: Online ecosystems, artificial intelligence, and new studio openings. After each session, the groups would rotate to see the next presentation, for an hour total of on-the-record, Ubisoft-centric back-patting and glad-handing.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/women-video-games-ubisoft-gdc/

News:: Free Dissidia Final Fantasy NT update adds Orbonne Monastery from Final Fantasy Tactics

Despite some initial mixed reactions to Dissida Final Fantasy NT, Square Enix is still delivering a smattering of free and premium content, and I'm still playing it.

The newest 1.06 update adds in myriad balance changes for most of the cast (Emperor, Onion Knight, Cecil, Bartz, Tina, Cloud, Ultimecia, Vaan, Noctis, Ramza, Ace), as well as an easier way to access character movesets. But most importantly, it gives us the Orbonne Monastery arena from Final Fantasy Tactics for free.

Square Enix hasn't had much experience with fighting game patch notes, but it would be super helpful if it was translated in English, with balance details and numbers, whenever the Japanese notes drop.

Dissidia NT [Square Enix via Gematsu]

Free Dissidia Final Fantasy NT update adds Orbonne Monastery from Final Fantasy Tactics screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/free-dissidia-final-fantasy-nt-update-adds-orbonne-monastery-from-final-fantasy-tactics-495509.phtml

News:: Microsoft's Phil Spencer is still game for Banjo appearing in Super Smash Bros.

When asked yet again if Phil Spencer was game for the previously Nintendo adorned duo of Banjo and Kazooie appearing in Super Smash Bros., Microsoft boss Phil Spencer tweeted out a "yep" in solidarity.

It might seem like a quick useless tweet, but there's a history behind it. Spencer has been a fan of the idea for years, explaining that there's no IP problems at all from his end: ""I think it would be cool if Banjo was in the next SSB DLC. We've worked with Nintendo on Rare IP before, no issues." It seems like Nintendo didn't take him up on the offer for Smash on Wii U and 3DS.

While it's easy to say that Nintendo wouldn't be so adventurous, Mega Man, Sonic, and Solid Snake are pretty out there -- though they aren't direct competition like Sony and Microsoft. Either way I hope we get an insane "Mega Man" or "Snake" moment with the character reveals this year.

Phil Spencer [Twitter]

Microsoft's Phil Spencer is still game for Banjo appearing in Super Smash Bros. screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/microsoft-s-phil-spencer-is-still-game-for-banjo-appearing-in-super-smash-bros--495497.phtml

News:: 'Harold Halibut' is a delightfully quirky narrative adventure.

I've never been one much for slow-paced puzzle-solving games. If it doesn't involve hacking, slashing, blasting or breaking my way through obstacles, then I'm generally not interested. But there's just something about Harold.

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/harold-halibut-is-a-delightfully-quirky-narrative-adventure/

News:: Tomb Raider trilogy remasters for Steam are not happening

There was some exciting news recently that the original Tomb Raider trilogy was in line for a facelift on Steam, with studio realtechVR announcing that they were remastering the '90s classics for PC, complete with VR functionality and a new engine.

Unfortunately, it appears that these plans have been squashed before they even got off the ground, with publisher Square Enix never even giving the go-ahead for such an idea. "While we always welcome passion and excitement for the Tomb Raider franchise," says an official Square statement. "the remasters in question were initiated and advertised without seeking approval. As such, they were never officially sanctioned."

This is a bit of a bummer for the series' PC fans, as the original games are only available via awkward DOS-based chicanery. realtechVR have since said that they are now "refocusing on new projects" and are not committing to third-party licences anymore. It's more than likely this statement also puts an end to their planned mobile port of Tomb Raider 3.

realtechVR no longer working on third-party licences [Twitter]

Tomb Raider trilogy remasters for Steam are not happening screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/tomb-raider-trilogy-remasters-for-steam-are-not-happening-495490.phtml

News:: Newcomer Najd looks like one of the coolest King of Fighters characters in ages

SNK is still supporting King of Fighters XIV despite its non-appearance at EVO this year, and I couldn't be happier. Next up on the docket is Najd, a fan-created character that is going to be added in April as DLC.

Her official description describes her deal pretty well: "Najd is a very quiet person dressed with an Abaya (traditional Saudi garment) with extraordinary powers. At night, she puts on her Abaya and turns into a vigilante to protect her fellow citizens. In contrast to her mysterious appearance, she is a college student during the day." I want to play her first, but based on her backstory alone I hope she continues to be a part of the series!

I know people are still down on King of Fighters XIV's visuals, but I'm really into Najd's shadow effects -- they're a little reminiscent of Zato-1 from Guilty Gear, but with its own unique flair.

Newcomer Najd looks like one of the coolest King of Fighters characters in ages screenshot

News:: ‘PUBG’ Event Mode offers limited-time custom games

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has announced the debut of Event Mode, which will introduce temporary changes to typical gameplay. The developers described Event Mode "as a periodically changing preset Custom Game where we will be trying new things and experimenting with different game parameters." It'll offer Battle Royale experiences you can't get in public matches and feature new content, most of which will only be playable for a limited time.

Via: Rock Paper Shotgun

Source: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

via Engadget RSS Feedhttps://www.engadget.com/2018/03/22/pubg-event-mode-limited-time-custom-games/

News:: Nintendo Download: Detective Pikachu

It's a monumental day for the 3DS, as it's getting a pretty big exclusive in Detective Pikachu -- following a week that had the release of literally zero 3DS games, eShop or otherwise. The 3DS is also getting The Alliance Alive on March 27.

As for the Switch, the usual avalanche of titles is a go: Outlast 2, OPUS: Rocket of Whispers, NeoGeo World Heroes 2 Jet, Moon Patrol, Castle of Heart, Eat Beat Deadspike-san, Gekido Kintaro's Revenge, No Thing, Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut, Sol Divide - Sword of Darkness -, and Warp Shift.

Nintendo Download: Detective Pikachu screenshot

News:: The new Deadpool 2 trailer unites the X-Force

Not to be too upstaged by Avengers: Infinity War's latest trailer, Fox has released a new look at the wacky and madcap Deadpool 2. Previous looks at the movie have mainly been skits of sorts with some brief glimpses of footage, but this official trailer goes a little more in-depth with the premise of the movie.

Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is forming a team, composed of "tough, morally flexible" superpowered beings that are "young enough to carry their own franchise for ten to twelve years." That includes Domino (Zazie Beetz), and... is that Terry Crews? The newly-formed X-Force is looking to stop the time-traveling Thanos- er, Cable (Josh Brolin) from killing a child (played by Julian Dennison from Taika Waiti's Hunt for the Wilderpeople).

And it looks like this sequel actually has the budget for the X-Mansion, with Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) returning. The visual comedy and wackiness from the first film looks to be intact, with the high-octane action from director David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde) looking smoother than ever.

Deadpool 2 is dropping onto theaters on May 18.

The new Deadpool 2 trailer unites the X-Force screenshot

via destructoid https://www.destructoid.com/the-new-deadpool-2-trailer-unites-the-x-force-495506.phtml

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Thursday, March 22, 2018